METAIRIE, Louisiana (WVUE) – Metairie is set to see heavy construction as new restaurants prepare to open along Veterans Boulevard.

Gene Colley and his business partner Anthony Cruz study the new menu of their new restaurant, which is scheduled to open in a few weeks.

They are the owners of Southerns, known for its spicy chicken, and will soon be moving to a new storefront on Veterans Boulevard in Metairie.

“We try to do everything we do perfectly,” Colley said. “We give it everything we’ve got. It’s been as hard as it can be to grow this thing, and it’s paying off in the long run.”

Renovations at the location began last June and are now complete. The duo said the menu is ready and affordable for Metairie residents.

“There are chicken sandwiches, tenders, cracklin’ and fries,” Cruz said. “We’re in the $9 to $13 price range.”

There are plans to bring the old Crazy Johnnie’s Steak House on Veterans Boulevard back to life after its previous location on 18th Street closed in 2014.

Hans Liljeberg, councilman for Jefferson Parish’s 5th District, said he was happy to see Crazy Johnnie’s steaks back.

“I remember crazy Johnny when I was a kid,” Liljeberg said.

“I talked to the owner. He said his steaks would be about three or four dollars more expensive than when they closed,” he said.

Crazy Johnnie’s is set to land at this location, the old town bar on Veterans Street, just down the street from Southerns.

Liljeberg said this is a new era of growth on Veterans Boulevard and its surrounding areas.

“The great thing about this community is that we like to attract new businesses. I’ve read a lot about the Southerners, I’ve read a lot about Crazy Johnnie’s,” he said. “They want to be successful and they’re going to work hard, they really want to be successful. I know they’re going to work hard, and I think it’s going to work out just fine.”

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