31 August 2023
St. Roch Market in 2018. | Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA
Plus, High Hat changes hands, the Dew Drop Inn nears reopening, and more news to know
A report from WWL this week reveals that St. Roch Market, New Orleans’s last remaining food hall, was on the verge of shutting down earlier this month — until one of its original vendors stepped in and sought to take over the lease. Kevin Pedeaux, owner of the three local CR Coffee Shops, has offered to take over St. Roch Market as manager and leaseholder, which remains under consideration by the city of New Orleans, the outlet reports. The food hall’s current operator, Will Donaldson, whose company the Politan Group also opened the now-closed Pythian Market and Auction House Market, said he is “excited” about the possibility of Pedeaux taking over and that the group is “trying to find something the city will approve.”
High Hat Cafe changes hands
A favorite Freret Street restaurant has new owners, reports the Times-Picyaune/New Orleans Advocate. The founders of the 12-year-old High Hat Cafe, Chip Apperson and Adolfo Garcia, have sold the restaurant to Fredo Nogueira, executive chef for Cure Co., and Ryan Iriarte, a former High Hat Cafe manager. Still, fans of High Hat’s homey vibe and classic Southern comfort food can breathe easy — Nogueira and Iriarte have no changes planned for the restaurant, instead choosing to keep existing staff in place and leave the menu unchanged.
The Dew Drop Inn nears reopening
More than two years after news that the Dew Drop Inn was set for restoration, the historic Central City nightclub is eyeing a reopening date. Developer Curtis Doucette Jr. tells Uptown Messenger that he is looking at a mid-October opening, which for decades thrived as a venue for Black musicians in addition to being a leading hotel, restaurant, and bar in the region. Frank Painia first opened “the Drop” as a barbershop in 1939, after which it evolved into “the most important and influential music club” in New Orleans and hosted famed artists like Tina Turner, James Brown, Ray Charles, and Earl King. It closed in 1970.
Seafood Sally’s on pause
Seafood Sally’s is planning a temporary closure beginning September 3, the restaurant announced on Instagram this week. “We recently got hit with an order from the state that we need to completely replace the flooring in the kitchen in order to be in compliance with newer regulations. While we scramble to figure out the logistics of this operation we’re going to have to pause service at the oasis for most of the month of September,” owners Caitlin Carney and Marcus Jacobs wrote. The pair, who also own Marjie’s Grill and are partners in a forthcoming Mid-City seafood market and restaurant, said the summertime slowdown “has hit us like a ton of bricks,” which is why they won’t be able to remain open during the update.
Chance in Hell Sno-Balls sets up shop at permanent home
Following a city-mandated shutdown of its porch pop-up, Chance in Hell Sno-balls has reestablished itself in its permanent home a few blocks away at 807 Louisa Street. While the location isn’t yet the fully fleshed-out shop founders Lou Henry Hoover and Kitten LaRue plan to create, they are back to slinging sno-balls at the new address and will be open this weekend, September 2 to 4, from 1 to 6 p.m.