hayride scandal team is expanding to mid city with a new neighborhood friendly bar

The buzz has already started about the next venture from four members of the Hayride Scandal team, Remi DeMatteo, Robyn Andermann, and brothers Lance and Scott Paddock. They are already credited with successfully opening up the swanky cocktail bar, Hayride Scandal, in Baton Rouge, but they are not stopping there. They're looking forward to their next concept: a unique opportunity in Mid City.

Lance had long coveted the commercial space on Government St near the Garden District, and when it came up for lease, he called up Remi and told him, “I have something to show you.”  

Minutes after standing in front of the bright teal building that formerly housed The Collective and a local body shop, the two started brainstorming. While the team’s focus on quality and historically and culturally relevant cocktails wouldn’t change, it was obvious this space called for a entirely different concept. 

They are putting a mid-century inspired living room in the old office space, throwing up the garage doors and building a large-scale version of a home bar, with rows of taps for beer, wine and carefully chosen cocktails. All of this will spill out onto a covered patio with a grill for hot dogs and hamburgers.   

“Basically, the dream bar we would love to build in my garage and backyard if I could” said Lance. "Since Robyn and I live in the Garden District, we can just walk to Pelican to Mars... we're excited to make this bigger and better!”

“We named it Pelican to Mars, which fits the mid-century Mid City vibe of the space” said Remi. “Scott’s looking forward to taking a few turns manning the grill as well.”  

Scott, the day to day manager, spotlights Pelican to Mars' local emphasis. “We see Pelican to Mars as a fun neighborhood bar with a relaxed atmosphere. A pet friendly environment that gives you that much more of an incentive to walk your dog or for a breath of fresh air. We really want it to be a place where dogs can go and have a comfortable experience. We hope to have considerable foot and bicycle traffic especially since the Government Street corridor is getting a beautiful facelift to encourage a more pedestrian friendly landscape and traffic flow. Plenty of bike racks will be provided."

Scott added that "We really like being next to The Pink Elephant, probably the perfect neighbor for us. Lance, Robyn and I all went to Baton Rouge High across the street, so this is home for us and we plan on running specials for teachers."

The plan for now is to be open seven days a week and enthusiastically participate in the various art and cultural events of Mid City, in addition to hosting their own pop-up art events and vendors throughout the year. They also plan to host a food truck or two on a rotating basis depending on seasonal foodstuff availability and market demands. Daily coffee and a Sunday brunch is a strong possibility along with various seasonally available frozen drinks and boozy and or virgin snow-cones/snowballs.

We are still working through all the options and would love to hear ideas from the neighborhood” added Scott.

Robyn has already been researching the cocktails that will accompany the 34 beers and 6 wines on tap. “While we will not hem in what we are doing, the location and space will certainly lend itself to Tiki inspired cocktails, mid century standards like Stingers, Gibsons and a wonderful version of a Grasshopper. Blended Cuban style daiquiris, punches and other drinks for being outside in warm weather… so many possibilities!” 

Regardless of what Pelican to Mars decides to offer their patrons, the Mid City community seems very excited to welcome Mid City's newest neighborhood bar to one of Baton Rouge's most exciting corridors.