Welcome to the Demimonde. Chapter 628.

The block bounded by North Peters Street, Ferdinand Street, Decatur Street and Port Street houses the PJ’s Coffee roastery and a lumber yard.

The roastery is a sheet metal building with loading docks on the side in a gravel parking lot. That part takes up most of the block. The lumber yard is tucked into a small lot along Ferdinand Street. It belongs to Wilson Bourg Lumber. The deliver. The lot looks like something on an old-timey postcard, or the set of a Ma and Pa Kettle movie.

I had nothing to do so I took the Vespa down to the Marigny to this odd corner of North Peters Street. I was not there to go to the lumber yard. Those guys were busy loading their delivery truck with 2x4s. Instead I went to the loading dock at PJ’s coffee. Those guys were taking a smoke break.

If there is anything New Orleanians like to do it is talk. I ambled up the loading dock and introduced myself.

I asked these two characters if they knew the history of this lot. The did. They know the story of Le Grande Palais and M. Bonobo. The legend lives on.

I was going to talk about this more but I am talking to a tourist who is talking my ear off so I cannot concentrate. It is 2:46AM. I do not mind. Once a New Orleans goodwill ambassador, always a New Orleans goodwill ambassador. It is good for business.

More to follow…