Ghyslain Lou. No. 2 opening in Westport Village in Oct., Kayrouz partnership vying for L&N site

Ghyslain Maurais expected a move to Louisville would be a smart one when he opened Ghyslain on Market in downtown Louisville nearly two years ago.

Ghyslain Maurais

But when I first met him a few months post-opening, he was concerned things were too good, that “it’s too busy right now. I’d hoped to go slower.”

Great problem to have.

And it appears he’s accepted the fact that Louisvillians are fond of his French café fare, because he’s opening a second outlet October 1 in Westport Village. Dubbed Ghyslain at Westport Village, the restaurant will be located in the former Mike Best’s Meats location, not far from the center of the Village.

“We were looking for places on the east side for about six months, and then (Underhill Associates) called to say Mike’s Best went out of business,” Maurais said. In addition to his current spot here, he has two other restaurants in Richmond and Zionsville, Ind. “They had been eating at our place downtown and liked it, and they asked if we were interested to go into Westport Village. We were, and so we signed a lease.”

Between now and opening, Maurais said some site reconfiguration is in order, such as moving walls, changing tiles, etc., but nothing major.

The concept will remain largely similar to the current Louisville operation (though he expects “to have a few more entrees on the dinner menu. Everything else is the same,” he said. Click here to see the current menu.).

Maurais said he knew an East End location was crucial to get to the typically lazy Louisvillian driver who “doesn’t like to come downtown too much, so they might come to our place once a month,” he said.

Adding with a laugh, he said, “20 minutes is about as much as they want to drive. And they’re picky about parking!”

Though Ghyslain’s breakfast menu is not as extensive as Wild Eggs, located just a stone’s throw away in the Village, its entry to the neighborhood will provide an option to those told they’ll wait for a table at Wild Eggs. Its lunch options will be welcome, too.

“It’s good for both businesses to be near each other,” Maurais said.

* In other restaurant news … it appears the L&N Wine Bar and Bistro site won’t sit empty for too long.

According to a legal declaration posted on the Courier-Journal’s website, a business group dubbed II Cousins, LLC, has applied for a restaurant liquor and wine by the drink, and retail beer license for a restaurant site at 1765 Mellwood Ave.

Yep, that’s where L&N Bistro and Wine Bar operated for nine years, but closed earlier this year when owners Len and Nancy Stevens deemed it time to move on.

Not straying too far from the theme put forth by L&N, the new joint will be called 1860 Wine Bar & Bistro and be owned by Terry L. Fereday and Ron P. Kayrouz.

Yes, that restaurant family. And proof of how small a town Louisville is … I had a sinus issue earlier this year and wound up seeing Kayrouz’s wife, Dr. Ilana C. Kayrouz, who, upon learning I was a food writer, said, “My husband is thinking about starting another restaurant.”

Save for what happens at City Hall, there aren’t many secrets in this town.

Expect some follow-up info on this operation later this week.