There's been yet another delay in the long-anticipated opening of New Orleans-based Dat Dog hotdog emporium at 201 Jefferson St. Originally scheduled to open at the end of summer, the restaurant’s opening date was pushed back indeterminately in August when the company, according to an ABiz report at the time, realized the building’s condition required more rehabilitation than previously planned. At that time the target date was the end of this year. Now, we’re hearing it will be closer to February before Dat Dog is slinging frankfurters at the end of Jefferson Street.

“We’ve been working hard to put the finishing touches on the layout for our building in Lafayette, to be sure that everything will be perfect for our guests,” Victoria VerHagen, director of marketing and brand management for parent company Dat Dog Enterprises, tells ABiz via email. “We’re starting to swing hammers inside the building and are looking forward to our opening date near the beginning of the year.”

The 15,000-square-foot building at the corner of Jefferson and Cypress streets was once home to The Times of Acadiana and suffered significant water damage in 2002 during Hurricane Lili. Part of the building was most recently home to the Tipitina’s Music Co-op, but it has mostly been vacant for the last decade.

For more on the Dat Dog concept, read sister pub The Independent’s giddy introduction from January when the company announced plans to expand to Lafayette.