Trader Joe’s fans and the greater New Orleans area have been abuzz lately as the new location on Tulane Avenue is now open. The crowds are already pouring in. NOLA.com food writer Ian McNulty spoke with WWL’s Tommy Tucker about what he’s seeing in the surrounding area and what it means for the greater good of Tulane Avenue’s revitalization efforts.
From Vietnamese food to pizza, new mashup concept restaurants to established local favorites, you’ll find a bit of everything surrounding Trader Joe’s these days.
“All around it are interesting places. When you put them in a collection, it’s quite a smorgasbord of options,” McNulty noted. “People are going to be driving the blocks around Trader Joe’s and see these new spots and wonder what they’re all about if they haven’t been by in a while."
Particularly of note to McNulty was the investment Ruby Slipper made in their new location along the Tulane corridor. “Brunch central … Ruby Slipper! Their (new location) is in an old union hall that sat empty for years. That’s until Ruby Slipper came in, invested a ton of money, put it back on the map,” McNulty said. He adds that there are outdoor patios with yard games along the back of the Ruby Slipper’s new location on Banks Street and that the outdoor space is also pet friendly.
Along with the well-known Ruby Slipper, McNulty noted that newer concept restaurants along Tulane will include pho, pizza, tapas, coffee shops, and more. He was also quick to add that eating local will help to maintain the uniqueness of the corridor.
“Eat local, man! Those big companies have big marketing budgets… they’re gonna give you what looks like a bargain or a deal. But, when you deal with locals, you’re going to get a lot more value out of it… and you’ll get a lot more pleasure out of that meal,” McNulty emphasized.
For the curious, there’s no shortage of options along the now-bustling and newly recovered Tulane Avenue corridor. It may be time to add a new spot in an old place to your “to-do” list in the city.