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St. Bernard Avenue Is Coming Back!!

Section: Community

St. Bernard Avenue Is Coming Back

Thanks To Smart Businessmen (The Amedee's and Ruffin's)

Immediately after Hurricane Katrina, the word on the streets and throughout news media was, we can expect to see cranes, demolition, renovation and restoration taking place very soon. We waited and waited and waited. All of that talk may have been meant well, but the fact of the matter, it would take time. However, what really begin to move this city forward was the untiring effort of businessmen and women along with everyday common folks who want more for this city.

That is especially true when it came down to St. Bernard Ave. Starting with a few business leaders with a vision to do exactly what other folk talked about doing.

They made a concerted effort to improve the landscape and socio-economic dynamic of the Avenue to be greater than ever before. These business leaders pushed for tremendous improvement to building renovations, by committing themselves, and utilizing the skills of professional from within the community who are keenly aware of architectural design and restoration to make that needed difference.

Due to their fore-site, ingenuity and tenacity to put their money where it mattered, back into the community, St Bernard Avenue is thriving again, like never before. We have the Wisdom Hall hosting the city’s finest banquets, wedding and balls. The Perfect Fit attracts a very upscale clientele and is a non-smoking environment, Clothing Stores and Barbershops. Now the streets are full of tourist, visitors and locals, all who celebrate the cultural activities that hold that significant, yet priceless value. It's people, and the historical significance continues to unveil why St. Bernard Ave mean so much to our community. The great Allison ‘Tootie” Montana would step out his doors on Mardi Gras day to be greeted on St. Bernard Ave by International news media and tourist from around the world. Even to his death, the funeral precession would travel the St. Bernard Ave route. Everything about St. Bernard Avenue, spells hope, progress and greatness.

Legendary artist Kermit Ruffin owns his club on the Avenue and plays there regularly. There are many other great musicians that play up and down these streets, such as, world renowned artist Trumbone Shorty, Sharon Martin, Phillip Manual and Michael Ward to name a few, all continue to help make St. Bernard Ave the stripe for wining, dining, shopping and having fun.

St. Bernard Avenue is more than just dime stores, in fact, it’s a “Million Dollar Diamond” in the rough, packed with business men and women who have proven themselves, and are willing to rejuvenate, renovate and restore that community, without waiting on the cranes. With that kind of drive and motivation, I summit, that we all pick up a hammer and help them out.

Since their efforts begun, we see valet parking like St. Charles Ave, we see patrons like Bourbon Street, and we see limos and luxury cars like Hollywood. We smell the flavor of New Orleans pouring out the doors of their kitchen; we get the taste of something good. It's New Orleans!!

A Better New Orleans!!

These are positive steps to making things better inner city, bringing dollars all throughout our community neighborhoods. Just like Magazine St, St Charles or Tchoupitoulas, We support their efforts and look forward to their next venture.

This is part one of three "St. Bernard Avenue is Coming BacK".

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