A New Home for a Lost Cajun

How authentic Cajun food from a chain found its way to Huntersville

Lake Norman Currents | January 2020

By Aaron Garcia

Authentic Cajun food. From a franchise. In Greenville, S.C. Steve Galloway was skeptical.

Yes, the news of the newly opened The Lost Cajun restaurant was coming from his brother, Joe, with whom he had shared a childhood in Louisiana. Galloway, though, is safely referred to as a Cajun food snob after essentially growing up in Creole kitchens, starting in "mom-and-pop po'boy shops in the back of gas stations." He and his wife, Rebecca, even first met as college students while both worked at Judge Roy Bean's, a Cajun restaurant in Lafayette.

So when he said "somebody knows what they're doing here" after stacking the restaurant's gumbos and etouffee against his own, Galloway was getting more than just a taste of home. He was starting to grow an appetite for more.

From donuts to beignets

When the trip to his brother's happened five years ago, Galloway's professional life had long since taken him away from his Cajun roots. Throughout his decades-long career he's worked as a consultant and executive, mainly within the food services industry. He, Rebecca and the rest of their family had lived in Connecticut and were roughly halfway through a nine-year stretch in Florida, where Galloway was part owner of a 25-store Dunkin Donuts franchise group.

Adding a Cajun restaurant to his portfolio, says Galloway, was intriguing. So he called The Lost Cajun's owner, Raymond Griffin.

"I'm a Cajun boy living in Florida and I'm interested in doing something like this," Galloway told him. The two met, became friends, and agreed to expand into the Florida market. A merger involving his Dunkin Donuts group led to a delay, however, and the Galloways soon hopped on another opportunity with the donut franchise in the Winston-Salem area. After moving to the area and getting that investment settled last year, Galloway called Griffin and let him know he was ready to proceed. He purchased the rights to The Lost Cajun in western North Carolina.

The chain, first started in Colorado (Griffin, apparently, was way off course), was started in 2010, giving Galloway an opportunity to work with a brand that is closer to a startup than his more-established portfolio of national chains.

"Part of the attraction to me is to share my learnings of my 30-year career with this concept and these people and help us grow," said Galloway. "It's an exciting time for me."

Find this Cajun

The Lost Cajun's location is tucked away near the fountains at Northcross Village, which was ideal mainly because it was available. It's a similar profile to their Burlington location, which opened roughly 60 days before their restaurant here — hardware store, large parking lot, good area, etc. And while its lack of visibility may prove to be a detriment, the Galloways have plans for a food trailer, which will help with signage. As will the indoor and exterior décor, which the two say is a deliberate mix between "a Cajun fish camp and a New Orleans-style bistro."

Of course, word of mouth has been key. While some may be skeptical to hear about a new authentic Cajun restaurant, from a chain, in Huntersville, the feedback the two have gotten from misplaced Cajuns who have found their way to their restaurant — whether it's for the light, buttery Catfish-toufee, the hearty gumbos and boudin balls, or the zydeco music — proves The Lost Cajun has found a home in Huntersville.

"The culture is a big part of what we do, and it's unique," says Galloway. "Having lived there and growing up there and having it in my DNA, it's a lot of fun for us to share that with people."