VIDALIA &8212; Slough Daddy&8217;s is hoping to jump the river in the coming days.

The former Natchez restaurant&8217;s owners and employees are racing against time to get the new Vidalia restaurant &8212; in the old West Bank building &8212; ready for customers.

&8220;We are ready to get back,&8221; co-owner Jeff Bairnsfather said.

The year-old restaurant closed its doors in the Natchez Canal Street Depot in October, anticipating the renovation of the location into condominiums.

Bairnsfather and co-owner LeAnn Hamilton, his sister, are Monterey natives and wanted to get back into Louisiana.

&8220;We found this place and it was just natural,&8221; Bairnsfather said. &8220;It has the best view of the river. This is where I wanted to be.&8221;

But the building has needed major work, and it&8217;s not complete yet. The restaurant has new floors, new furniture and a renovated kitchen. The portion of the restaurant facing the river received some damage during Hurricane Rita, losing shingles and a portion of the building. Rita damage has since been repaired.

In the future, Bairnsfather said he hopes to build on a deck that overlooks the river.

Bairnsfather and Hamilton got into the restaurant business as an afterthought to their gift shop that sold Slough Daddy&8217;s seasoning. The gift shop that was in the Canal Street Depot most likely won&8217;t be reopened in Vidalia, he said.

Now the focus is on food.

&8220;We want to be known for steaks, seafood and poboys,&8221; he said.

Opening plans are contingent upon final approval of the liquor license.