Just across the street from Northwestern State University of Louisiana’s campus lies an all-American diner: Magee’s Patio Cafe.
Formerly known as Cotton Patch, Magee’s was established in 1999 and has created a sense of nostalgia with its customers for over two decades. Magee’s has consistently shown, through multiple seasons of operation, why its consistency and tact have made it a Natchitoches staple to many.
Constance ‘Connie’ Bush, the current owner of Magee’s, took ownership of Magee’s after working in administration for nearly 15 years. “I wanted a change of scenery, then this became the opportunity,” she said.
Bush explained that George Sales, the previous owner of Magee’s, approached John Abraham, her father-in-law, seven years ago with the business. She added that her husband, who has been in the food and convenience store industry for over 20 years and owns 3 J’s Fourway, works hand-in-hand with Magee’s.
Although managing Magee’s is different from her previous work in administration, Bush shared that a lot of her skills are transferable and said that the experience has made her more understanding.
“I realized that if I have 20 employees, I have 20 different personalities. I think I’ve been gifted with the ability to be able to adjust to each attitude—even with customers coming through,” she said, adding that she always says a prayer and moves on.
The most rewarding part for Bush is when she hires students and gradually sees them grow. She said that when they graduate and visit Natchitoches, they will tell her how she taught them skills like time management, professionalism and clear communication that have helped them succeed.
However, Bush added that as a local business owner, encouraging people to stay motivated is always a challenge. “I realized that I think I’ve kind of settled for the fact that I’m here to help the younger people and prepare them for bigger and better things. It’s from customer services, even saying ‘hello, welcome to Magee’s’. That’s how you make people feel welcome,” Bush said.
Although the location of this Natchitoches staple has changed, “Everything on that printed menu has been up there being sold for over 20 years,” Bush said. She added that, when she first started working at Magee’s, her favorite item was the crispy chicken sandwich, and now it’s a tie between the seafood potato and the catfish basket.
Seafood has a rich history in Louisiana, and meat pies reflect Natchitoches’ heritage. The menu also features classics such as burgers, loaded potatoes and po-boys. The best part is that these two distinct flavor origins are even combined in some cases to create this depth in the flavor palette of the menu. To explore more of what Magee’s has to offer, check out their full menu on their website or call (318) 352-7200.
While some may see this consistency more as an inability to adapt to the modern age, the business has committed to doing what it has always done without the pressure for change, allowing it to make a distinct name for itself within the town of Natchitoches.
Magee’s is set apart by their altruism in the local community. Bush takes pride in this service, and the restaurant gives back to the Knights of Columbus during Lent, delivers lunches to teachers and hosts socials for the Good News Club at First Baptist Church.
Latoya Johnson, an employee at Magee’s, feels as though Magee’s is special because of the restaurant’s dedication to helping its employees learn about the real world while in a supportive environment, as though they are family.
Bush said that she wants everyone who walks through Magee’s to experience Jesus. “I tell my employees to make sure you tell somebody to have a nice day, have a blessed day. You never know when they’re leaving, they’ll say, ‘You know what? My life is worth living,’” she added.
Red Sugar-Bruce, a freshman psychology major, said she liked the vintage games and liked the vintage atmosphere. “The ice cream is interesting, though I didn’t get it,” Sugar-Bruce said.
Ian Tarver, a sophomore psychology and addiction studies major, said that Magee’s cheese sticks are good. “They also had my favorite kind of ice cream. It’s called Krazy Kolors. You can barely find that ice cream anywhere anymore because Bluebell has just stopped producing it for certain places,” Tarver said.
In the end, Tarver rated the restaurant a seven and recommended it to people when given the chance because of its rich history in Natchitoches.
In the next few years, Bush sees Magee’s “still standing and still green.” She said that although a lot of people will say it’s outdated, there are also a lot of people in the community that don’t want the business to change.
“I listen to the community and what people say. So, I don’t get offended when people say it’s outdated. It’s really not—it’s Magee’s,” Bush said.
Correction 5/9/2026: This article was revised after inaccurate information appeared in the May print edition and was not corrected prior to publication. The Current Sauce regrets the oversight.
