VOL. 17, NO. 9 KENNER’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1991 SEPTEMBER 2008 “Miss Lucille” Macy’s sets October grand opening date Macy’s has announced Saturday, shows, personal appearances and more. Yenni mourned October 25, 2008 as the grand opening Macy’s, the largest retail brand of date for two New Orleans stores, Macy’s Macy’s, Inc., delivers fashion and afford- in Kenner and at The Esplanade mall and Macy’s able luxury to customers at more than 800 Lakeside Shopping Center. Elizabeth locations in 45 states, the District of throughout Johnson-Cuthrell has been named general that will benefit our city for years to Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. manager of Macy’s at The Esplanade and come.” Offering distinctive assortments, includ- Jefferson Parish Brian Williams will hold the same posi- To celebrate both openings Macy’s will ing exclusive fashion and home brands, tion at the Lakeside store. Macy’s stores are operated by four By ALLAN KATZ hold a cocktail gala to benefit The “This is a day we have been waiting for NOCCA Institute (New Orleans Center regionally based retail divisions – Macy’s since I became mayor,” Mayor Ed Muniz for Creative Arts) on Friday October 24, Central, Macy’s East, Macy’s Florida, Lucille Lawrence said. “Hardly a day goes by that a citizen 2008. Macy’s return to New Orleans will and Macy’s West –and an online store at Yenni, 90, who died doesn’t ask ‘When is Macy’s reopening?’ coincide with the iconic department www.macys.com. Macy’s Central, based August 10, was Macy’s is an important anchor at The store’s 150th birthday celebration. in Atlanta, operates 239 stores in 18 states mourned through- Esplanade and it will be a draw for sever- Macy’s will be celebrating this milestone across the South, Southwest and out the city of al other significant retailers. I look for with star-studded festivities, fashion Midwest, including the stores located in Kenner and The Esplanade to usher in a renaissance Kenner and Metairie.★ Jefferson Parish. The widow of Joe Lucille Yenni Yenni, who served as mayor of Kenner Second Chateau Café opens in Kenner, first is here to stay and president of Jefferson Parish, By ALLAN KATZ Parish East Bank Regional Library. “Miss Lucille” was long regarded as The other Chateau Cafés are located at Kenner and Jefferson Parish’s First Scott Korndorffer, a young Kenner 139 Robert E. Lee Boulevard across Lady. However, “Miss Lucille” was entrepreneur, founded the first the street from Mount Carmel in New famed in Kenner and Jefferson for Chateau Café 14 years ago at 3501 Orleans, 4747 West Napoleon Avenue more than her role in politics. She had Chateau Boulevard in the shopping in Metairie and the latest Kenner edi- a long career from the 1940s until 1970 center located at the corner of West tion which offers a drive-thru, at 701 Chateau Café adds additional location as a reading and physical education Esplanade Avenue, offering premium West Esplanade across from the teacher. “I have been told many times coffee, pastries and a variety of soups, Kenner library. tive of our local culture where the cof- that my mother was one of the best PE salads and sandwiches. “I knew from the beginning in 1994 fee is great but it’s just part of the teacher in Jefferson Parish,” says her Today, besides his first location that I had a great location in Kenner,” experience. From the very start, I daughter, Peggy Yenni, herself a which is still at 3501 Chateau said Korndorffer, now in his late 30s. made sure we had an enticing variety teacher at Bonnabel High School. Boulevard, Korndorffer has three “I had in mind a south Louisiana-type of pastries, such as cinnamon rolls, “People tell me all the time that my other Chateau Cafés, including a new café where people wouldn’t just come cakes and petit fors, all baked daily at second location in Kenner, one in for the coffee but also for lunch or mother had an incredible rapport with continued on page 31 her students and often became a men- Lakeview and another in the Jefferson dinner. The idea is really more reflec- tor, confidante, friend and cheerleader for any student needing extra care and Plans filed for theater complex at The Esplanade mall Kenner High historical concern.” Kenner Planning and Zoning Director mall property. While Miss Lucille touched the lives marker in place Jay Hebert recently announced that the The mall’s PUD layout requires an of thousands of students over 25 years, Alumni, city officials and area histori- owner of The Esplanade mall has submit- amendment to include the theater com- many went on to become important ansassembledattheoldKennerHighon ted an application for approval by the city plex but before approval can be given for Jefferson Parish leaders, like current August 16, 2008 to formally unveil a his- of a Planned Unit Development (PUD) the project by Kenner’s Planning Jefferson Parish Councilman (and for- torical marker acknowledging the school’s that would allow for the construction of a Department, Hebert said, the proposal mer parish school superintendent and placement on the National Register of 49,000-square-foot stadium style motion must go through a public hearing process school board member) Elton Lagasse. Historic Places. Kenner High, opening in picture theater complex along the west with final approval by the Kenner City Lagasse tells of how Miss Lucille saw 1924, was the first school in Kenner and side of the mall. Council. something special in him at a time offered first through 12th grade classes. The development would be called “The Developer of the project is Southern when he seemed to be an ordinary high The last high school senior class graduat- Grand” theaters and the plans call for its Theatres of New Orleans, a business of school student and how she became a ed in 1955 and the school then became a location to be north of the existing the Solomon Family, longtime movie the- mentor to him and many others, urging junior high, closing in 1996. Goodyear Car Center on The Esplanade ater owners and developers in New them on throughout their adult years. Orleans and Jefferson Parish. continued on page 31 In that vein, Miss Lucille proved to be Southern Theatres spokesman George an instrumental force in the elections to Solomon said the complex will have 14 office of Tim Coulon, Ed Muniz and theaters with stadium seating arrange- Paul Connick. ments and a total seating capacity of “The real point is that long before 2,400 persons. Joe Yenni and the Yenni family became Solomon said the project will cost synonymous with reform politics in about $10 million and the targeted com- Kenner and Jefferson Parish, the Yenni pletion date is Memorial Day, 2009. family was enmeshed in Jefferson Principal funding is coming from a Go BARRY SPRAGUE continued on page 30 Artist’s concept of The Grand entrance continued on page 31 Kenner officials unveil historic marker. 2 SEPTEMBER 2008 KENNER ST★R September 1st -September 26th Your chance to win a Nissan Titan tailgate package, media room tailgate package or other prizes! Drawing dates: September 5, 12, 19, 26 Drawing times: 9pm & 11pm (3 winners each hour) Earn entries with your B Connected Card. Must be 21 years or older and a B Connected member to participate. Offer is non-transferable. Maximum of one prize per drawing day. Other restrictions may apply. Prizes may vary. Management reserves the right to cancel or modify this promotion at any time. bconnectedonline.com GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-877-770-STOP (7867) KENNER ST★R SEPTEMBER 2008 3 7KH /DZ 2UGHU &KRLFH IRU -XGJH 'LVWULFW $WWRUQH\ 3DXO &RQQLFN VHOHFWHG KHU WR OHDG SURVHFXWLRQV LQ 3DULVK &RXUW +H EHOLHYHV VKH LV WKH VWURQJHVW FKRLFH IRU -XGJH &KLHI RI 3ROLFH 6WHYH &DUDZD\ FDOOV 1RUPD ¦ WKH FDUHHU SURVHFXWRU ZKR XQGHUVWDQGV ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW DQG ZKDW LW WDNHV WR NHHS WKH SDULVK VDIH§ .HQQHU 0D\RU (G 0XQL] VD\V )RU -XGJH 'LYLVLRQ , ¦5HSXEOLFDQ RIILFLDOV KDYH UDOOLHG EHKLQG 1RUPD EHFDXVH RI KHU RXWVWDQGLQJ LQWHJULW\ DQG GHGLFDWLRQ WR 250 ODZ§ 1$%(&(55$ %URXVVDUG .HQQHUÊV 2ZQ 7R .HHS -XVWLFH 1250$ %52866$5' 7KH LQWHOOHFW DQG ZRUN HWKLF WR UHQGHU GHFLVLRQV VZLIWO\ IDLUO\ DQG ZLWK KRSH IRU D QHZ JHQHUDWLRQ DV MXGJH 4 SEPTEMBER 2008 KENNER ST★R “Myjobistolet you concentrate on getting well.” As Cancer Care Navigator, Debbie Schmitz, RN, works with cancer patientsand their families, fromthetimeofdiagnosis,throughouttreatment, until they are cancer survivors. She knows howdauntingitcanbetobattlecancer. “Cancer patients enter a world of unfamiliar appointments, terminologies and treatments. Myjobistotakecareofthedetailsforyouso you can just concentrate on getting well.” Thislevelofone-on-onecaregivesEastJefferson GeneralHospitalcancerpatientssomeonethey canturntothroughouttheircancerordeal. Debbie Schmitz, RN Debbie serves as a liaison between the patient, CANCER CARE NAVIGATOR theirphysiciansandthehospital. Thislevelofpersonalizedcareisjustoneaspect that makes East Jefferson General Hospital’s affiliationwithM.D.AndersonPhysicians Networksopowerfulforpatients. Call 504-456-5000 or visit us online for credentialed physicians and more information. www.ejgh.org/cancercare Affiliated with East Jefferson General Hospital Because noone fights cancer alone. KENNER ST★R SEPTEMBER 2008 5 ★ From the Editor Esplanade Macy’s returns, a movie complex is ready to go, plans to add another anchor store underway By ALLAN KATZ One of the keys Macy’s back and has opened the door for political leaders,” says Vosper. “The plans and mirrors,” she says. “There were to fully rebuilding the construction of a new multi-screen for the new theater at The Esplanade are moments when Macy’s return was not a and expanding the Kenner economy is the movie theater to be owned by the Solomon now ready to go before Kenner’s Planning certainty.