Willie Mae’s Scotch House to Make LA Debut in Venice

New Orlean’s Willie Mae’s Scotch House is opening a new location in Venice, located at 324 Lincoln Blvd.

The 65-year-old James Beard-winning eatery is finally expanding beyond New Orleans, where the legend of Willie Mae Seaton’s chicken became famous. The founder, who passed away in 2015 at 99, opened as a bar in 1957 before relocating to its current location. Willie Mae’s great-granddaughter Kerry Seaton-Stewart, who operates the Louisiana location, will open in the heart of Venice with partner Mike Stewart. The duo, who plan on splitting their time between Los Angeles and New Orleans, will open before the end of summer.

The new location, first reported by Eater LA, will move into the former home of The Pie Hole, which closed at the beginning of the pandemic. Some Angelenos may remember when Willie Mae’s Scotch House recently collaborated with HiHo Cheeseburger founders Jerry Greenberg and Lowell Sharron on a fried chicken sandwich. Now the Stewarts are getting ready to give Venice the real deal with a standalone, full-service restaurant.

When this award-winning restaurant finally opens later this summer, customers can expect a wide variety of Southern comfort classics from a full menu. Some dishes that will be found at this restaurant include fried chicken, red beans, gumbo, and more. The move comes at a time when the fried chicken wars are in full swing throughout Los Angeles. The new restaurant will have to compete with chicken staples like Dinah’s and Roscoe’s.