KEY TAKEAWAYS: Lefort’s Seafood opened a second location March 11 in Marrero at the former Sal’s Seafood building. The $565,000 property acquisition was financed with support from JEDCO and Home Bank. Expansion retained seven jobs and created three new positions, bringing total staff to ne arly 50. The family-owned business continues sourcing seafood directly from Louisiana fishermen.   Lefort’s Seafood, a longtime Westbank seafood market known for its fresh local offerings and boiled seafood, has expanded with a second location in Marrero, taking over the former home of Sal’s Seafood and continuing a decades-long seafood tradition at the site. The new restaurant opened March 11 at 1512 Barataria Blvd. in a building that previously housed Sal’s Seafood, a popular neighborhood destination that operated there for more than 40 years. The expansion marks a major step for the family-owned business, which began as a small roadside seafood operation and has grown into a regional favorite. The project was supported by the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission and Home Bank, which helped finance Lefort’s $565,000 acquisition of the property through a structure similar to the Small Business Administration’s 504 loan program. The expansion retained seven existing jobs and created three new positions, bringing the company’s total workforce to nearly 50 employees across its two locations. “This project is a great example of how strategic partnerships can help local businesses grow and continue serving their communities,” said Jerry Bologna, president and CEO of the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission. Lefort’s Seafood was founded in 2004 by Jody Lefort, who initially sold fresh seafood from the back of a truck along local roadways before building a loyal customer base and opening a permanent market. After his father’s death in 2020, Brandon Lefort took over the business and began exploring ways to expand. The opportunity to acquire the former Sal’s Seafood property allowed the company to add restaurant space while preserving a location long associated with the Westbank’s seafood culture. “Lefort’s has always been about family, community, and supporting our local fishing industry,” said Brandon Lefort, owner of Lefort’s Seafood. “I had been looking to expand the business for some time and while I located several viable options across the region, something always drew me back to the Westbank. When the opportunity came up to purchase this building, it felt like the right way to grow while honoring a place that means a lot to both my family and the residents here.” The restaurant offers live, fresh and prepared seafood along with Louisiana staples such as gumbo, jambalaya and red beans. The business sources only domestic seafood, including Lake Des Allemands catfish, Gulf shrimp and locally harvested crabs and crawfish. Local officials said the expansion highlights the importance of supporting locally owned businesses tied to the region’s seafood economy. “Seafood and hospitality are part of the identity of Jefferson Parish,” said Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng. The new location allows the company to increase production capacity and serve more customers while continuing to source seafood directly from Louisiana fishermen. ...read more read less