Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Could Georges or the Gambit take more government contracts from the Times-Pic?

 Posted by at 11:17 am  business, city government, opinion, politics
May 232013
 

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus

For more than 75 years, the Times Picayune has always won the official journal contract from the City of New Orleans. The official journal is where all mandated public notices are printed, tax seizures, bids, City Council summaries, etc. It is and has always been a great source of revenue that the TP has counted on.

For the first time there is a real chance that John Georges or even Margo and Clancy Dubos could take that contract from the TP. The contract is bid each year and of course the best bid wins. Councilmembers could always expect to hear from TP officials like former TP publisher Ashton Phelps or Editor Jim Amoss around that time. Though never spoken, we’re sure that many councilmembers dared not to vote against the TP for fear of retaliation in the next edition. Continue reading »

City alcohol board rejects Jimmy’s Music Club appeal

 Posted by at 1:03 pm  business, city government, Featured, food and drink
May 212013
 

Paula and the Pontiacs perform at a benefit to help reopen Jimmy’s Music Club on April 4, 2013. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

Just when New Orleans officials and the owners of Jimmy’s Music Club were beginning to find some common ground, the city’s independent alcohol board on Tuesday afternoon surprised both of them by rejecting Jimmy’s appeal, essentially offering the club two routes: City Council or the courts. Continue reading »

Lower Garden District neighbors seek explanations for changes at NORD facility at Annunciation Square

 Posted by at 6:34 pm  business, crime, elections, Featured, neighborhood groups, politics, public safety
May 202013
 

Amid rumors, protests and petitions, a Lower Garden District neighborhood group is asking city recreation officials to hold a public meeting explaining changes for a facility at Annunciation Park.

Meanwhile on Monday night, the association also heard from a resident seeking to open a new coffee shop on Jackson Avenue, met one of the first candidates to begin campaigning openly for the at-large seat that will be open in next year’s New Orleans City Council elections and discussed the problem of loitering at a Magazine Street corner store. Continue reading »

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: New Orleans becoming a hot spot for retailers

 Posted by at 11:44 am  business, court, elections, opinion, politics
May 162013
 

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus

There was a time when New Orleans was considered a great place to shop. Dozens of stores, most of them located on Canal Street or nearby, filled specific niches in the marketplace and shoppers from across the city, the region and the state came downtown, especially women in white gloves and high heels like Allan’s mother Miriam Pailet Katz, to shop, eat and enjoy the ambiance of New Orleans.

Then came the suburban flight, the rise of Lakewood Shopping Center and the development of Jefferson Parish as the retail center for the metro area, the region and the state. Most of Canal Street went into the dumps and there were only a few first-class stores in all of Downtown.

Now, eight years after Hurricane Katrina, corporate retailers, for the first time in 50 years, are looking at Downtown New Orleans as a “hot” place to invest their money. Continue reading »

Cowbell owner planning new restaurant in Central City

 Posted by at 11:55 am  business, city government, Featured, food and drink
May 152013
 

The former Louisiana Seafood at 2900 LaSalle. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

Cowbell chef Brack May

The chef who launched the popular Cowbell burger joint on Oak Street now plans a family-oriented restaurant with an emphasis on takeout meals in a former Central City seafood market, he told city officials on Tuesday afternoon. Continue reading »

Jean-Paul Villere: What’s in a name?

 Posted by at 9:59 am  business, court, opinion
May 152013
 

The “Carnation” Grill. (Illustration by Jean-Paul Villere for UptownMessenger.com)

Jean-Paul Villere

So the iconic Camellia Grill may be getting a facelift, if you’ve kept up with recent current events?  Apparently its new owners are in breach of contract with the previous owner to the degree that the pink-and-green flower paired with the title of the namesake diner may become a memory.  While Camellia Grill has a longstanding line (pun intended) of devotees and tourists alike, I must say I am in that number.  And if legal motions require a makeover then so be it.  I mean what’s fair is fair, but there’s no use in crying over spilt chocolate freeze, is there?  The essence of the grill would remain unchanged (I’d hope!), so call it whatever.  Besides, who cares?  I can think of two recent local brouhahas regarding rebranding.  Starting with the Pelicans! Continue reading »

“Mr. Chill” returns home to Broadmoor with new hot dog and pastry shop

 Posted by at 11:45 am  business, city government, Featured, food and drink, good works
May 142013
 

Wilbert Wilson (center) cuts hair in front of at Mr. Chill’s First Class Cuts on South Carrollton on Aug. 31, 2012, following Hurricane Isaac. His setup with a generator-powered fan and clippers is similar to what he used in a gas station parking lot after Hurricane Katrina. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

The shop at the corner of General Pershing and South Derbigny streets where Mr. Chill’s Broadmoor Dogs and Sweet Pastries will open next month. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

The opening of Mr. Chill’s First Class Cuts barber shop on South Carrollton Avenue following Hurricane Katrina was hailed as one of many signs of the New Orleans’ rebirth. Now, Mr. Chill is expanding back home to Broadmoor to open a hot dog and pastry shop in his old corner store in what should possibly be seen as evidence of the city’s further growth. Continue reading »

Court order may require name change, facelift for iconic Camellia Grill

 Posted by at 2:50 pm  business
May 112013
 

The Camellia Grill, the white-colonnaded diner on South Carrollton, may lose its name and need substantive changes to its exterior after a judge’s decision in a licensing dispute over the shape of the building’s sign and a missing $200 royalty check, reports Richard Webster of The Times-Picayune. Owner Hichamm Khodr reopened the Camellia Grill in 2007 following Hurricane Katrina after buying it from Michael Schwartz, but was bound by a strict licensing agreement that permitted no changes to any aspect of the building’s logo, Webster reports.

If Khodr’s appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court fails, he will have to change every aspect of the business that resembles the original Camellia Grill, including the name, appearance of the building and the servers’ uniforms, Webster reports.

Craig Giesecke: The sheer joy of being there

 Posted by at 11:51 am  business, food and drink, opinion
May 102013
 

Craig Giesecke

I was fortunate enough during JazzFest to do what I love most (at least professionally) — work in a creative kitchen with other inventive folks, tweaking the menu a little each night and leaving room for whatever inspiration happened to hit. While I was limited mainly to pantry work (salads, saucing and desserts), there was still plenty of back-and-forth about what might work and we could each throw out ideas for possible use. The creative spigot was wide open, even more so when things got busy. It was delightful. Continue reading »

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Century-old home to be moved down Tchoupitoulas

 Posted by at 10:18 am  blight and demolition, business, city government
May 092013
 

Rather than tear down a century-old home in the 3900 block of Tchoupitoulas Street to make way for a filming lot, property owner Troy Keller and renovator Robert Brent will move the house next Tuesday to a lot Brent owns in the 3500 block of Tchoupitoulas for renovations, according to a report by Bill Capo and our partners at WWL-TV.

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Craig Giesecke: Hey Jazzfesters — Be nice or leave

 Posted by at 10:48 am  business, food and drink, opinion
May 032013
 

Craig Giesecke

I’ve unexpectedly had the opportunity lately to spend a lot more time in the French Quarter, since I’ve been helping a friend during JazzFest. This gave me the chance earlier this week to pop into the Louisiana Music Factory to see Beausoleil and Zachary Richard, as well as wander around aimlessly. I think that’s the best way to see the oldest part of our city – without a schedule or plan. Tours are fine to get a sense of how things are laid out, but I also think a completely unstructured day is a lot more fun. Continue reading »

Jean-Paul Villere: The End of an Era

 Posted by at 10:50 am  business, Featured, opinion
May 012013
 

Crowds gather around the Ace Hardware on Oak Street in late March in preparation for the Pigeontown Steppers second line. A banner announcing the store’s impending closure hangs above the store. (UptownMessenger.com file photo)

Jean-Paul Villere

Without fuss or fanfare the Oak St Ace Hardware depleted its remaining inventory over April and closed its doors permanently.  Forever.  Gone.  Kaput.  No mas.  The corner fixture that united neighbors and brought inexpensive solutions to the 21st century world of buying in bulk, automated key duplicating machines, and the like became another memory, the end result of a society that more often chooses convenience over customer service and cost over care.  I, for one, was a fan and truly shopped there as often as I could, and I am more than a little sad if only because I can see the future.  Effectively our consuming buying patterns and the all too nearby Lowe’s spelled the demise for this little gem. Continue reading »

Blue Dot Donuts plans Uptown expansion

 Posted by at 11:59 am  business, food and drink
Apr 252013
 

A banner on a house at the corner of Bellecastle and Tchoupitoulas proclaims the future expansion of Blue Dot Donuts, the popular Mid-City shop started by three police officers. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

When three officers from the New Orleans Police Department’s Uptown-based Second District opened a donut shop in Mid-City, they thought they heard every cop-and-donut gag in the book.

Now that they’re planning a new location on Tchoupitoulas — much closer to the station where they all worked — they know to expect a whole new round of jokes. Continue reading »

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Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: What should go on the most valuable real estate in New Orleans?

 Posted by at 10:01 am  blight and demolition, business, city government, opinion, politics
Apr 252013
 

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus

For many years, the 33-story World Trade Center overlooking the Mississippi River was one of New Orleans’ most important centers of business.

Powerful people, companies and government agencies including the Port of New Orleans occupied suites at the WTC. The 30th floor restaurant, the Plimsoll Club, was usually packed. You needed a reservation to get a table. The World Trade Center suite on the 29th floor was often the site of important civic press conferences and educational seminars. Located at the foot of the Mississippi River at the end of Canal Street, the WTC offered incredible views of the river, especially from the Plimsoll Club. At the top of the building a revolving bar called the Top of the Mart was an important social spot. During her years as a lobbyist for the Dock Board, Danae worked at the WTC Building and enjoyed it. She, along with her colleagues, thought the Plimsoll Club was a neat place for lunch. Continue reading »

After two-year absence from New Orleans, Pizza Hut eyes return with River Garden, Mid-City locations

 Posted by at 4:21 pm  business, city government, Featured, food and drink
Apr 232013
 

(Image via facebook.com/pizzahut)

When more than 40 Pizza Hut locations suddenly closed across New Orleans in January of 2011, some saw it as an early sign of the Mayan apocalypse. That date came and went last December without the world ending, and, right on cue, Pizza Hut is now preparing to return to Orleans Parish. Continue reading »

Jean-Paul Villere: Art of the flip (revisited)

 Posted by at 11:51 am  business, opinion
Apr 232013
 

2124 Jena, before and after.

Jean-Paul Villere

Last September I wrote a piece regarding Uptown New Orleans real estate market activity, specifically the flip of a double at the foot of the Freret St revitalization.  Last week another nearby example played out in a single family home and on a much shorter timeline.  And like the Napoleon duplex, I was neither the listing or selling agent in any of these transactions.  Ladies and gentlemen that watch the Crescent City realty trends, prepare yourselves for the totally true tale of 2124 Jena.  And let’s go timeline on this one, shall we? Continue reading »

Craig Giesecke: The food-and-beer matchmaking game

 Posted by at 10:25 am  business, food and drink, opinion
Apr 192013
 

Craig Giesecke

I’ll finally be getting an opportunity in the coming month or so to do what I enjoy most – coming up with menu items to pair with beer at a dinner or other special event. While I never think of myself of actually going “to work,” it is at times like these that I really feel like I’m being paid for something I’d be doing anyway. It’s one of the ways in which the culinary, art and musical worlds are very similar to each other. Continue reading »

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