NEW ORLEANS – NOLA BOARDS, a New Orleans bred company started in 2014 and launched into the spotlight in December 2015 by Rachel Ray Magazine, is opening their second retail location on Saturday, July 1, in the historic French Quarter.
The company specializes in locally inspired and handmade cutting boards, countertops and custom furniture and their first retail location was opened on Magazine Street in March of 2016.
Dating back to 1844, The Historic Annex of Jackson Brewery was housed at 519 Wilkinson Row. That’s where the new NOLA BOARDS location is set to open along with seven other ground level retail locations including EAG Gallery, Charleston Shoe Company, and HNDRD ACR. The Wilkinson, which features 20 brand new apartments, is situated above the retail spaces.
Wilkinson Row is one of only two streets in the French Quarter that are only one short block in length. It ends at the dynamic Chartres and Decatur Streets, reps said. The street was recently renovated, rebricked, and has new trees planted, making it one of the most welcoming streets in the French Quarter, they said.
NOLA BOARDS will be open from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Wednesday through Monday with various extended hours for special events featuring local popups from chefs and other artisans. The store will carry the same line of products as the Uptown location with a few additional collections to be added.
Suzie Q’s Knife Sharpening service will also be housed in the store.
On Saturday, July 1, NOLA BOARDS will host a soft opening and offer samples, sales and special door prizes. A grand opening is set for early September.
“It feels great to be going back to my roots in the Quarter where I was born,” said NOLA BOARDS owner Mandy Simpson. “I grew up sitting on the floors of Preservation Hall watching my dad play banjo and had the best view of Ruthie the Duck Lady from our Dauphine Street balcony. Mardi Gras was burnt into my soul during this time and it was just magical! We can’t be any happier to bring our products to a whole new audience downtown.”
NOLA BOARDS creates one-of–a-kind wooden pieces of functional art for the kitchen, dining room and bar. Their brother company, New Orleans Woodworking, which is led by Simpson’s husband, is located in the Bywater area. Their team of woodworkers manufactures all of NOLA BOARDS products as well as their own commercial and residential build-outs and sources as many local woods as possible. NOLA BOARDS also curates works from up and coming local and regional artisans including jewelry, lung-blown barware, bitters, and cast iron to name a few.
