You know that daydream where you live somewhere with a bonafide winter? You imagine it like a Folgers commercial, lounging in a woolen hat, holding tightly to a steaming cup of joe while watching your golden retriever frolic in the snow. Well, Amanda and Thomas Cordner, co-owners of newly opened lifestyle store Chouette, are here to tell you that fantasy is overrated. The coworking couple moved from New York to the Big Easy several years ago and have never looked back (especially not for the winter). I got to chat with the charming husband and wife team to hear the scoop on the shop and why they chose New Orleans as their new home.
What brought you to New Orleans? We really got to know and fell in love with New Orleans while planning our wedding here in 2001. We honestly picked it as a location because we have friends from all over the country and it was about equidistance from both coasts. But through the process we met so many great friends and felt so welcome that we couldn’t stay away. New Orleans has everything a big city has (art, music, history) but it is so much easier to access it all. And the mild winters don’t hurt.
What inspired you to open a shop? After covid, we had more flexibility to work remotely in our respective day jobs in advertising and sales. At the same time, we were really missing the experience of walking into a shop to discover, touch and feel things in our own hands. Chouette (which is slang for cool in French) became our outlet for what we thought was worthwhile and missing in local stores.
What type of products do you sell and why? We are a lifestyle store highly focused on quality. We test all the products ourselves to ensure they add real daily value while also being lovely to look at. Heritage brands are a mainstay for us, the majority of which are European like; de Buyer cookware (est. 1830), Opinel knives (est. 1890), LEUCHTTURM1917 stationery and supplies (est. 1917), Botot toothpaste (est. 1775). We rely on the tried-and-true companies that have been relevant for decades, sometimes centuries. We do also offer ‘new classic’ brands like French Girl and Zero Japan.
Where can we find you? Our shop is located at 1152 Magazine Street tucked behind Merchant House. You can shop online at chouette-nola.com and view our latest pieces on Instagram @chouette_nola.
Meet Penn, Shop Talk Blogger
Penn larocci is a born and raised New Orleanian. After graduating from Tulane University she lived in NYC for nine years working in sales and marketing at an investment bank. When she missed New Orleans more than she could stand, she moved back home, met her husband and started a family. She’s now raising two rambunctious little boys and spending her free time on environmental sustainability projects.
