Judice’s 1927 shares reopening plans following warehouse fire

Published 3:52 pm Monday, June 3, 2024

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NEDERLAND — Judice’s 1927 is set to reopen Wednesday following a warehouse fire early Sunday, owner Al Judice IV said.

The fire occurred at approximately 3:50 a.m. Sunday at an add-on area to the restaurant, destroying the building. The restaurant at 3520 Nederland Ave. was not damaged, he said.

Nederland Fire Chief Terry Morton said the building is approximately 20-feet by 30-feet in size. Officials believe they know the origin of the fire but it remains under investigation, which is standard procedure.

A view of the damage from Sunday’s fire. (Courtesy photo)

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Judice said no one was at the building at the time of the blaze.

He and crews plan to clear out the damage, throw out all of the food in the warehouse, do food prep work Tuesday and be online Wednesday morning.

“I personally want to thank the firefighters for the amazing job they did. They saved our livelihood and saved everything,” Judice said.

Judice also owns 1927 Meat Company, 3500 Nederland Ave. It not affected by the fire at the restaurant.

Judice’s 1927 is the culmination of several generations of family. Al Judice Sr. opened Judice’s French Market on the corner of 13th and Waco streets in Port Arthur in 1927. Ten years later they purchased the iconic store on 7th Street. He ran the store with sons Larry, Al and Kevin.

Larry went on to buy the family store in Groves, turning it into Larry’s French Market & Cajun Restaurant.

Al Judice III purchased Judice’s French Market in 1975, adding the deli and sandwich shop. He sold the store to his son, Al Judice IV, in 2010.

Al Judice IV took the family recipes and Cajun culture to Bridge City in 2015, opening Judice’s Cajun Café. He later sold the 7th Street Store. In 2018, Al IV bought the former Sartin’s Seafood at 3520 Nederland Avenue and opened a year later.