The Cost of Living Diaries: Southwest Louisiana
Get the scoop on what it’s like to live in the region.
Ask any resident, and they’ll quickly confirm that Southwest Louisiana is the best place to call home. While homey and inviting, this region is also brimming with activities – day and night. Plus, its outdoor recreation, from walking nature trails to boating on Lake Charles, can’t be beat.
Paul Pettefer
Owner
Paul’s Rib Shack Barbecue
Paul Pettefer grew up in the area, left for eight years to attend graduate school and pursue a career opportunity with Bank of America in Texas before moving back in 2000. He is currently the owner of Paul’s Rib Shack Barbecue, a restaurant he opened in 2019.
It’s home. I love the people. I love our traditions. There’s plenty to do. Great outdoors. My dad had a boat dealership, and so I had my own boat when I was 10 years old and could leave the house. “Sportsman’s Paradise” is what’s on our license plates.
It’s a bit of an “everyman’s” community. We have a lot of salt-of-the-earth people who enjoy their family, enjoy their community events and know how to rally around and improvise when the time comes, like after a hurricane. We help our neighbors. I think we lead the way in that.
The home we bought (in 2021), I thought it was a terrific deal. It’s a beautiful home – bigger than what I had and less work for me to fix. It was great. I’m shocked with how cheap I got it. It was about $400,000.
We’ve got a boating tradition, so you can fish, ski, take your family on a cruise or take guests on sunset boat rides. It’s fantastic.
I would say Tony’s Pizza. The owners are all my friends. It’s a full Italian restaurant, and it feels like you’re in a movie set at a traditional Italian restaurant. The folks know my name and make it fun. It’s red benches and checkerboard tablecloths and all the nostalgia of a traditional Italian family joint. It’s fantastic. Dinner for two would be around $30.
The Bekery is a beautiful French pastry shop with sandwiches. It’s ornate, and the pastries are great. I usually get some sort of espresso drink. I think they are getting their latte-art game together, so that’s really pretty.
Get to Know Southwest Louisiana
Want to learn more about living and working in Southwest Louisiana? Check out the latest edition of Livability Southwest Louisiana.
