NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — After sitting dormant for the better part of two decades, the Dew Drop Inn was a mere shell of itself when WGNO visited back in 2021.
The task of purchasing what was once a thriving hotel, restaurant and historic nightspot in the city fell to local developer Curtis Doucette and now the unveil is ready, but getting there too perseverance.
“Lots of learning along the way. A lot of roadblocks, and challenges, but here we are. It’s been a very rewarding journey,” said Doucette.
What they are redeveloping is a property that can be seen as a living museum and tribute to Black history in New Orleans and to do so required people who cared working on the project.
“That’s the heart and soul because we’re doing the storytelling. And they’re stories that I would tell when I would walk people through this place but the attention to detail that they’ve put into it, the quality that has gone into it is mind-blowing to me, and I’ve learned lot,” said Doucette.
The Dew Drop started as founder Frank Pania’s barbershop and expanded to a hotel and nightclub. The Functioning barbershop is a museum space and a pool has been added.
The hotel rooms, themed after many of the greats that played here are already being booked.
“The very first thing that I’m trying to do here is honor our history and honor our past. These stories were in danger of being lost,” Doucette.
From the designed Boom Room performance space to a brand-new kitchen, the new Dew Drop Inn is an ode to the past and what its future could be like.
“We imagined if the Dew Drop Inn were uninterrupted spiritually from the time it was built to now what would it look like and in every aspect of the project, we’re trying to answer that question and show that to the people,” said Doucette.
For updates on the inn, lounge and restaurant, visit the Dew Drop Inn website.
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