There is an unmistakable charm to Old Metairie, and it’s no wonder the neighborhood is in high demand for both residents and business owners. Tight-knit and community oriented, it offers everything you need, from schools and churches to thriving businesses offering a variety of goods and services. Metairie Road, which winds through Old Metairie, is a hub of activity and has become a lifestyle destination all its own. Though it’s only about four miles long, one could spend an entire day among its shops and eateries.
CELLA'S BOUTIQUE
Kickstarting your day with a little exercise is great way to get the body moving and motivated, and barre3 now brings its invigorating workout classes to a new location at 600 Metairie Road. According to Owner Kendall Carriere, barre3 offers a workout inspired by ballet barre, yoga and Pilates that’s designed to tone muscles, increase heart rate and strengthen the body.
“People often ask if they’ll sweat or get any cardio benefits. Yes!” says Carriere. “We combine isometric holds with small range movement and large range functional movement.” Reservations for classes are recommended, and barre3 offers memberships with unlimited classes, a 10 percent retail discount, and barre3 online workouts and recipes.
There is nothing like a good workout to get you excited about your wardrobe, and fashion-focused clothing boutiques are abundant along the shopper-friendly corridor. Cella’s Boutique is another new addition to Metairie Road, with two other locations across the metro area. In opening the new location, Owner Marcell Peraza prioritized a friendly and modern design for the boutique.
Cella’s offers a large selection of comfortable, everyday chambray tops and shirtdresses, 7 For All Mankind denim, colorful silk tops, dresses, beachwear and hats, as well as flats, flip flops and heels. Suede over-the-knee boots are on the way for fall.
“All of our customers in the neighborhood have been so receptive, and several have followed us from our other locations to the new Metairie Road store,” she says.
FeBe has been a mainstay on Metairie Road for over a decade and offers a mix of casual (e.g. ATM tees) and cocktail (e.g. dresses by Elizabeth & James) in addition to shoes and handbags. Shoppers can expect fall collections to be arriving now through September.
“This season we’re really excited about Cinq à Sept, a new line with interesting details from one of the Elizabeth and James designers,” says Store Manager Ron Jones. “We also recently added Pedro Garcia shoes, which are made in Spain and known for their stylish and comfortable wedges available in different heights.”
FeBe will host a trunk show for locally based Sennod Jewelry Design September 9-10.
Specializing in men’s clothing and accessories, Pelican Coast opened a new location on Metairie Road this summer and brings its casual, preppy southern wear to the neighborhood. Larger than its Magazine Street location, the new store will offer a larger variety of goods but feature the same coastal theme. Most popular for its New Orleans-themed neckties, bowties and club belts, Pelican Coast also offers seasonal button-down shirts, custom-designed neckties, polos, pants and shorts, swimsuits, T-shirts and bags.
Pelican Coast has recently added imported products and complimentary brands to broaden its offering for customers, including J.W. Hulme leather goods and Filson goods for outdoorsmen.
Kids have fun shopping along Metairie Road, too, and in 2012, B Kids opened as a conservative yet trendy, fun clothing store for children of all ages – especially tweens. According to Co-Owner Terryn Mann, she and her sister, Lynda Hornsby, wanted to open their store in a family oriented area. Dotted by numerous elementary schools, Metairie Road proved the perfect location. B Kids stocks a variety of brands, including Splendid, Ella Moss, local tee-designer Sarah Ott and TEA Collection for baby and toddler.
“Our Metairie Road location is super cute because we have a cool couch for the whole family to hang out on, so we have fashion shows daily!” says Mann. Mann also keeps a gift area stocked for quick and easy birthday gifts.
One of the longstanding Metairie Road occupants is Boudreaux’s Jewelers, who moved to Metairie Road from their downtown location in 1985.
Boudreaux’s features a collection of diamond and precious jewelry, from high-end pieces to fashion-forward sterling silver and colored gemstone items. They showcase designer brands such as Tacori, Verragio and Simon G, and also specialize in timepieces with brands like Movado, Ebel and Seiko. Later this fall, Boudreaux’s is excited to feature respected designer, Charles Krypell, who fashions designs in sterling silver and 18 karat gold with diamonds and gemstones.
“We do particularly well with colored diamonds and precious colored gemstones,” says Brandon Boudreaux, a fourth-generation jeweler. “We pick our stones loose and directly from the source. Then we build our jewelry to fit the diamond or gemstone that we are trying to feature,” he continues. “It lets us keep total control of the quality of everything that we do and it makes a visible difference.”
THE LINEN REGISTRY
MARK TWAIN'S PIZZA LANDING
Being such a sought-after residential neighborhood, it makes sense that Old Metairie would have its fair share of home design shops and services, and JADE just celebrated its second anniversary as a home design resource along Metairie Road. JADE’s showroom features contemporary furniture, décor, light fixtures and home accessories.
“We see so many of the same faces on a regular basis, sometimes they’re looking for help with their home, buying a wedding gift or a special something for a dear friend,” says Owner and President Jennifer Rabalais. Regarding the latest home trends, Rabalais says she loves the recent emergence of gold and brass.
“Mixing gold in with metals currently in your home creates another layer of that collected look that usually only comes over time,” she says.
Located in Metairie Road’s Friedrich’s Square for nearly 20 years, The Linen Registry is the only full-scale fine linen shop in the greater New Orleans area, with the widest selection of fine linen lines in the Southeast, according to Owner Lee McKee. This summer, the store moved two doors down.
“Trends are fun, but they tend to come and go quickly. At the Linen Registry, we tend to focus on timeless elegance,” says McKee. That focus is on fine linens for the bed, bath and table, as well as monogramming, lingerie, gifts, accessories and a Bridal Gift Registry. “Appliqued monogrammed bedding is always popular in the South – as well as a softer color palette. Neutrals are always a go-to,” she says.
A day of exercise and shopping will certainly work up an appetite, and delicious food along Metairie Road is in no short supply. For over 30 years, Mark Twain’s Pizza Landing has served neighborhood residents and visitors from across the metro area. Last December, Mark Twain’s Pizza Landing made Metairie Road history by selling its one-millionth pizza.
“Most of our guests dine more than once a month. Many are weekly diners,” says Owner Jacques Broussard. “Our goal is to provide each guest an incredible dining experience – as if they were the only guest – and always offer a free refill when the glass is half empty.”
The most popular pizzas are the menu’s specialty pizzas named after Mark Twain’s books: The Innocents Abroad, Life on the Mississippi and The Mysterious Stranger.
With Conola Grill & Sushi, Owners Will and Kinsey Varas bring a unique dual-restaurant menu concept to the Metairie Road dining scene. As they approach their second anniversary in the neighborhood, Will is enjoying getting to know the names and faces of the neighbors who venture in to eat. Half Southern café and half sushi bar, the menu at Conola Grill & Sushi has much to offer.
While the neighborhood-inspired Hog Alley Cubano (pulled pork, tasso and bacon with swiss, pickles and Creole mayo) and the Boneless Braised Short Ribs (red wine and vinegar braised short ribs over jalapeño cheese grits) show off Varas’ Southern roots, the Salmon Carpaccio and Blushing Geisha signature roll from the sushi menu highlight his natural talent for combining fresh seafood and vegetables with a creative flare.
CoNola Grill & Sushi now offers a hopping brunch on weekends, and the restaurant can accommodate private parties and events.
barre3 600 Metairie Road, barre3.com, 301-2017 • Cella’s Boutique 512 Metairie Road, 407-3828, Instagram: @ShopCellasBoutique • FeBe 474 Metairie Road, 835-5250, FeBeClothing.com • Pelican Coast 600 Metairie Road, Suite A, 218-7368, PelicanCoastClothing.com • B Kids 115 Metairie Road, Suite B, 301-2954, BKidsBoutique.com • Boudreaux’s Jewelers 701 Metairie Road, 831-2602, BoudreauxsJewelers.com • JADE 324 Metairie Road, 875-4420, JadeNola.com • The Linen Registry 200 Metairie Road, Suite 102, 831-8228, Facebook.com/TheLinenRegistry • Mark Twain’s Pizza Landing 2035 Metairie Road, 832-8032, MarkTwainPizza.com • Conola Grill & Sushi 619 Pink St., 837-0055, ConolaGrillSushi.com
