LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Eat My Catfish, Arkansas’ favorite seafood restaurant known for its
delectable catfish, crawfish and Southern-inspired cuisine, announces the anticipated grand
reopening of its Breckenridge location on January 9, 2024. The restaurant sustained heavy
damage from the March 31, 2023 tornado, requiring nearly eight months of major external and
internal structural reconstruction. The grand reopening of Eat My Catfish’s Breckenridge
location helps to symbolize the greater resilience and strength of the community in the ongoing
reconstruction efforts following the tornado.
“Since the day the storm hit, the staff and the entire Eat My Catfish team have banded together,
showing a resilience that has helped make reopening Breckenridge possible,” Eat My Catfish
Founder and President Travis Hester said. “We are also so grateful to have experienced the
true spirit of kindness and generosity of the community. Our Breckenridge location is a symbol
of the strength of Little Rock, and we look forward to returning to serve the community we love.”
On March 31, a violent EF-3 tornado tore through portions of Little Rock with Eat My Catfish’s
Breckenridge location in its direct path. Numerous Eat My Catfish employees and guests were
inside the restaurant at the time, however, employees heroically helped guests and other
individuals in the area get to a safe space quickly. Following the storm, staff and guests
emerged from their safe spaces to see the restaurant destroyed. Fortunately, no one inside the
restaurant was injured. Eat My Catfish’s building also sustained a second wave of damage
following straight-line winds from a September 2023 area microburst.
Since the storm, Eat My Catfish’s Breckenridge staff members began working at the new
Riverdale location, which opened in June 2023. Some staff members will return to the
Breckenridge location, while the restaurant will also add additional staff members.
“Our staff not only rode out the storm at Breckenridge, but they helped many people to safety that day, saving lives,” Hester said. “Since then, those staff members have been instrumental in
opening our Riverdale location. We are thankful for their dedication and are excited that many
will return to the newly reconstructed Breckenridge location.”
Rebuilding efforts for the restaurant included adding a new roof, replacing doors and windows
and installing a new heat and air system and frame. Additional repairs included rebuilding the
interior walls of the restaurant. Eat My Catfish will announce details on a grand reopening
celebration in the coming weeks.
The Breckenridge location is one of Eat My Catfish’s eight Arkansas locations, including Benton,
Conway, North Little Rock, Fayetteville, Siloam Springs, Rogers and Little Rock (Riverdale).
About Eat My Catfish
Eat My Catfish is a renowned seafood restaurant that takes pride in serving the freshest and
most flavorful Southern-inspired dishes. With a commitment to quality, friendly service, and a
warm atmosphere, Eat My Catfish has become a go-to destination for catfish lovers across
Arkansas. Established in 2008, the restaurant now operates four catering trailers and eight
brick-and-mortar locations, with the newest addition located in Little Rock’s Riverdale Shopping
Center.
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