WATERLOO - Barmuda Corp.'s newest restaurant hasn't opened yet, but it already has gone through a name change.

In fact, perhaps sometime in the future, all of Darin Beck's Bourbon Street and Voodoo Lounge businesses will do the same thing.

But the change will start in downtown Waterloo.

Barmuda officials said Tuesday the new restaurant and lounge opening soon on the ground floor and mezzanine levels of the Black's Building in downtown Waterloo will be called Roux Orleans and Bourre Lounge, rather than Bourbon Street and Voodoo Lounge.

The name changes don't affect the new event venue, the Sky Centre, on the eighth floor of the Black's Building.

"Our intention is to franchise the Bourbon Street and Voodoo Lounge brands along with a couple of our other brands, but to do that, it's best to have a federal trademark that covers all 50 states," Beck, Barmuda's founder and chief executive officer, said. "Both the Bourbon Street and Voodoo names belong to Beck in Iowa via common law usage, however federal trademark protection is not there and would most likely not be granted due to so many other usages of both names around the country."

Beck said he wants to offer franchises for Roux Orleans and Bourre Lounge, as well as his other brands, including Beck's Sports Brewery; Beck's Sports Grill; Soho Sushi Bar and Deli; and The Stuffed Olive.

For now the Bourbon Street and Voodoo Lounge in Cedar Falls will retain its name.

"We want to avoid confusion between Cedar Falls and Waterloo," Beck said.

But, he added, the franchising plan is a major direction the company is taking.

"It doesn't do a franchisee any good in a state I don't have (ownership of the trademark)," Beck said. "There are Bourbon Streets and Voodoos all over the country. It would be very difficult to get a clean trademark."

Any new restaurant-lounge units under the format would carry the new moniker, Beck said.

He added that would-be candidates for a Barmuda franchise would visit the area to sample all of the formats.

"It's kind of a one-stop shop," he said.

He said the company likely would complete its first franchising deal in September or October.

Barmuda hired local ad agency ME&V to research and develop the new brand, Barmuda said in the news release.

The new complex in downtown Waterloo will offer more than 30,000 square feet of dining and entertainment space, with seating fro more than 700 patrons.

Whatever the name, the new business will be a key addition to the downtown district, said Sindee Kleckner, executive director of Main Street Waterloo.

"That building has so many memories for so many people," Kleckner said. "To see that fully utilized again will be exciting for a lot of people."

The venue is targeted to open in August, and Barmuda will host a job fair from 5 to 8 p.m. July 13 and noon to 4 p.m. July 15 in the Sky Ballroom on the eighth floor of the Black's Building. Hiring for all positions will take place and include management, servers, bartenders, hosts, kitchen staff and more. For more information, visit www.barmuda.com/jobs.