08/11/2026
Okay, story time. 😂
I feel like it’s probably time I explain how I somehow ended up owning a store on Magazine Street… because I can assure you, this was NOT the original plan.
And more importantly, I want my Mandeville people to know that I did not just wake up one morning and decide, “You know what? Forget y’all. I’m moving to New Orleans.” 😂
Quite the opposite, actually.
So let’s rewind about six months.
When I knew I was going to eventually have to leave my old Mandeville store, my FIRST plan was to move…
approximately 75 feet. 😂
There was another suite becoming available IN MY SAME PARKING LOT.
Perfect.
Easy.
I wouldn’t even have to learn a new route to work.
I got far enough into this plan that I had the FIRE MARSHAL come inspect the building. I was ready to go.
Except the current tenant’s move-out date and my move-in date did not line up.
So that fell through.
No big deal. We regroup.
At the same time, I knew Mandeville Seafood was eventually moving into their new building across the street, and I knew I would have space inside of it.
But I didn’t know exactly WHEN their building would be ready, exactly how much space I would have, or exactly what that was going to look like.
So I kept looking.
I looked at other locations in Mandeville because my intention was STILL to stay in Mandeville.
There were a couple of spaces I really liked.
Unfortunately, I kept receiving emails that basically said they had “national retailers interested in the space.”
Which I eventually learned was commercial-real-estate language for:
“Thanks, but no thanks, little boutique lady.” 😂
Alrighty then.
So I started looking in Metairie.
And honestly, that made sense too.
My South Shore customers have been asking me FOREVER to come to the South Shore, and I thought somewhere close to the Causeway would be perfect.
And when I say I “looked” at these locations, I don't mean I drove through the parking lot and Zillow-stalked them later.
I mean LOOKED.
Offers.
Bank statements.
Financial statements.
Applications.
Negotiations.
My entire financial life handed over to strangers so they could ultimately tell me…
No. 😂
I seriously pursued FOUR different locations in Metairie.
All four fell through.
Either Jolie & Jax “wasn’t the right fit” for the development, or the landlord wasn’t willing to negotiate enough to make the numbers make sense.
And as much as I wanted another location, I also enjoy paying my bills, so signing a lease that my business couldn’t comfortably afford seemed like a minor flaw in the plan. 😂
By this point, I had been looking for about SIX MONTHS.
Between Mandeville, Metairie, my own parking lot and everything in between…
I had seriously looked at or put offers in on NINE different locations.
NINE.
Nine different versions of where I thought Jolie & Jax was going to end up.
And nine different times, something fell through.
So finally, after months of bank statements, financials, negotiations, emails, phone calls, walkthroughs and hearing “no”…
I did what any highly motivated and determined businesswoman would do.
I went home and took a nap.
😂😂😂
I was DONE.
I talked to my husband. I talked to my family. I was frustrated. I had absolutely no clue what I was going to do.
And somewhere in the middle of all of this…
I found a little storefront for rent on Magazine Street.
On Craigslist.
Because apparently after six months of commercial real estate agents, financial statements and negotiations, the answer was Craigslist. 😂
I went to see it on a Friday.
I loved it.
Friday afternoon, I signed the lease.
Monday morning, I handed over the deposit.
And just like that…
after spending six months trying to figure out where I was going to move in Mandeville or Metairie…
I had a store on Magazine Street in New Orleans.
😂
And THAT is how we got here.
Was New Orleans my original plan?
Nope.
Did I have some master business strategy six months ago that ended with me opening a store on Magazine Street?
Absolutely not. 😂
Did I see an opportunity and decide I needed to jump before I could talk myself out of it?
100%.
And now for the part that I really want my Mandeville customers to hear.
I did not leave Mandeville. ❤️
I know some of you have gone into my new space inside Mandeville Seafood and have been disappointed because it doesn't have nearly as much inventory as my old store did.
I hear you.
You're right.
It doesn't. Yet.
That word is important.
The space inside Mandeville Seafood that you see today is NOT what I intend for that space to look like permanently.
It is the beginning.
I spent YEARS filling my old store. I cannot recreate that amount of inventory overnight.
But I plan to add.
And add.
And add some more.
My goal is for that space to eventually have everything you were accustomed to finding at my old Mandeville store.
Kids. Men's. Gifts. Accessories. Louisiana goodies. Seasonal items. All of it.
It's going to take me some time to build it.
And while I'm doing that, remember that my website is basically the bridge between my two stores.
If you see something online that isn't currently at Mandeville Seafood, ORDER IT.
Choose Mandeville Seafood pickup.
I'll bring it over.
You don't have to drive to New Orleans to shop with me.
And I really hope my Mandeville customers understand that I didn't abandon the community that built this business.
I lived half my life in Mandeville. My business grew here. My customers are here. My family is here. Mandeville is HOME.
Magazine Street wasn't me choosing New Orleans instead of Mandeville.
It was me hearing “no” nine times, taking a nap, finding a Craigslist ad and saying…
“Well. I guess we're doing this.” 😂
And here we are.
One little boutique.
Two sides of the lake.
And one slightly tired owner trying to figure it all out as she goes. 😂❤️
So give me a little time with Mandeville Seafood.
I'm nowhere near finished.
We're just getting started. ❤️
