Social Entertainment is a Lafayette-based hospitality company building experiences that bring people together through hospitality, dining, entertainment and development.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR VISION ↓
SOCIAL ENTERTAINMENT
WE DON’T JUST CREATE PLACES
WE CREATE REASONS TO BE THERE
Social Entertainment is a Lafayette-based hospitality company building experiences that bring people together through hospitality, dining, entertainment and development.
The Foundation Is Poured.The Future Is Taking Shape.
WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW
A major milestone has been reached in Downtown Lafayette.
The foundation slab has been poured for Hotel Lafayette, marking an exciting new phase of construction for the 83-room boutique hotel rising at 301 E. Vermilion Street, the former home of the iconic Don’s Seafood & Steakhouse.
What began as a vision to reimagine one of Downtown Lafayette’s most recognizable properties is now becoming something you can see taking shape.
For Social Entertainment, Hotel Lafayette represents more than a new building. It’s an investment in the continued evolution of Downtown Lafayette, creating a place designed for visitors and locals alike to stay, gather, dine, celebrate and experience the city from the heart of it.
With the foundation now in place, the vision is officially becoming reality.
HOSPITALITY. CULINARY. ENTERTAINMENT. DEVELOPMENT.
WHO WE ARE
For more than a decade, Social Entertainment has helped shape Acadiana through the places we create, the experiences we deliver and the community we proudly call home.
FEATURED DEVELOPMENT
HOTEL LAFAYETTE
DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE
Hotel Lafayette is an 83-room boutique hotel taking shape in the heart of Downtown Lafayette.
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Designed to bring together hospitality, dining and gathering under one roof, the development will feature a restaurant, outdoor pool and bar, approximately 2,500 square feet of event and meeting space, and guest accommodations created for both visitors and locals.
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Social Entertainment is proud to play a supporting role in bringing this exciting new addition to Downtown Lafayette to life.
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Construction is officially underway. More to come.
83
GUEST ROOMS
Including 2 premier suites
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RESTAURANT +
OUTDOOR BAR
Curated dining experiences
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POOL +
BAR
An elevated outdoor retreat
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2,500
SQ. FT. EVENT SPACE
For meetings + celebrations
DIFFERENT CONCEPTS. ONE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT.
SOCIAL ENTERTAINMENT PORTFOLIO
The Social Entertainment portfolio spans hospitality, food & beverage, entertainment, development and emerging consumer brands, each with its own identity, audience and story.
SERVING GOOD VIBES
A hospitality, production, community and development company creating experiences, events and partnerships throughout Acadiana and beyond.
HOTEL LAFAYETTE
An 83-room boutique hotel taking shape in Downtown Lafayette, bringing hospitality, dining, gathering and distinctly local character together.
BAYOU TECHE BREWING
An Acadiana-born brewery rooted in Louisiana culture, community, craft beer,
live music and seriously
good times.
CHEZ LA FÊTE
Distinctive Downtown venue bringing people together through celebrations, live entertainment, private events and unforgettable experiences.
CENTRAL PIZZA & BAR
A neighborhood-driven pizza and bar concept serving handcrafted favorites, cold drinks and good times in Acadiana.
TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE
Fresh flavors, smoothies and better-for-you food served with an easygoing, feel-good approach.
SOCIAL ENTERTAINMENT THROUGH THE YEARS
FROM THE ARCHIVES
A look back at the projects, people, partnerships and milestones that helped shape Social Entertainment and laid the foundation for what’s happening today.
Parisian-theme 'urban oasis resort' open for stays, parties in downtown Lafayette
Advocate - September 18, 2024
Visitors to Acadiana can now book stays at a new high-end guesthouse that comes with all of the bells and whistles to enjoy Lafayette's downtown cultural amenities.
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In a neighborhood known for a lack of lodging options, downtown has only one boutique hotel, The Juliet, with 20 rooms, Chez la Fête is positioned to "provide some incremental wins for downtown," according to Gus Rezende, owner of the Social Entertainment hospitality group, which owns this property.
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"As a downtown business owner and investor, we have learned from many different leaders about the lack of lodgings, hotels and residential living in the area," Rezende said.
$19M project aims to convert old Downtown Don's into 83-rom hotel
theCurrent - November 15, 2024
A group of local investors has teamed up with a Mississippi developer to construct an upscale 83-room hotel and restaurant at the site of the old Downtown Don’s Seafood & Steakhouse.
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The $19 million project has been in development for years. After Don’s shut down in 2020, local investors, led by Gus Rezende, Ryan Pécot, BJ Crist and John Petersen, purchased the property, located at the corner of Lee Avenue and Vermilion Street, and the lot across from it that served Don’s patrons. They have since partnered with The Thrash Group and Tandem Hospitality Group to build the four-story hotel, which will have a fitness room overlooking the outdoor pool and bar concept, and meeting and conference rooms.
Historic Don's Seafood building comes down for new hotel development
KATC - March 18, 2025
After more than 70 years of serving the community, Don’s Seafood and Steakhouse, a downtown staple since 1934, is being demolished to make way for a new hotel.
The once-beloved establishment, which has been vacant since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, now stands only as a memory, with rubble and debris scattered across the site.
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“We’re happy about this! We can’t wait to see the finished work and we’re looking forward to telling our friends about it,” said Lynda Landry, a local who works in downtown Lafayette.
Marc Broussard to Celebrate 20 Years of 'Carencro' at Downtown Rising in Lafayette
Hot107.9 - April 10, 2024ptember 18, 2024
Downtown Rising is gearing up to mark its 5th anniversary in a grand style, spotlighting Lafayette's own Marc Broussard. The event, set to take place at Parc International on Friday, September 27th, 2024, will honor 20 years since the release of Broussard's debut album, “Carencro,” named after the place right outside of Lafayette where he grew up.
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Doors will swing open at 5 pm for a night that will be a journey through 20 years of melodies, memories, and that magic that comes together when one of our own comes home to share the stage with the rest of our local talent. Speaking of that talent, Downtown Rising a line-up that features the North Mississippi Allstars, Lost Bayou Ramblers, DJ Digital, and RV—a little bit of something for everyone!
Hospitality fuels Social Entertainment
daily advertiser - April 26, 2016
While many 30-somethings are settling into a career or job hunting, Gus Rezende and B.J. Crist own and manage three bars and restaurants, guide fundraising and events for 10 companies and nonprofits and organize five music series and festivals.
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Rezende and Crist are the young entrepreneurs behind Social Entertainment, winner of the Start-Up Business of the Year in the Junior Achievement Hall of Fame Business Awards.
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Social Entertainment is the umbrella company that creates and coordinates businesses and events specializing in music, food and drink.
Business All-Stars spotlighted at Junior Achievement gala
daily advertiser - April 8, 2019
The Junior Achievement's Business Hall of Fame honored seven of Acadiana's top professionals at its annual awards gala on April 2 at the UL Ballroom. Several well known leaders made the list this year.
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Gus Rezende of Social Entertainment was named rising young business person, E.J Krampe earned the business person of the year award and Heidi Melancon recieved the Richard E. Baudoin "Friend of Business" award.
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Other honorees were: Ace Specialties, small business of the year. CGI, large business of the year and Laureates Gregg Gothreaux and Ema Haq.
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