BATON ROUGE — A beloved local landmark is getting a fresh coat of paint and a whole lot more.

Frostop, the iconic Baton Rouge restaurant known for its 1950s nostalgia and signature icy-cold root beer, is currently undergoing major renovations to update its look while keeping its classic roots intact.

The restaurant was closed for a single day in September to help implement changes inside the building, which sits at the corner of Government and St. Ferdinand streets, while new exterior signage was installed last week. 

Owner and manager Emad Nofal, who has run the restaurant for over two decades, says the upgrades will touch nearly every corner of the building. 

"We're going over everything—the floor, booths, tables, outside facade," Nofal said. "Now we have somebody working on the mug sign. People are excited for it. Everything in the store is going to stay the same, but we're updating."

First established in the 1950s, Frostop started as a traditional drive-in where cars gathered for carhop service, classic Lot-A-Burgers and root beer served in frosty glass mugs. Today, the restaurant maintains its mid-century charm, complete with a 50-year-old jukebox playing customer favorites.

While the updates mark a major investment for the local business, Nofal emphasizes that the heart of Frostop isn't changing.

"We're a mom-and-pop business; this is a big thing—nothing is cheap," Nofal added. "I've owned it for over 20 years now."

Regulars won't have to adjust their schedules during the makeover, as business hours remain unchanged from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Daily operations will continue smoothly and Nofal noted that customers can look forward to a special event celebrating the completed renovations in the coming weeks.