East Texas Business

By GREG JUNEK
Business Editor

With new owners about to start a new restaurant, Jakes Tyler, in downtown, the owner of another new restaurant said things are going well for her business.

"We've got a lot of good customers who are already repeat customers," said Lillie Beaudoin, owner of The Hidden Gate II.

Mrs. Beaudoin opened her restaurant Feb. 11 at 109 E. Erwin St., in the space formerly occupied by Baan Nitaya.

She had several years to perfect the restaurant. Mrs. Beaudoin opened the original Hidden Gate on Fleishel Avenue off of Troup Highway nearly five years ago.

The new restaurant downtown features home cooking, just as the original does, she said. It serves American food predominantly, but specials include French, German and Irish dishes. And homemade chili is always available.

Mrs. Beaudoin and husband, Robert Beaudoin, moved to Tyler about eight years ago. They bought a small house on Fleishel Avenue and two lots behind it and opened The Hidden Gate as a tea room and gift shop. They later added the restaurant.

"When we got here, it just seemed the appropriate thing to do," she said. "It seemed the thing here, the main thing they wanted to do was go out and eat. It worked out really well. It's been a really unique experience for everyone, including us."

In downtown, Mrs. Beaudoin operates a restaurant in a much larger space - 2,440 square feet upstairs and downstairs. She said she is remodeling the downstairs for a club.

The restaurant will serve some food downstairs for private parties and special occasions, and she said she plans to add live entertainment.

Mrs. Beaudoin said The Hidden Gate on Fleishel Avenue scaled its activity down a bit with the opening of the downtown restaurant. The one downtown has a slightly larger menu, featuring more seafood and steaks.