After the Little Gem Saloon closed in 2019, the bar and restaurant space at 445 S. Rampart St. has sat closed for nearly five years. That appears to be changing soon as permits have been filed to reopen the bar and restaurant under the business name Head Quarters. What Now New Orleans reached out to ownership for details but did not receive a response.
The Little Gem Saloon opened in 2013 in a long-vacant building in the Central Business District, which had undergone significant restoration. Said to be located in one of the birthplaces of jazz, the bar and restaurant quickly gained a reputation as one of the premier music venues in New Orleans, hosting both national acts and well-known local performers like Kermit Ruffins. Small acts would perform on the stage on the ground floor dining room, and ticketed shows were held in the upstairs performance venue. The Little Gem Saloon was also known for serving modern Louisianan and Southern dishes. The bar, restaurant and music venue closed in July 2019, and it was subsequently announced that the building was acquired by the Cleveland-based GBX Group.
