SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) – The Cotton Boll Grill has reopened its doors in Oct. 2026, after more than two years of closure.
The Cotton Boll Grill has reopened its doors in Oct. 2026, after more than two years of closure.(KSLA)New Ownership, Familiar Faces
Red McGee and Sarah Yatcko are the owners and managers of the grill. The two were formerly employees of the previous owners.
The two say they have worked tirelessly over the last year to ensure everything is cleaned up, put in order and put back together.
“It’s been a learning experience, because I’ve been managing restaurants for years, but I’ve never taken on the full role of owning a restaurant, so it’s been interesting, but it’s been fun,” said Yatcko.
A Long Road to Reopening
The restaurant was previously managed by different people, whom McGee previously attempted to make a deal with to manage the restaurant, planning to open in 2025, but the deal fell through because the previous owner wanted to be done with the restaurant altogether.
“The previous managers and owner had a disagreement or whatever,” McGee said. “I came to the owner at the time, and I was like, ‘hey, me and [Yatcko] can open it back up.’ And he agreed to it. And at the last minute, he backed out.”
The Cotton Boll Grill has reopened its doors in Oct. 2026, after more than two years of closure.(KSLA)
“He just wanted to sell it. He just wanted to get his investment back on it. He just wasn’t interested in running it anymore,” Yatcko said.
The two eventually were able to buy the restaurant and reopen after a year of trying to get things together.
“Another year passed of us trying to get things together and figure something out on how we could reopen it because this is the dream. So, here we are,” Yatcko said.
When asked what is different about the new and improved Cotton Boll, McGee said he was able to combine his experience from working under the two previous owners to know what works and doesn’t work.
“I’ve been under the two previous owners. So, I took a little bit of what I learned from them two and put it together, so I know what works and doesn’t work.”
Fan Favorites Return
Though the Cotton Boll Grill is officially under new management, the menu specials beloved by customers still remain.
The Cotton Boll Grill has reopened its doors in Oct. 2026, after more than two years of closure.(KSLA)
“We’re bringing back our specials, our key specials that we’ve been having for many years,” said McGee.
In addition to the specials, they are bringing back older menu items that were a crowd favorite.
“Today would be smothered pork chops and meatloaf or whatever. And we got all our breakfast items, you know. We’re bringing the older menu back with the good biscuits and gravy and all the normal stuff that everybody fell in love with at the Cotton Boll to begin with.”
The Cotton Boll Grill has reopened its doors in Oct. 2026, after more than two years of closure.(KSLA)A Partnership Built on Friendship
The two were able to mesh everything they knew together to create a partnership. McGee said Yatcko was the first person he called when he found out the restaurant was available for purchase.
Their friendship began when the two were employees at the Cotton Boll, and they have been close ever since, even maintaining a friendship when they both left the restaurant under previous management.
When asked about their partnership, Yatcko described the close, family-like bond they have built with one another.
“We have been super close ever since. We left the Cotton Bowl together. We visited each other. We got our kids together and everything ever since we left the Cotton Bowl. So, we’ve stayed in contact this entire time until we finally figured out that it was possible,” said Yatcko.
Community Excitement
The history of the restaurant’s closings and delayed openings left loyal customers excited when word spread that the grill was officially reopening.
“Honestly, while we were getting stuff ready and people would see our cars parked outside, a lot of people would stop by and be like, ‘hey, are y’all already opening? What’s going on?’ So, we had a lot of people that would just stop by because they saw us here,” said Yatcko.
The Cotton Boll is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“I’ll be at the grill like always. And Sarah will be here too with me,” said McGee, followed by, “y’all come out. Y’all come see us. Y’all come support us because we really need you too.”
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Dining and Cooking