Furlong's restaurant on Tiverton closes; Proud Mary BBQ opening at former Riptide restaurant

Furlong's, the Cajun restaurant on Tiverton Way whose logo featured a jockey on a crawfish, closed last week, owner Tommy Walters said.

Walters plans to open Proud Mary Honky Tonk BBQ with his daughters, Emilee Walters Sierp and Haylee Walters, in the former Riptide restaurant at 9079 Old Richmond Road near the Kentucky River.

The large new restaurant is to open Wednesday and have a barbecue and brunch buffet on Easter Sunday, Tommy Walters said.

Furlong's, been a fixture in Lexington since 1992, won't go away entirely. Catering will continue, as will appearances by the Crazy Bout Cajun food truck.

And Walters said this might not be the last of Furlong's.

"If the right property would come up again in Chevy Chase or downtown, Furlong's would definitely make an appearance again," he said. For now, fans can get their Cajun fix at Proud Mary, which will have crawfish boils in the summer, he said.

Walters had not planned to close Furlong's, but he was approached about leasing the spot for a new restaurant.

Shawarma Grill & Bakery, a Mediterranean concept, is to open about May 1 in the old Furlong's site on Tiverton Way, owner Adam Owda said.

"We're going to be serving Mediterranean food, mostly organic, with no alcohol, fresh bread and fresh juices," he said. "It will be a healthy restaurant."

This story was originally published March 30, 2015 at 2:17 PM with the headline "Furlong's restaurant on Tiverton closes; Proud Mary BBQ opening at former Riptide restaurant."