Who We Are
The Perkins Historic Merchants District Association is a non-profit
group of business owners, community leaders, artists, musicians,
restaurateurs, and home-grown Baton Rougeans that make up the vibrant
community on Perkins Road by the Overpass. We collaborate with each
other to bring focus to this diverse and charming area of the capitol
city and to celebrate and foster a spirit that is uniquely ours, and
uniquely Louisiana's, at its best. We are where modern meets
mom-and-pop; where big-city glam meets small-town heritage. Come see
what you've been missing at the Perkins Historic Merchants
District...where modern history unfolds.
Press and Media
Please see the listing below. | History
From humble beginnings as land overseen by colorful character Captain
Hickey, to the burst of growth brought by the arrival of the railroad,
the Perkins Road Historic Merchants District has continued to evolve
with its residents and place its own stamp on local history. The 1960s
brought with it a flurry of bohemian counter-culture to the neighborhood
and we became Baton Rouge's mecca for live music. The Colonel's Club
(now Chelsea's Cafe) and Ruby's (now George's Bar and Restaurant) were
centers of a music scene that was defined by R&B and Rock and Roll.
Our current incarnation sees modern, high fashion boutiques next to
historic businesses that have been operated by its owners for decades;
our restaurants are where gourmet, avant garde food is served next to
classic Louisiana dishes. Spend a day browsing antiques, shopping for
designer clothes, eating at our fine restaurants--you can even relax at a
yoga studio, drop off your dry cleaning, get a tattoo, get your hair
styled, or design a website! Our history is being made everyday; stop by
and become a part of our story. | 
