After bouncing around to various locations in Baton Rouge through pop-up stands and food trucks, Manning Bergeron is gearing up to open the brick-and-mortar version of House Brew.
In 2024, Bergeron started the coffee shop from a truck on Florida Street, then moved to the Mid City bar Pelican to Mars — operating from there for the last two years, except for a brief stint parked in front of Oxbow Rum Distillery. Now, House Brew will soft launch its new location at 278 North St. on Aug. 11. The grand opening will be Aug. 15.
Bergeron has shifted from the Mid City crowd and returned to downtown clientele on the corner of North Street and Third Street, the former home of Social Coffee, which closed in May 2024.
“When we had our pop up on Florida Street, I got to really see what downtown was like, and that this is the kind of crowd I want to be around,” Bergeron said. “Downtown has this hustle bustle vibe, and everyone is working. They’re in and out. It’s easier to plan for.”…