Latest news with #FrenchQuarterFest
Axios
05-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Why this Mexican restaurant is closing for Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is the busiest day of the year for Felipe's, but owner Pike Howard says he's decided to close up early to avoid the crowds. Why it matters: The decision, which he says he's made along with a handful of other Bienville Street businesses, is out of concern for public safety. The big picture: Despite most numbers showing a marked decrease in violent crime across New Orleans, the French Quarter has had an exceptionally difficult start to the year. It started with the Jan. 1 terror attack that killed 14 bystanders and injured dozens of others. It also includes a shooting during French Quarter Fest just a couple of weeks ago that injured five people and which Howard says was the catalyst for his decision to close Monday. What he's saying: "Instead of passing the baton to someone else to take care of it, I think we can solve this on our own," Howard tells Axios New Orleans. "This is local, boots-on-the-ground collaboration, and for us, that's been a comforting thing. It's not a blame game." Catch up quick: Heading into 2025, Howard felt like the city was moving ahead with good momentum. "The Super Bowl and Taylor Swift ["The Eras Tour" concerts] were really good examples of our ability to execute as a city," he says. "Things were feeling good, and we were seeing that in our numbers as well. The most recent shooting at French Quarter Fest felt like a step backwards." After that shooting, Howard says, he considered that there had also been a shooting outside Felipe's during the last Cinco de Mayo. He started seeing a link he couldn't ignore. "When we get a significant crowd later in the day, a lot of times, the result is violence, fights or shooting," he says. The solution felt obvious. Zoom in: "There's the myopic financial hit. It's not ideal in terms of closing on what is always your busiest day of the year, but if you step out and start to take a longer-term approach, I think you say, 'Well, I wanna be in this spot where I am in business 15 years from now,'" he says. "A lot of that hinges on team members and guests feeling safe." What's next: Felipe's in the French Quarter will close at 6pm Monday. Other Bienville Street businesses, which Howard did not want to speak for, also plan to close early, he says.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
French Quarter businesses planning to close early for Cinco de Mayo
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Cinco de Mayo in the French Quarter typically means packed patios, festive music and lines down the block. But this year, the celebration will be cut short along Bienville Street, as several bars and restaurants plan to close early. Felipe's Mexican Taqueria and Ryan's Pub have announced they will voluntarily shut their doors at 6 p.m., despite the evening being one of their biggest nights of the year. Tolling date delays continue for Belle Chasse Bridge 'This year we would try to close a little bit earlier to give ourselves and other businesses on the block, as well as the police, more time to sort of organize, and not have a situation where the crowd was there late and possibly violence was the end result, which is what we have seen in the past,' Pike Howard, owner of Felipe's Mexican Taqueria said. The move comes in response to recent violence in the area, including a shooting during French Quarter Fest just blocks away. Last Cinco de Mayo, one man was killed following a shooting on Bienville Street. 'Let's play a little offense. Let's make a decision to try to do something about an issue that we know has been happening in the past, and make sure that it doesn't happen going forward,' said Howard. Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans gives update on power and pump status While early closures mean a significant hit to revenue, especially for Mexican restaurants on a holiday that brings in massive crowds, owners say the decision will hopefully restore safety and confidence in the French Quarter. 'Cinco de Mayo is literally the Super Bowl of Mexican restaurants, right? So it's not something we want to do, but we feel like if we do this now, in the future it will pay dividends later. People will want to come here and feel safe and have a good time in the French Quarter,' said person arrested in Kentwood homicide case French Quarter businesses planning to close early for Cinco de Mayo Saints linebacker three-peats at Zurich Celebrity Shootout Environmental groups protest EPA administrator's visit to border in California Which food dyes are expected to be eliminated in the US? Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Bond set at $2M for man accused of shooting 5 in French Quarter
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A judge has set a $2 million dollar bond for the man who allegedly shot and wounded five people after French Quarter Fest, Sunday night. In court on Thursday, the district attorney's office argued that Christopher Parker shot into the crowd along Decatur Street with no concern for anyone's safety. Parker's lawyer argued that he fired in self-defense, but only one gun was found at the scene. Man hospitalized following 9th Ward shooting 'No matter how mad he might have been, no matter how justified he might have felt for his actions, the fact that when he started firing that firearm, he had nothing but innocent people who were trying to enjoy French Quarter Fest. He's got a right to a defense. I, we look forward to trying the case across the street. But at the end of the day, you cannot shoot into a crowd,' said District Attorney Jason Williams. At last report all five shooting victims are citizen held by ICE despite judge seeing birth certificate Gen Z leading political shift toward Republicans: Poll Trump says Carter died 'happy' because he 'wasn't the worst president' Bossier Parish School Board approves largest permanent pay raise FSU lecturer finds broken doors in building after 2-hour shooting lockdown Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayor Cantrell looks to throw out IV Waste emergency contract
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Mayor Latoya Cantrell issued a statement, saying she had submitted a 90-day notice of termination of the emergency sanitation contract between the city and IV Waste made in December of 2024. 'We cleaned up after the tragic event on Bourbon Street, Super Bowl, Mardi Gras, national exposure. People were happy. People are still talking about it. I mean people are very happy with the service we are giving, so why would you switch it when you have something that's working? It doesn't make sense,' IV Waste President Sidney Torres said. If this termination goes through, Henry Consulting, which won the original bid, will assume full services on Aug. 1. 'Our contract is $6 million, their contract is $8.5 to $9 million. It's a huge difference. What's the rush?' Torres said. Governor Landry backs bill to crack down on insurance rates While the decision to issue a termination notice came as a surprise for Torres, it was also a shock for the council, including Councilman Freddie King, who says he was not informed of the decision prior to the announcement. 'It seemed like everything was going well. We just finished French Quarter Fest, we had the Super Bowl. We had Sugar Bowl. We had Mardi Gras. Everything was going well, so to do this with no consultation with the council is a bit puzzling,' King said. While the mayor made her decision, it is not finalized yet. It now goes to appellate court where both Torres and King say they will continue to fight. 'I want to keep things the way it is, and that's with IV doing sanitation pickup in the French Quarter, simply because that's what the residents want,' King Cantrell looks to throw out IV Waste emergency contract Ponchatoula man indicted in Lacombe fatal shooting case Governor Landry backs bill to crack down on insurance rates WATCH: Southeastern baseball coach Bobby Barbier previews series vs. UTRGV Meet the man in charge of the beautiful landscaping at The Windsor Court Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
Four people wounded in French Quarter shooting Sunday: NOPD
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The New Orleans Police Department is investigating a quadruple shooting that happened in the French Quarter. Around 8:25 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, NOPD officers responded to the corner of Iberville and Decatur streets on a call to a shooting in the area. Upon arrival, four victims were found suffering from gunshot wounds. They were taken to a hospital by EMS. Two people shot at Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival: TPSO, PPD An update on their conditions were not given. In a press conference following the shooting, NOPD Captain Samuel Palumbo stated an officer witness the suspect fire a weapon as they were moving a large crowd out of the area following French Quarter Fest. One person was taken into custody. 'What this shows, is how brazen this perpetrator is. We have officers with lights and sirens on basically surrounding the area and still chooses to do this,' said Palumbo. No further details are available at this time. The NOPD is in the process of gathering evidence and information to determine a possible suspect and Larson dominates Food City 500 at Bristol Warm and sunny today, front passing tomorrow Four people wounded in French Quarter shooting Sunday: NOPD Trump pharma tariff threat raises specter of shortages, price hikes Wiggins and Carlson lift Thunder past Pelicans 115-100 in regular-season finale Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
