new Orleans –
It may not have been the city’s biggest renovation since Hurricane Katrina, but it was full of history.
The 2015 reopening of the 140-year-old St. Roch Market on St. Cloud Avenue was greeted with fanfare by city officials, neighborhood residents, and tourism leaders.
That optimism has now been replaced by empty stalls, dwindling customers and threats to close the market altogether on the city-owned property.
A series of emails obtained by WWL-TV between the city and market operator Will Donaldson reveal how the market’s dire financial straits and long-running repair issues have it hanging on by a thread.
Donaldson, who leases the market from the city for $6,500 a month, wrote that pre-Covid sales of about $4 million per year have dropped to less than $2 million. Revenue comes from a dozen food and drink stalls, which have served as a successful proving ground for budding chefs and food innovators.
But over the past few months, many of those stalls have been left empty and staff often outnumber customers even during busy times.
Donaldson wrote to Cynthia Connick, CEO of the New Orleans Building Corporation, a city agency, “I don’t see any way that we can continue to be lessees at the present time past the end of our term.” “Currently, our deadline to publicly announce the closure is next Monday, the last week for the market to enjoy, and a permanent closure on August 20.”
Initially, Donaldson suggested a one-year closure to allow time for repairs and upgrades to fix a number of issues, including HVAC and roof maintenance, and the construction of amenities such as a cold storage unit and outdoor garbage enclosure.
But after two weeks of email exchanges, Donaldson’s situation soon turned ominous.
“I thought we could relaunch after some time,” he wrote, “but it became clear that we would have to incur additional operating losses during this period, which, again, doesn’t make sense for us. “
Got relief again. Donaldson’s proposed August 20 closing date came and went when one of the market’s original sellers came forward and offered to take over his lease.
CR Coffee owner Kevin Pedo said he was heartbroken at the prospect of the market closing and offered to take over as manager and lessee. That proposal is under consideration by the city, which did not respond to a call for comment.
Pedo, who lives in the neighborhood, said, “I never thought of running the market myself.” “But the thought of it closing is very depressing, very depressing… If St. Roch closes, it’s like losing a part of the family.”
Pedo said he believes he can bring the market back to its pre-pandemic hustle and bustle, when it attracted a mix of locals and newcomer hipsters to Bywater in the booming St. Cloud business corridor.
“We have to fill it. Because this place is best when it is full. St. Roch, this building, when it’s full, looks amazing,” Pedo said.
Some past sellers say the market stalled under Donaldson’s leadership. Operating under a business umbrella called Polyton Group, LLC, Donaldson and his partners also opened the Pythian Market and Auction House Market food halls in the CBD, but both closed after four years.
But they were private enterprises. St. Roch is a city property and an important part of New Orleans’ history. Once home to vendors selling fish, live chickens and locally grown produce, it is the second oldest public market in the city still operating. Only the French market is old.
“For 130 years it stood as a symbol in this neighborhood,” said then-Mayor Mitch Landrieu at the ribbon-cutting for its 2015 re-opening. “And now I think it will put it back in the same spot for another 300 years.”
Donaldson was not available for an interview, but in a statement to WWL-TV he wrote, “We are excited about the prospect of moving the market in Kevin Pedo as a great long-term manager. He has been associated with the market since its inception and lives in the neighbourhood. The deal isn’t done yet, but we’re trying to find something the city will accept and appreciate everyone’s patience.
Pedo is so confident that St. Roch can be successful, he has reached out to some of the vendors who left to try to woo them back.
Tung Nguyen, who launched T2 Street Food in St. Roch, was one of the first to say yes.
“I look forward to coming back,” he said. “It’s a great setting for budding chefs and restaurant owners.”
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Source: www.wwltv.com
