West End

West End, or West End Heights depending on who you ask, is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Lafayette. This historic cultural district is part of the larger La Place Coterie neighborhood, which dates back to the early 1800s. This established and attractive area is filled with mature trees and landscaping as well as unique architecture. In fact, the first house in Lafayette to be built on a slab is located here. Adjacent to downtown, the neighborhood is bordered by several major highways, making commuting anywhere in the city easy. The area also hosts the annual Cinema on the Bayou Festival, which screens nearly 200 local, regional and international films for juried prizes.

Living in the West End offers more than a prime centralized location. There are plenty of architectural styles to pick from too. Houses here tend to have been built in the early 1900s, with many being 1930s cottages and bungalows. These iconic structures feature front porches for greeting neighbors and small carports for easy parking. The lots are smaller in size, so large lawns are a rarity. Prices range from $160,000 for a bungalow with two bedrooms and one bath to $600,000 for a four-bedroom, three-bath Tudor-inspired home.

Students in the West End neighborhood have their choice of private or public schools like J.W. Faulk Elementary, Lafayette Middle or Lafayette High. Faulk Elementary is a one-to-one technology school where students receive a Chromebook to do classroom work, research and homework on. Lafayette Middle operates an environmental sciences academy where students learn about Louisiana’s unique ecosystems and their inhabitants. Lafayette High has been named a standout state institution by the education ranking website, Niche. The facility offers magnet programs, French Immersion courses and an Academy of Health Careers.

Being a cultural district, it’s no surprise that the West End has its own museum to explore. The Lafayette Museum seeks to preserve and promote the rich historic heritage of the city and Acadiana. Built around 1800 as a one-room building with an attached kitchen, this was the home of Jean Mouton, one of the early European settlers of Lafayette. His son, Alexandre, inherited the home and, after becoming the first Democratic Governor of Louisiana, added three rooms for the comfort of himself and his wife. The house continued to grow over the next few decades until it became a stately multi-storied dwelling. Today, the museum offers guided tours for groups or individuals in addition to having self-guided tour sheets available in three languages.

Being close to downtown opens up a plethora of possibilities when it comes to dining. However, residents of the West End don’t have to leave the neighborhood for some of the most unique eateries around. Stepping into Coffeeweed Cottage, there may be a moment of slight confusion. Tantalizing smells of fresh coffee and pastries may have brought you in, but the books, plants and home décor items might make you think you’re in the wrong place. Luckily, you’ve found a boutique, café and bookstore all-in-one. There’s even a plant bar, where customers can pick their plant before putting it in customizable pots.

Johnson’s Boucaniere is located in a grocery store first opened in 1937. Johnson’s Grocery was the first dry goods store to sell boudin, a Cajun specialty sausage, commercially. The store sold the recipes to the restaurant, and the Boucaniere is still using them today. In fact, the original boudin recipe measured ingredients in Dixie Cup increments, and the eatery still uses the iconic paper cups to make the sausage. The restaurant is also known for its smoked meats, barbecue and plate lunches. Stop by for Sunday brunch or to take home some homemade BBQ sauce along with meat by the pound.

Lafayette’s West End neighborhood enchants residents with its rich culture and easy access to the rest of the city.

Written By

K.T. Phillips

Video By

Sara Warthen