NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Freret Street is preparing for the arrival of New Orleans’ second Trader Joe’s as local businesses navigate ongoing changes in the neighborhood.
The corridor now features more than 30 restaurants and shops within a few blocks, according to New Orleans and Company. The area has transformed from a quiet residential street named in the 1800s into a restaurant hotspot.
Bobby Caruso, a tattoo artist at Ace Tattoo, has worked on Freret Street for three years and watched the neighborhood change.
“It started off a little rocky with a bunch of stuff closing down, but I think that more stuff has opened up, actually, recently in the last six months,” Caruso said.
Recent closures mark ongoing turnover
Turnover has become part of the landscape, according to Caruso. The bar “Another Bar” in the 5000 block is reportedly set to close in less than a week. Ancora Pizza shut down over the summer after more than a decade in the area…