Historic Highland Road Grill Will Open Thursday
A new restaurant will debut at the former site of Sammy’s Grill in Baton Rouge.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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The Historic Highland Road Grill is scheduled to open its doors in Baton Rouge on Thursday, October 15, 2026. The new eatery will occupy the 8,300-square-foot space previously held by the long-standing Sammy’s Grill.
Why it matters
The opening marks a new chapter for a landmark location in the city following the closure of Sammy’s Grill in June after nearly four decades of operation.
The new restaurant operates within an 8,300-square-foot facility. This opening follows the departure of the site's previous tenant, which served the area for nearly 40 years.
The players
Willie Chapman
He is the owner of the new restaurant and has 17 years of experience managing Willie's Restaurant.
Historic Highland Road Grill
This new dining establishment is set to occupy the 8,300-square-foot site at 8635 Highland Road.
Sammy's Grill
This restaurant previously operated at the Highland Road location for nearly 40 years before closing in June.
The details
Located at 8635 Highland Road, the establishment is owned by Willie Chapman, who has 17 years of experience running Willie's Restaurant. The venue will begin serving dinner at 5 p.m. on its opening day.
Timeline
Sammy's Grill closed in June 2026.
The Historic Highland Road Grill opens Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 5 p.m.
Market Landscape
This opening reflects the broader industry trend of redeveloping legacy restaurant spaces to maintain commercial vitality in established corridors. Such transitions allow new operators to capitalize on existing footprints while attempting to build upon the history of prime locations.
Local diners can expect a new dinner service option starting at 5 p.m. this Thursday. Further details regarding reservations will be provided to the public as they are finalized.
The takeaway
The transformation of this site offers residents a new dining option in a familiar location. Interested patrons should monitor upcoming announcements for information on how to secure their first reservations.
What happens next
Management will announce reservation opportunities in the near future.
Further reading
For more updates on local dining changes, visit the Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Advocate.
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