Alligator Ray?s Slated for Oct. 20

It has been almost a year since Steve Woodard of Clarksville started planning his first Fayetteville restaurant. Now, it looks like Alligator Ray’s Oyster and Daiquiri Bar will open Oct. 20.r

Woodard said it took months to find the plumbing diagram for the 76-year-old Laundry Building before he could get a building permit from the state and begin interior renovation work.r

Now, construction is under way to convert the 4,100-SF space that previously housed Faybles bookstore and Metropolis, a hair salon, to be Alligator Ray’s.r

Woodard owns three other Cajun restaurants: Fat Tuesday’s in Little Rock and Altus and an Alligator Ray’s in Altus.r

Woodard said he opened the Alligator Ray’s in Altus on Jan. 1, 2000. The restaurant was a favorite hangout for Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, who spent months in Altus while filming the Fox Television show “The Simple Life.”r

The Fayetteville restaurant/bar will seat about 150 people and will include a couple of pool tables, Woodard said.r

Steve Daney, who served as chef to former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, will be the chef at Alligator Ray’s.