A familiar Lafayette landmark has entered a stylish new era.

Park Lane, a formalwear boutique owned by Kerci McRae-Champagne, opened October 1 at 1304 W. Pinhook Road, inside the former Café Vermilionville.

The store offers a destination for shoppers preparing for weddings, galas, Mardi Gras events and other occasions that call for a memorable look.

Just as notable as the merchandise is the setting.

Rather than erase the character of the former restaurant, the Park Lane team adapted the historic building around the needs of a modern boutique.

The old kitchen has become a showroom and dressing-room area, while the main dining room’s recognizable architectural character remains part of the experience.

An ADA-accessible ramp was also added so the shop can welcome more customers comfortably.

The result is less like a conventional retail buildout and more like a thoughtful reuse of a place many Lafayette residents already know.

That sense of continuity matters on Pinhook Road, where the former Café Vermilionville property holds years of memories for diners, event guests and longtime residents.

Park Lane’s opening preserves activity in the building while giving it a purpose suited to the next generation of celebrations.

For McRae-Champagne, the location also creates a fitting backdrop for a business centered on milestone moments.

Formalwear shopping is often tied to an important date, and the restored rooms give appointments a sense of occasion before the event even begins.

Customers can explore Park Lane’s collections and appointment details through the boutique’s official website.

With its combination of fashion, preservation and adaptive reuse, Park Lane has turned a beloved piece of Lafayette’s past into a polished new local business.

Read the original reporting and visit the official resource for more details.