Bayou Boys
Get ready for a much larger Cajun influence in the Orleans Parish shopping experience, now that Rouse’s is taking over Save-A-Center/A&P in this area. Think Langenstein’s gone to Da Swamp.
Back before Katrina, Rouse’s was among the largest clients for our specialty food business. They’ve had those stores on the Northshore for quite a while — but this will be the first experience for this Thibodaux-based chain in places like the French Quarter and Uptown. I’m not sure if the biggest surprise will be for the consumer or for the store operator. But, assuming the stores in Orleans Parish are done in the same pattern as the others, you can look for a lot more in-store butcher work on things like prepared Cajun-spiced meats and other bayou delights.
Every time TBK and I would head to Thibodaux, Houma, Mandeville or Covington (which was at least once a week), we’d always load up on boudin, green-onion sausage and Natchitoches meat pies to bring back home. Not that these items aren’t already available at Save-A-Center, but the variety and quality were always better at Rouse’s. There has also been one out in Metairie near Transcontinental — but it’s gonna be a totally new ballgame in Orleans Parish.
I think the best part about this change is there will be a regionally-owned business as a major player. Though Albertson’s departed New Orleans several years ago, the local grocery scene has been made up primarily of Save-A-Center/A&P, Winn-Dixie and Wal-Mart. Langenstein’s, Zuppardo’s, BreauxMart and Robert have been there, of course, but their number of locations have been limited. This move by Rouse’s will allow more localism on a larger scale. And it’s going to be hilarious to watch consumers’ eyes get big as they see some items they haven’t seen before — particularly at the A&P on Magazine St. (which will become a BreauxMart). “Wut DIS is?”
There are lots of misinformed folks who come to New Orleans looking for the Cajun experience, only to discover they’ve got to drive out of town or get on one of those “Cajun Encounter” buses to find it. And decent, authentic Cajun food is tough to find in Orleans Parish, despite what the menus and display ads say. Rouse’s is going to begin changing that — and I say it’s raison d’ bois sec.
Bons chance, garcons d’ bayou.
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AWESOME.
Sav-A-Center is the bane of my existance.
Heck yeah, having Rouse’s all over New Orleans is a GREAT THING!!!!
almost like Schwegmann’s reincarnate, but mo bettah
There has also been one out in Metairie near Transcontinental
That one used to be a Canal Villere. I remember when they changed, I was kind of put out. Canal Villere made some pretty good muffelattas. The stuffed artichokes, boudin and green onion sausage that Rouses makes more than made up for the lack.
LewisC
we are in for a real treat people.
and Rouse’s has da Zapps Who Dat? chips.
that’s gotta count for something.
Geaux Saints! :D
Because there is a Rouse’s on Vets, they will probably close the the Sav-a-Center on Power Blvd.
Rouse’s is good but Zupardo’s is better. I wonder if they will rebuild at Gentilly and Elysian Fields?
Frank
“Rouse’s is good but Zupardo’s is better. I wonder if they will rebuild at Gentilly and Elysian Fields?”
Unfortunately, no. The Zuppardo family has decided not to rebuild in Gentilly at this time. They have sold the site at Gentilly and Elysian Fields (one of the city-designated “redevelopment sites”, by the way), and currently a pile driver is sitting there waiting to begin construction on yet another Walgreen’s…to take the place of the one that was in the shopping center on the other side of Elysian Fields. This puts Walgreen’s outlets at Gentilly and Elysian Fields, Elysian Fields and Robert E. Lee, and Chef Menteur and Louisa. I’d say they have the market area saturated.