When Hurricane Katrina put 10 feet of water into the former Alexis Fried Chicken and Seafood on Claiborne Avenue, co-owner Angela Dix was forced to raze a restaurant that had been in her family since 1938. Now, Dix is muscling through red tape to bring back the beloved neighborhood spot.
She recently told What Now New Orleans that she purchased the dilapidated building next to the former Alexis at 2212 S Claiborne Ave., tore it down, and is planning to rebuild her family restaurant in its place. Those plans for a new build are currently under review. Dix said her architect is optimistic that the city will eventually approve some form of them.
“I want to be able to rebuild and put Alexis there, but of course, the city, since Katrina and everything, has made so many new rules,” she said. “All I wanted to do is use the same location, but it’s kind of been hard.”
Dix has a letter of support from the adjacent Israel Baptist Church and backing from many people in the surrounding Uptown neighborhood.
“When I had to do the Neighborhood Participation Program notifications,” she said, “I went throughout the entire neighborhood. Some people recognized me from the restaurant and were like, ‘Where are y’all? What are you doing? When are y’all coming back?’
“Even 20 years later, they’re looking for us,” she added.
Plans for the new Alexis are on the agenda for the January meeting of the Board of Zoning Adjustments. If the restaurant goes forward, Dix said she plans to have a sit-down version of the former takeout spot that was shuttered by Katrina.
“We’re gonna have everything that we had before, and some more,” she mused.
