A Hammond tradition has a new look at Don’s Seafood & Steak House.

A six-month, $1 million renovation will soon come to fruition for owner Mike Landry with a grand reopening of the restaurant throughout of August.

Landry said the new layout will showcase a central bar where customers can eat, drink and watch their food cook. Video cameras will be placed in the bar area so that customers in other dining areas can see food being cooked and oysters being shucked.

Soup, gumbo and boiled shrimp will be cooked at the bar.

“The bar will be enhanced, but the restaurant will still be family oriented,” Landry said.

The renovated structure will include new booths and tables in the dining areas, 17 televisions, three which will show a slide show of Landry family pictures. Family photos will also be showcased throughout the restaurant.

“Keeping with the family atmosphere, we are adding family photos all over the restaurant,” Landry said. “They are mostly of our family growing up in Grand Isle.”

Salvage wood was used to create the atmosphere, and a new menu cover displays an old picture of Lafayette residents waiting outside the doors of its downtown restaurant during its 20-year celebration in 1958. The black-and-white photo depicts a crowd of people waiting in line for 1938 prices.

Seating will expand from 60 to 85.

Wood doors will be added to the front entrance.

“We do a lot of carryout business,” Landry said. “The carry out room will be closed off from the rest off the restaurant. It will be more comfortable because people like to come in their house clothes to pick up their meal.”

Landry said he expects 95 percent of construction to be completed by Friday.

The renovation is the second renovation of the restaurant since it opened its Hammond location in 1981.

The Landry family operates seven Don’s restaurants, and will soon open a location in Gonzales.