Bayou bites: Nawlins Style Po’boys opens in Alabaster

Published 11:01 am Thursday, July 11, 2024

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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Those looking for a spot to get a taste of an authentic po’boy don’t have to wait any longer after the opening of Nawlins Style Po’boys in Alabaster.

Known for their menu of Louisiana cravings, the local food truck Nawlins Style Po’boys has opened its first sit-down location at 1207 First St. N. where Chubbfathers was formerly located.

Stacy Byrd, who runs the business with her husband Darryl Byrd, expressed her excitement on how it feels to have opened a brick and mortar location and be serving customers.

“It feels great to see people come in and have a place to serve great food,” Stacy said.

Living up to its namesake, Nawlins Style Po’boys features a variety of traditional, New Orleans style po’boys that are served on French Gambino bread. They offer staples such as shrimp and catfish as well as non-traditional variants like a cheesesteak po’boy which Byrd said is one of Alabama’s favorites. Other po’boy options include, turkey, ham and hamburger. The business also offers seafood baskets and loaded fries.

With the opening of the new establishment, Nawlins Style Po’boys is planning on further expanding its menu with more offerings including salads, okra, tots and oysters as well as with specials like roast beef.

Currently, the top contender for a fan favorite item off the menu is the Bourbon Street Shrimp Po’boy with the catfish and shrimp basket also competing for number one.

Stacy expressed her main hope for when customers walk into Nawlins Style Po’boys.

“We want people to feel as if they are in New Orleans,” she said. “Every time I go home, I’m greeted with that southern hospitality and great food.”

Nawlins Style Po’boys first got its start four years ago at a difficult time during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic after Darryl decided that he would start his own business.

“We were just trying to brainstorm and I was like, ‘Well I miss some good Louisiana food,’ and that’s how Nawlins Style Po’boys was born,” Stacy said. “I came up with the name, we went out and bought a food truck and it’s been up since.”

The Byrds were able to secure the spot for their first stationary restaurant thanks to the help of Will Cholewinski, the owner of Chubbfathers, who has been a supporter of the business since its beginning.

“Once he got his new spot built, he gave us the option to come in and renovate this place and open it up for Nawlins,” Stacy said. “He (thought) that it’d be a great place for us and it’s a need here in Alabaster.”

After holding soft openings on June 28 and June 29, Nawlins Style Po’boys stayed open and has continued serving customers which has given the staff a chance to prepare for the grand opening.

The business will hold a grand opening on Friday, July 19 which will feature music, free desserts, Mardi Gras beads and more.

Nawlins Style Po’boys is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and can be reached at 205-358-8105.

Those interested in learning more about the business can visit its official Facebook page at Facebook.com/Nawlinsstylepoboys.