There’s new life and a new manager at The Lot 318, 400 Crockett Street. Music promoter and businessman Jackie Brock has taken over the running of the old SporTran Terminal with plans to show its real potential as a live music venue and hang out. He has already hit the ground running with two metal concerts, but this weekend will be a definite change of pace. The family-friendly gathering will feature cornhole and other games, live music from the Jane’t Sisters, Sonny Rambin and others, plus food trucks, beverages (adult and otherwise) and the LSU/A&M game on the screens at 6 pm!

The Lot will welcome you to come and hang out a spell!

Published April 7, 2021

Things just keep on getting better at The Lot, the repurposed, re-imagined former Sportran Bus Terminal at 400 Crockett Street in downtown.

This week they passed their Louisiana Health Inspection for their new restaurant/bar at The Lot! Business owners Edgar and Deshea Guzman have been doing a tremendous amount of work at the venue. New fencing has been installed, upgraded electrical that will allow food trucks to PLUG IN instead of having to rely on noisy generators has been completed, there have been upgrades to bathrooms and the commissary kitchen is going in. Their next step is to apply for the ABO license to be able to sell alcohol. Once done, they will be a full-service provider of food, drink, and good times.

The Guzmans say a lot of different events will be happening in the near future including private parties, an event for the Bayou Classic, boxing matches, the big Snowmageddon Plant Swap on April 24, and more of their popular live music/food truck and artist weekends. Meantime, follow their Facebook page for updates on which food trucks will be popping up there on weekdays and weekends.

March 10, 2021

Live music, food trucks and art vendors return to March Music at The Lot. Eight musical guests including Joe Nadeau, Jimmy Wooten and the Tree Fiddy Trio will join a variety of food options like Ki’ Mexico & Crawdaddy’s Kitchen and vendors selling items from art to clothing. The weather looks beautiful and all will be under the cover of the soaring tent at the former bus terminal. Masks are mandatory, please. When: March 12, 5- 10 pm, March 13, 1- 10 pm. Where: The Lot, 400 Crockett St. Cost: $5 entry.

February 3, 2021

Big news this week for the new proprietors of The Lot on Crockett Street (the former Sportran terminal). Edgar and Deshea Guzman were thrilled with a unanimous vote by the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) on a variance that will let them operate as a Food Truck Court. As all this has been happening, the Guzmans have also been making plans for a small permanent restaurant inside the old terminal building with liquor sales available. The option of purchasing an adult beverage at their events has been one of their biggest requests from customers to date. They are working with an architect and will soon be submitting those plans to the State Fire Marshal for approval.

Meantime. fun at The Lot returns in February with two nights of music, food, art and vendors. The music lineup for the Feb. 19 and 20 event starts with DJReadyRoc at 5 pm Friday and rolls through to the David Deaton Band at 8:45 Saturday.

Food trucks currently scheduled for the Feb Downtown Nights are: Ki Mexico, Mi Mesa Latin Cuisine, Johnny’s Pizza, Rajun Cajun, R&L’s Cookery Corner and the Hot Dawg Hut. Vendors so far include: Cotton St. Farms, Ben Ware Art Gallery, Old Skill Company, Nikol Art Productions, Sauces, Vinegars & Oils, Audubon Parish, Your Five Dollar Friend, Cranked Up Confections LLC, Moonlit Artisana, The Purple Heifer, Alley Cat, Terri Stuckey, IDJV Art, Ben’s Body Basics, The TCHOTCHKES Shop, and Wet Paint Arts. No admission will be charged to come to Downtown Nights, but Edgar says they might put out a donation box so that people can put in some money to help them keep these events going.

The Lot’s inaugural event in November was a blast and showed that the former Sportran bus terminal was a perfect venue for live, outdoor, socially-distanced live music and fun. A variety of food trucks and trailers, vendors and artists rounded out the event and provided an open air weekend that allowed people to actually be around other people safely and to remember- at least for a brief time- what fun actually felt like.

You’ll notice some changes in February. The Guzmans have been hard at work and have engaged a number of local artists to put their stamp on the space.

The first to do so was Steve Porter, who added the work ‘A Lot of Faces’ to the concrete columns inside. Recently, a who’s who of creatives have transformed the tables that will be used at The Lot into colorful works of art. You will be able to sit at a table reimagined by such artists as Uriah Oxford, Jake Dement, Connie Helaire Eaton, Anthony Reans, Ben Ware, Heather Ogea, Will James, Steve Porter, and Rachel Stuart Hass.

The vendor list for Feb. 19 and 20 is coming along, too, and features a variety of items from pickles, oil and salsa to home decor, art, tee shirts and other clothing, candles, body lotions, wood items, jewelry, confections and pillows. You can stay up to date with the food, music and vendor lineup here. 

Meanwhile, even more events are being planned as well as permanent changes to the former terminal building. The Guzmans are working to create a small restaurant space that will allow them to sell food and alcoholic beverages.

Just in time for the USA Boxing Nationals in Shreveport, sparring is coming to The Lot on February 27th. Come out to see some bouts as the community gears up for the big USA Boxing Nationals scheduled for downtown March 25- April 3.