Thanks to a new city ordinance, Ruston businesses such as Ponchatoulas can now stay open until 2 a.m., when previously they could only be open until midnight. – Staff photo
Kailee Courts
Staff Reporter | kec029@ latech.edu
The Dawghouse, Sundown Tavern and Ponchatoulas have extended their hours, allowing customers to stay until 2 a.m.
The City of Ruston passed a new ordinance that allows restaurants to stay open until 2 a.m.
The ordinance came into effect on Sept. 1, allowing The Dawghouse, Sundown Tavern and Ponchatoulas to extend their hours. They were previously only able to stay open until midnight.
Kara Austin, a server at Ponchatoulas, said she believes the later hours benefit employees as well as customers.
“It’s fun to see everyone in the Ruston community get together to enjoy the night,” she said. “It’s also encouraging to hear my own friends planning to come out on the weekdays.”
Austin said she loves the later hours because it gives students more options.
“Ruston is on the smaller side, so it’s easy for students to get bored,” she said. “Now that we’re open later, people aren’t forced to leave and go somewhere else for food; they can stay and keep having a good time.”
For some employees at The Dawghouse, the later hours do not seem that great.
Joel Albritton, a junior electrical engineer major, works in the kitchen at The Dawghouse.
“It gets pretty boring staying open that late,” said Albritton. “I don’t think enough people know that we are open later.”
Joseph Juneau, a server and bartender at The Dawghouse, said he does not really like staying on the clock that late, but it is worth it.
“It brings in a lot of locals and more business,” said Juneau, a junior aviation major. “The money is definitely better.”
Trish Williamson is the front of house manager at The Dawghouse.
“I’ve been here for six years, and I think that this is good for the business,” said Williamson.
She said she gets less sleep and had to hire extra staff, but she said staying open later is something good for the Tech students.
“I think it’s great that they have more options to choose from,” she said. “There is less traveling between the bars and that is safer.”
Maddie Corbett, a sophomore business marketing major, said she loves that the businesses are open later.
“I think that staying open until 2 a.m. makes it safer for people to stay in town,” she said. “It’s easier for people to get rides from trusted individuals.”
Corbett said the later hours show that Ruston can compete with surrounding cities.
“Ruston is evolving,” she said. “It’s good for the community that these places are now able to stay open.”