Vintage Green Review opens zero-waste store on Magazine

Vintage Green Review, a local zero-waste education and consulting business, has opened its first brick-and-mortar store at 3530 Magazine St. After gauging community interest over a multi-week pop-up at the same address, the store’s owner, Sarah Andert, was so encouraged by the reception that she signed a lease to make her residence permanent. “Operating out of a physical location allows me to engage directly and regularly with customers,” Andert said. This marks New Orleans’ first zero-waste store and bulk refill bar, according to a press release that states it offers “a long-term option for plastic-free living, sustainable shopping, zero waste supplies, and the ability to refill household and personal care products in reusable containers.”

While the shop is currently open for business, its grand opening weekend will kick off on Earth Day, April 22, and continue through April 25. The event will feature discounted supplies, product giveaways and pop-up food vendors.

Police blotter: Teenager, woman injured by gunfire; string of robberies on or near St. Charles Avenue; two cars stolen in Central City

 

The New Orleans Police Department reported that two people were injured in shootings, two cars were stolen and three people were robbed on Uptown streets during the holiday weekend from Thursday through Sunday. On Easter (April 4), a teenager was injured in a shooting in the St. Thomas area. At about 10 p.m., he was shot in the foot in the 700 block of St. Mary Street, near Boettner Park, police said.

Viewpoint: Returning tourists drive New Orleans business recovery

City College of San Francisco biology professor Jonathan Siekmann was enjoying his visit to New Orleans when he spotted Meyer the Hatter, known to be the South’s largest hat store. Within minutes, Siekmann was sporting a new Panama-style straw to shield him from the Louisiana sun. “The pandemic has been a struggle. It was the worst business climate I’ve ever seen in my 46 years selling hats,” said Paul Meyer, a fourth generation hatter. “We depend on tourists and, until recently, there just weren’t any.”

Meyer’s great-great grandfather Samuel H. Meyer started the business in 1894 on St.

Police seek person of interest in September homicide on South Saratoga Street

The New Orleans Police Department is seeking a man identified as a person of interest for questioning in the investigation of a homicide on Sept. 9 in the 1300 block of South Saratoga Street. Gene T. Harris, 33, has been developed as a person of interest in the shooting death of 19-year-old Gerren Green. Green was found dead of a gunshot wound on South Saratoga and Thalia Street in Central City. Harris is not currently wanted on criminal charges regarding this incident.

Silver Lining: Vegan meal service flourishes during pandemic

A pot of red cacciatore sauce bubbles on the stove, sliced eggplants roast in the oven, and bright green bowls of salad are piled high with chickpeas and jewel-like cherry tomatoes. An Italian feast is being prepared – but while Mediterranean flavors abound, there’s no cream, cheese or meat to be found. At Clairly Vegan, owner Claire Steiner has been attracting customers with plant-based versions of classic flavors. Steiner started her vegan catering and delivery business just this June in her own kitchen, with her mother, Anna Cannizzaro Steiner, helping out. “She would come over and we would cook away all day,” she said. 

The business now sells 75 to 100 orders per week out of Carrollton Commissary, a rented kitchen space on Willow Street.

Road repair and repaving coming to Octavia Street in April

The Octavia Street roadwork project — which encompasses work on seven blocks of Octavia Street, from South Claiborne Avenue to Freret Street, and 10 blocks branching off of Octavia — is set to begin in April and conclude at the end of the year.

11-unit apartment building planned for empty lot on Tchoupitoulas Street

Developers are planning to build a new residential building with 11 apartments on an empty lot on Tchoupitoulas Street near Amelia. But first, they’ll have to face the concerns of local residents who say the proposed structure will cause parking headaches in their neighborhood.

The developers are proposing to build a 40-foot building on a lot that’s a little over 4,400 square feet. The plans call for eight one-bedroom apartments ranging from 715 to 860 square feet and three two-bedroom apartments that would be 935 square feet.