3 generations deliver at The Lion’s Share

The lion’s den is reserved for the animal’s fair share – whatever is within the stealth cat’s grasp.

Restaurateur Craig Walker views his business much the same.

For 32 years, Walker’s The Lion’s Share has carved out its portion of the local food service industry. The Southland Mall-based restaurant is a landmark to the mall’s faithful.

“We may only have a small share of the market, but we have a share,” Walker said proudly.

The Lion’s Share opened in 1969. According to Walker, the first owners envisioned a spin-off of the Ground Pat’I Grille and Bar.

“It was a college hangout where draft beer and burgers were served,” he said.

Walker’s parents – Floyd and Peggy Walker – took ownership of the restaurant in 1977. The family also had a food service contract at Nicholls State University at the time.

Floyd ran the restaurant, while Peggy worked at Nicholls. Once the Nicholls’ deal ran out, she joined The Lion’s Share staff full-time and helped transform the eatery into a family place.

Walker recalls the quaint eatery offered more than 20-menu items – burgers, po-boys, steaks, stews and gumbos.

In the years since, head cook Jacqueline Clay has brought a few of her own specialties, growing the selection to more than 80 items.

“Ms. Jackie has been with us for a long time, and she has been able to make my grandmother’s recipes better,” said general manager David Walker – Craig Walker’s son and the third generation of Walkers to run the Houma restaurant.

“The beef stews, stuffed bell peppers and shrimp spaghetti and jambalayas during Lent are all Ms. Jackie’s creations,” he added.

The majority of The Lion’s Share’s customers frequent the mall diner for its daily lunch specials. The restaurant’s staples include smoked sausage or a fried pork chop with red beans and rice on Mondays; Tuesday’s are reserved for Ms. Jackie’s choice; on Wednesday’s, it’s spaghetti and meatballs; Thursdays, catfish with white beans and rice; and Friday’s wouldn’t be complete without shrimp fettuccine and a salad.

After 32 years in business, Craig Walker said the family is still able to deliver the same attention to detail upon which his parents built the restaurant. He credits the management and staff with keeping their vision going strong.

Floyd and Peggy Walker ran The Lion’s Share for 17 years before their passing – Mrs. Walker died in 1993, Mr. Walker the following year.

Craig Walker took over the eatery the next year, in 1995. His son, David, came aboard in 2003.

The family operation employs 30 people who, collectively, have nearly 200 years of experience in the food service industry, according to Craig Walker.

“Our staff has been very loyal to us,” he said. “The business may be owned by the Walker family, but we are all family here.”

Running a successful business is very time consuming, the Walkers agreed. The hardest part is pleasing customers and providing a quality product. So far, they have mastered both, in their opinion.

“The bottom line is you assume the responsibility of making sure your customers are happy,” David Walker said. “When a cook doesn’t come to work, you’re the cook. When a waitress doesn’t come to work, you’re the waitress. You do everything you can to make sure that people leave your establishment with a smile.”

It’s also reassuring to see the next generation of Walkers take an interest in the family business, Craig Walker said. “It is wonderful working with my son. One day soon, he will be able to take over just as I did.”

When that day arrives, David Walker admits he’ll miss having his dad around, but looks forward to living up to the challenge of protecting the family restaurant’s reputation.

“Dad has worked all his life and I want him to have the best time ever when he retires and not have to worry about the restaurant,” the younger Walker said. “With my restaurant background, I can surely take us into the future.”

The Lion’s Share owner Craig Walker inherited the family restaurant from his parents, Floyd and Peggy Walker, back in 1995. He hopes to one day pass it to the next generation – his son David Walker. * Photo by SOPHIA RUFFIN