What do you think of when you think of Piccadilly? Baby Boomers might think of trays bursting full of shrimp cocktail, crawfish étouffée or chocolate cake. Maybe even remember the age of live organ music or rushing to Piccadilly on Third Street after church? Louisiana GenXers may remember going with parents and grandparents. Those younger than that might not go at all.
Piccadilly was founded in downtown Baton Rouge by T. H. Hamilton in 1944. Over the last 80-plus years, the restaurants have been the site of many cherished memories for people in the city — and beyond. However, since its founding, the times have changed. Dining habits across the country and locally have shifted. Locally, the restaurant scene has grown significantly. And, Piccadilly has changed.
Piccadilly in its heyday
For many in Baton Rouge, the cafeteria-style restaurant is a part of their core childhood memories — with so many memories of the restaurant on Third Street and in since-shuttered malls. Going to “the Piccadilly” was an elevated cafeteria experience: there were cloth napkins, live music, commissioned murals and home-cooked food. The Westmoreland mall location had chandeliers in its dining room. Many went there regularly enough for staff members to know their names.
Jeannine Gerald Schutte, 70, grew up going to the Piccadilly at Bon Marche Mall in Baton Rouge. Her family didn’t go out to eat super often in the 60s, but if they were shopping or running errands, they’d swing by as a treat. During her high school years (1968-1972), she was hired to play organ at the restaurant. As part of her payment, she got to eat a meal there during each shift for free. Her favorite meal was mac and cheese and chocolate pie for dessert.
The restaurants were busy. Schutte recalls soldiers stopping in by the bus-full, and readers wrote into the newspaper about their baseball or basketball teams stopping there for meals traveling to or from away games…