Back in the mid-2010s, the food hall concept was one of the hottest in the hospitality world. But half a decade and one global pandemic later, very few food hall concepts are left standing around the country. In New Orleans, the St. Roch Market has struggled to recover post-pandemic. Hopefully, a potential change of management can turn that around.
A series of emails obtained by WWL reveals that the Marigny food hall had annual sales of around $4 million before COVID, but current annual sales are around $2 million. That precipitous drop in sales made it more difficult for market operator Will Donaldson and his partners to meet their financial obligations, including a $6,500 monthly lease payment to the city, which owns the building.
In a statement to WWL, Donaldson indicated that Kevin Pedeaux, owner of long-term tenant CR Coffee Shop, has agreed to take over the lease. The city has yet to comment on that change of management, but Pedeaux has already started reaching out to former successful tenants with the hope of bringing them back. At least one former tenant, T2 Street Food, has reportedly agreed to come back.
Keeping St. Roch open wouldn’t just be a victory for current tenants, food halls, or even the surrounding Marigny neighborhood. It would also be a victory for the city as St. Roch is located in a long-running public market building, second only to the French Market in terms of continuous operation. While the market is currently full of food stalls and functions as a de facto restaurant incubator, it used to be a hub for local seafood, live chickens and local produce. After major renovations, the building reopened as St. Roch Market in 2015.
Pedeaux would appear to be an attractive choice for continuing the market’s tradition. CR Coffee was one of the first St. Roch tenants, and it currently has three additional locations. Pedeaux also lives in the neighborhood, giving him added motivation to see it remain in business. He must wait on approval from the city before moving forward with the management change.
