Forever New Orleans
If you grew up in New Orleans come with me down memory lane. And just so the readers know, I’m Forever New Orleans, will ALWAYS be New Orleans!
I so Love my city. We just built different. We have our own language, our own style, our own uniqueness, our own vibe.
The food, the culture, the love, festivities, fun and family hits different. We are innovators, creative and WE set the tone.
If you are from New Orleans, it is etched in your soul. People know we different. They know our accent as soon as we open our mouth and start to talk.
And the Food! Everybody and dey momma know what’s up when it comes to New Orleans food. There’s NO comparison, NO competition, NO arguing, and NO debate!
When out of town people eat New Orleans food, it just makes them know that their city gotta step their game up!
Ok, now let’s get into Forever New Orleans!
These businesses, places and buildings are closed and gone forever. Now there are some that I have listed that is still open today, and I only listed them because they are memorable enough to me to list them.
And for the most part, I tried to keep it all by categories, so here we go. Let’s see what all you remember -
Department Stores -
Maison Blanche (I still got an original Mr. Bingle), Woolworth, Godchaux’s, Krauss, D.H Holmes, McCrory’s, Kress, Rubenstein Brothers, Labiche, Forever 21, The Limited, 357, Gus Mayer, Koslow’s, Lerner’s, Nowak’s (men’s wear), Kreeger’s, Wet Seal, Stein Mart, Sears, K-Mart, Service Merchandise, TG & Y, Saks Fifth Avenue, Miller Wohl, H. L Green, Mayfair, Montgomery Ward, Gaylord’s, Barker’s…
Movie Theaters -
The Joy (movie), the Loew’s State (the State Palace), The Grand Theatre (in the East), Robert E. Lee Theater, The Saenger Theater, Cinebarre (in Canal Place), The Carver (on Orleans Ave), The Gallo, The Circle Theatre (on St. Bernard and Galvez)…
Shoes -
Payless, Shoe Town, Stride Rite, Burt’s, Father & Son Shoes, Baker’s, Imperial Shoes, Red Goose Shoes, Allen’s Shoe Store, Tom McAn’s…
Daniel Green Slippers with the tap on the heel was a must have.
The black ones and the burgundy ones were my favorite.
Bakeries -
McKenzie (buttermilk drops), Tastee’s Donuts, Binder’s Bakery, Gendusa, Antoine’s (on Freret), New Orleans Cake Cafe and Bakery…
Restaurants and Cafes -
Anita’s Grill, The Trolly Stop, We Never Close (closed), Ryan’s, Piccadilly’s, Gene’s PoBoys, Port a Call, Seafood City, Morrison’s (in the Gentilly Mall), Celebration Station, Barrow’s (famous catfish), Brunings, Cheesecake Bistro, Krystal Hamburgers, Bud’s Broiler, Straya’s, Copeland’s, Palace Cafe, Leni’s Cafe, Mack’s Chicken, Beef Baron, Tiffin Inn (pancake house), Cafe Luna, A & G Cafe, Popeyes, Manchu…
Hotels/ Motels -
MRV Hotel on Ursuline (the good ole days, lol). Here you could get a room for 4 hours, and truthfully, being young and full of fun, 4 hours was all you needed (smh with a smile), Motel 6, Rose Inn Motel, Jack’s Motel (on Chef, iykyk), Delmar Motel, London Lodge Motel, Hard Rock Hotel, Fat City Hotel, The Motel Strip (on Tulane), Holiday Inn (on Canal St), Town and Country Motel (on Airline). Ace Hotel, The Royal Frenchman…
I don’t know who was the worse, or who had the most popping hotels/ motels out of Airline Hwy, Tulane Ave, or Chef Highway.
Pharmacies -
Rite Aid, K&B, Waterbury’s Drugstore, The St. Bernard Pharmacy, D&H Drugstore, a few Walgreens have closed too.
Casinos -
Bally’s Casino, Treasure Chest Casino, The Fair Grounds Race Course (the Racetrack in Gentilly), Harrah’s, Boomtown, The Flamingo…
Miscellaneous -
Circuit City, Blockbuster Videos, Shamrock, Pennyland, Lincoln Beach, Six Flags, Jazzland, Pontchartrain Beach, The Louisiana World Exposition (the World’s Fair), SkateLand, Skate Country, Falstaff, Dennis Photo Finish Studio (took all the school pictures, and had the best black Santa Claus), Canal Street Records, Peaches Records, Werlien’s Music, Dailey’s, Adler’s Jewelry,
Hubig Pies, Blue Plate (mayonnaise), Easy Serve Gas Station, Dollar General, Speedee Oil Change, Time Saver’s, the Ice House (in Gentilly), Zephyr’s Stadium, Jax’s Brewery, Folger’s Coffee, Bunny Bread, D&D smoked sausage, Patton Hot Sausage…
Hospitals -
Charity Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Southern Baptist (on Napoleon), University Hospital, Methodist, Hotel Dieu, Tulane Medical Center, JoEllen Smith Medical Center, the Gentilly’s Women Clinic…
Grocery Stores -
Schwegmann’s, Circle Food Store, Casey Jones, Winn Dixie, Matassa’s Market, National/Canal Villere, The Superstore, Felton’s Food Store (in the St. Bernard), Spider’s, Burnell’s, Jimmy’s, 3 S’s, Piggly Wiggly, Langenstein’s, Terranova Supermarket, A & P, Delchamps, Sav-a-Lot, Robért’s, Upperline, King’s…
Malls -
The Gentilly Mall, the Lake Forest Plaza, Lakeside, the Esplanade Mall, Kenilworth Mall, Oakwood…
The book of foodstamps (I had to throw that in). Remember when foodstamps came in books? I loved getting them $65.00 dollar books, lol.
Furniture Stores -
Rosenberg Furniture (1825 Tulane), Frankie and Johnny (Let’ em have it), Kirshman’s, Comeaux’s, Universal, Compass, Halpern’s, BFL Furniture (in the East), House Stuff (in MidCity), Levitz, Doerr, Blitz (on St. Claude), Pelican Thrift Furniture…
Clubs -
The Famous, Club Whispers, Discovery, Bullets, The Duck Off, The Bottom Line, The End Zone, Burnell’s, PJ’s, Lo Dee’s (by the St. Bernard), Rumors, Club 30 Something, 7140 Downman Rd, the Daiquiri Shop, The House of Blues, Tipitina’s, Club Escape, The Metro, Bill’s (our lil hole in da wall), The Shim Sham Club, Parlay’s, Spanky’s, The Sand Piper, the Big Easy, The Sugar Shack, Club Desire, Silky’s, Club She She’s, Club Spades, Ceasear’s, Ernie K Doe’s, Joe’s Cozy Corner, Glady’s (in Violet), Bertha’s, The Jump Off, Mason’s Las Vegas Strip, Colette’s (my name, but not my type of club), Club Fusions, The Autocrat, Pampy’s…
The Projects - The Housing Projects (iykyk)
The St Bernard Project -
This was where I grew up and trust me, a time was had. This project was my stumping ground. This place molded me, grounded me and shaped me into the amazing woman I am today and for that, I am forever grateful.
Thank You God for the discipline, the protection, the fun, the struggles, the sacrifices, the memories, the experience, the love, the laughter, the tears, the sadness, my 5 amazing children who grew up here and didn’t get caught up, the neighbors, the family we are and will forever be, and thank You God for the life lessons learned and taught - 7 Ward Hardhead for life!
The other projects were the Iberville, Fischer, Desire, Florida, Magnolia, Calliope, Lafitte, St Thomas, and the Mighty Melp, the Melpomene!
Schools -
John Mac, Fortier, Bell, Gregory, Jean Gordon, O Perry Walker, Hynes, Bienville, St. Marie Garetie, Nicholl’s, St. Julien, Cabrini, Fisk Howard. St. Raymond, Kennedy, Phillis Wheatley, Fredrick Douglas…
Now to wrap this up, did I miss some things? Of course I did. Trust and Believe, there are many more closings. I’m sure I didn’t list every, every, every, every, every single place that’s closed, so if you remember some I didn’t write, that great, super great.
To the businesses, thank you for all the memories and the love. Many of these businesses employed me and gave me a place to work to have an income to provide for my family. They instilled in me my amazing, dominant work ethics and my ability to lead.
And for that, I am Forever Grateful.
Thank you to all the schools, clubs, restaurants, hotels, parks, shopping malls, hospitals, projects, furniture stores, movie theaters, grocery stores and more. Those places molded and shaped our city and will forever be remembered in our hearts.
Thank you to my city and my fellow New Orleanians. We are Forever Family! And just so you know, no matter where I go, I’m from that 504!
Thank you everyone for going down memory lane with me.
Until the end of time, it’s Forever New Orleans with me!
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