Does N.O. Have a Small, Local Business Culture?

[topaz88]

I just googled the image of that Borders store. My goodness, what a beautiful looking store! By far the nicest and most unique Borders I've ever seen! I must check it out.

[jonsereed]

I was scanning the threads and as I came across this one I saw does NO have a smell

[Gil3]

Originally Posted by thepointykitty

I LOVE that big companies like WM and McD's aren't allowed to run rampant in the city!

The Borders building is gorgeous. I heard it used to be a funeral home - is that correct?

Yes, It was. The House of Bultman was a very prominent funeral establishment at one time.

[Gil3]

Originally Posted by topaz88

While everywhere else in the country seems to be infected with suburban sprawl and chain stores (Walmart, Target, Burger King, Applebees, etc.), am I wrong, when I say N.O. seems to be a haven for small, locally owned businesses?

There are chains in the suburbs such as Metarie and other areas outside of town. Always have been. Overall, though, The NO area has been a hospitable environment for small or family owned businesses for generations.

Canal Street was a haven for local business at one time, but sadly, it's not the case anymore.

Two local chains I remember very well from childhood are K&B drugs and McKenzies bakery. They were both large in their own right, but still had that nice local flair. Sadly, these two businesses are no longer, as K&B was bought out by Rite Aid and McKenzies went out of business.

A few other places I remember were Gus Mayer, Little Professor bookstore, Krauss, A&G cafeteria and too many others for me to name. However, a few are still around, some died due to the migration to the outskirts of the city in the '70 and 80s and others simply didn't re-open after Katrina.

When I come home to visit, I do my best to go "chain free" food- wise and patronize as many local establishments as possible.

There are still some thriving local bakeries such as Gambino's, and restaurants such as Dooky Chase's and Dizzy's. I ate at Dizzy's not terribly long ago and Mr. Baquet or "Dizzy" is a genuinely nice guy and passionate about his business. You are treated more like a member of his family than a mere "customer". His place near Treme was closed for a long time after Katrina, but managed to bounce back. There is also a restaurant in the Wyndham Hotel where we had a family reception a year os so ago. I prefer the original place, as it has more of a downhome feel.

[Redlionjr]

One thing that I loved and disliked about N.O. Not to many national food chains or stores in N.O. like other major cities in the south.