Breaux Bridge – What could have been a barren, oil-stained parking lot – what was a crumbling attractive nuisance – is now a tony Italian restaurant staking out a corner of this city’s historic downtown.

Buck & Johnny’s Pizzeria will hold its grand opening at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 19.

The owners, for whom the business is a namesake, are local businessmen David Buck and Johnny Raymond.

Occupying a corner of the recently remodeled and restored Domingues Motors building, the restaurant specializes in pizzas, pastas, salads and specialty dishes prepared and presented in an elegant urbane style.

Executive Chef Morgan Angelle, a 2005 graduate of the New Orleans Culinary Institute, has developed a menu using mostly local products. The meats are purchased from Poche’s, the dough, breads and desserts from Poupart’s Bakery. The bar serves the locally brewed LA-31 Bière Pâle and the coffee is freshly roasted and ground at Baby’s Coffee in Breaux Bridge.

The restaurant is actually in what used to be the parts department of a then-thriving Chevrolet dealership. Gracing a back wall is a mural of Domingues Motors in its heyday by local artist Darryl “Demo” Demourelle, and memorabilia of that era enhance the decor. Oil cans serve as lamp shades and the tabletops are covered with automobile advertising from those bygone times. A loft has been added to provide upstairs dining and a nook for small private parties or business meetings. The outdoor patio has umbrella-shaded tables as well as a fountain and the foundation of the patio is covered with bricks that were formerly part of the original Jefferson Street in Lafayette.

The resurrection of Domingues Motors, which as an eyesore and a hindrance to the city’s efforts to clean up blighted properties, was the effort of Buck and his daughter, Heather Indest. The building also contains an antiques and art mall and automotive museum.

Buck & Johnny’s is managed by Ryan Hebert, who has extensive experience working in some of Acadiana’s finest dining establishments.

The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. It will close at 9 p.m., on Sunday evenings and remain closed on Mondays.