Jefferson Market to Open in Lafayette by Mardi Gras

The planned market at 620 Jefferson Blvd. is part of an effort to expand fresh food access in underserved parts of Lafayette.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Organic Food

Jefferson Market to Open in Lafayette by Mardi Gras

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Jefferson Market and Deli is planned for 620 Jefferson Blvd. in Lafayette, Louisiana, and is set to open on Mardi Gras in 2027. The market will accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and plans to sell everyday groceries, fresh food and healthier grab-and-go meals.

Why it matters

Nearly half of Lafayette's residents, about 65,000 people, live in areas considered low-income and low-access, where fresh food is not readily available. The market is part of a broader effort by United Way of Acadiana to address gaps in food access in underserved neighborhoods.

Roughly 65,000 Lafayette residents, nearly half the city's population, live in low-income, low-access areas, defined as more than 1 mile from fresh food. The market has not yet released pricing, staffing or projected customer volume, and its opening date depends on the planned Mardi Gras 2027 timeline.

The players

United Way of Acadiana

A regional nonprofit that coordinates community programs and funding to address needs such as food access across the Acadiana region of south Louisiana.

The details

Jefferson Market and Deli is planned in a historic building between St. Charles and Sterling streets, near Pontiac Point. Plans call for everyday groceries, fresh food and healthier grab-and-go meals, with the market hoping to provide jobs, buy from local farms and gardens, and offer programming on preparing healthier meals.

Mardi Gras 2027: planned opening date for Jefferson Market and Deli at 620 Jefferson Blvd.

Market Landscape

Jefferson Market's SNAP acceptance places it within the federal SNAP retailer authorization framework that governs which grocers can accept benefits, extending that framework to a new outlet in an area the source describes as low-access. The planned market also has a co-owner who runs Amis Grocery downtown, linking it to an existing local grocery operation.

Lafayette residents who live more than a mile from fresh food may gain a nearby option for everyday groceries once the market opens. Shoppers using SNAP benefits will be able to use them at the market, which may ease access to healthier grab-and-go meals.

The takeaway

Check whether a grocer accepts SNAP benefits before planning your shopping, since acceptance determines whether you can use those benefits there. Watch for pricing and hours from new neighborhood markets so you can compare fresh food costs against your usual stores.