New Orleans East Rouses Market Grand Opening | Business News

Mayor Helena Moreno and other city leaders joined Rouses Markets executives on Monday to mark the formal opening of the regional grocery chain’s new New Orleans East location, which includes a New Orleans Police Department substation and a variety of upgraded offerings.

Rouses acquired the Chef Menteur Highway location and nine others last year from Winn-Dixie as that chain moved to consolidate its operations in Florida. CEO Donny Rouse Jr. said he jumped at the opportunity to take over the stores.

“We’ve wanted these locations for the last 10 years,” Rouse said following a ribbon cutting ceremony that included Moreno, City Council member Jason Hughes, New Orleans police chief Anne Kirkpatrick and others. “We just always felt that with our brand we could do a great job in those locations, and we’re seeing the success right now as we’re turning these stores over.”

Moreno said she had been working with Rouse on the project since her time on the City Council. After becoming mayor, Rouse asked for her support with lighting, public safety and sanitation, which she said was important for businesses across the city.

“We’re really focusing in on retention and recruitment of businesses in New Orleans,” Moreno said. “This is just a start. This is the beginning and much more to come.”

New Orleans East residents said the opening offered a hopeful sign after many have complained for years about a lack of retail and business investment across the city’s neighborhoods east of the Industrial Canal.

Moreno said residents have also been begging for a police substation to provide a greater presence across the 7th District, the department’s largest.

“We never could get traction on the substation piece — no one ever was like, ‘Oh yeah, let’s just go and do it.’” she said. “Chief Ann understood kind of the necessity and the need for it. And then when we had somebody also provide a space, I mean, easy.”

Rouses is providing the space for the police department rent-free.

Kirkpatrick called the collaboration one of the department’s first public-private partnerships.

“When you see economic development, it is hand-in-hand with public safety,” Kirkpatrick said. “We’re going to do our part.”

Shoppers navigating their carts through the hubbub of activity at the ribbon-cutting welcomed the new grocery options.

“They got a lot of more stuff, a whole lot of more stuff,” said Bridget Wilson, who lives walking distance away but said she previously would travel to Walmart for groceries.

Wilson’s son, Morris, said he was satisfied with the new store layout, but the sushi was the real draw.

“They had the sushi,” he said. “I really came here for it, too.”

The shuttered store was closed for a week while three shifts of workers completed the necessary work to convert to the Rouses brand. That includes more lights, more variety, new paint, equipment and decor, the CEO said. Ahead are more planned offerings, such as salad bars and lobster tanks.

“It’s so much more organized and everything, it looks like we got a little bit more variety,” said shopper Paulettee Stern, who is a fan of Rouses from her time living in Mississippi.

“Rouses has stuff that Winn-Dixie didn’t have at all,” she said. “And I’m one of those people who’ll be looking at the prices and the items.”

The final two former Winn-Dixies are due to reopen as Rouses next week — in Marrero and Harriesburg, Mississippi.

Once complete, Rouses Markets, second only to Walmart in grocery store market share for the New Orleans area, will have 76 locations along the Gulf Coast.

“New Orleans East is a food desert,” Rouse said. “There’s no really good option for it, and that’s why we were excited to get here. The community supports us, and we’re ready to serve them.”