A new non-profit venture is set to breathe life into a long-vacant corner of New Orleans East when Pathway Café opens at 9901 Chef Menteur Hwy. The business aims to be a dual-purpose destination featuring both a cafe and a professional car wash. Founded by Brandon Hunter, the project is taking over the former Two Sisters ‘N Da East building, which has sat empty for several years. Beyond serving up local favorites like po-boys, wings, bagels, and grits, the business is rooted in a deep social mission: providing stable employment for folks in recovery and those reintegrating into the community after incarceration. Proceeds are slated to fund “head start” initiatives for employees, including covering up to six months of rent to help them establish a firm footing.
The project’s community impact extends beyond job creation to the physical revitalization of the neighborhood. Hunter recently told What Now New Orleans that revitalizing the building will turn it into a neighborhood asset.
“It’s been abandoned for almost two years,” he said. “(Fixing it up) is a major part of making an impact because it’s an eyesore.”…