Sazerac House
On Oct. 2, the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans since 1850, opened the Sazerac House, an immersive, spirited experience exploring the history of New Orleans through its cocktails. Located at the intersection of Canal and Magazine streets, the buildings also house the Sazerac company offices, home to 60 employees, 45 of which are new positions. The Sazerac House is open Wednesday through Saturday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. through the end of Nov. 2019, and will then be expanding its hours. Complimentary tickets, available at SazeracHouse.com, are required for entry.
Diamonds Direct
Direct diamond importer and leading U.S. independent jewelry retailer Diamonds Direct opened its first Louisiana location at 3230 Severn Ave. in Metairie on Sept. 26. The company’s showroom includes a large selection of loose and mounted diamonds, wedding bands, fashion jewelry and pearls. Diamonds Direct currently has 19 locations in the United States, mostly spread across the Southeast.
Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar
Full-service family sports bar and restaurant Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar has opened its newest restaurant in Slidell at 50 Town Center Parkway. The new restaurant will employ up to 200 people and is owned and operated by DBMC Restaurants. It marks the seventh Walk-On’s owned and operated by the group. Co-owned by Saints quarterback Drew Brees, the chain has approximately 160 locations across 15 states and is on track for strategic franchise expansion nationwide.
Storyland
Nearly 35 years after its last major renovation, New Orleans City Park’s Storyland showed off the results of its latest upgrades at its grand reopening on Sept. 28. The play area received four new exhibits designed to incorporate STEM and interactive play, and Storyland as a whole was updated to be more ADA accessible. The attraction is also the new home for the Charles Bolden, Jr., LES Space Suit — acquired on loan for five years from NASA. A NASA astronaut for 14 years, Bolden was the first African-American to permanently hold the title of NASA administrator.
The Suites at Algiers Point
This past June, Schonberg Care — Louisiana’s largest family-owned and operated senior living expert (with headquarters in the Greater New Orleans area) — acquired St. Margaret’s at Belleville Assisted Living at 813 Pelican Avenue in Old Algiers. The company has since completed a million-dollar renovation and renamed the facility The Suites at Algiers Point. Schonberg Care currently has retirement communities throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina.
Ochsner Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Lab
Ochsner Health System has opened a new Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Lab (cath lab) at its flagship campus Ochsner Medical Center — New Orleans. Construction on the 1,250-square-foot space began in December 2018 and lasted eight months. The lab is one of many investments Ochsner has made to expand cardiac care systemwide. Earlier this year, Ochsner Health Center — Kenner opened a second cath lab, expanding its capacity to serve cardiac patients in Jefferson, St. John the Baptist and St. James Parish.
