TulaneLSU's Top 10 improvements at Zuppardo's

Dear Friends,

4LSU2 requested a Top 10 of the new Zuppardo's, and he is a poster of good character, so is deserving of this list.

The Zuppardo's Supermarket story goes back to 1895 or 1903 when the first Zuppardo, Peter, arrived from Sicily to Wyoming. It was so cold, he returned to Sicily before returning to New Orleans in 1913. He quickly found work in the banana importing business, at a time when New Orleans and Mobile, AL vied for domination of the Central American import.

Minor Keith, the Brooklyn native, consolidated the banana trade and concentrated its importation in New Orleans in the early 1890s. He had steamers bring the cheap and foreign fruit from Limon in present day Costa Rica to New Orleans. When Keith's company merged with the Boston Fruit Company, the United Fruit Company, the forerunner to Chiquita Banana, was formed.



The United Fruit Company dominated Central America, essentially turning those lands into giant banana plantations. The company controlled government, employment, the economy, and its fleet of ships was the largest in the world. It was headquartered in New Orleans and was responsible for New Orleans's large Central American population, not to mention some unsavory labor abuse history. You can still see the building on St. Charles between Luke and the old Kolb's.

At some point in the 1920s, Peter Zuppardo was able to purchase a horse drawn cart. He moved from the French Quarter to Gentilly where he sold fruits and vegetables from it. In 1937, Peter and his son, Anthony, known by many as "Mr. Tony," had enough money to purchase a lot at 3216 Gentilly Blvd, on the southeastern corner of Gentilly and Elysian Fields. Thus began a grocery store history that is approaching 80 years, making it the oldest full sized grocery in the New Orleans Metro. Central Grocery, of course, is older, but has a limited selection of foods.

Both Langenstein's and Zuppardo's claim to be the oldest family run grocery store in New Orleans. I find Langenstein's claim not as strong as Zuppardo's. Langenstein's didn't open their Arabella store until 1954. Before that, Langenstein's was a corner store, but I cannot find any info on it except the Langenstein website. I therefore give Zuppardo's the nod as the city's oldest.

Zuppardo's, along with the surrounding neighborhood of Gentilly, were on the decline through the 1980s. Katrina flooded the store in 2005 and the original Zuppardo's never reopened. It was knocked down in 2006 to make way for the ubiquitous post-Katrina Walgreens. Mr. Tony Zuppardo died just six months later at the age of 93. That was a time that saw numerous Walgreens constructed at major intersections. The pharmacy giant provided many locals with basic groceries and was one of the few places with reliable open hours.

To the west, Mr. Tony's sons, Peter and Joseph (Joey) in 1963 opened their store on the southwest corner of Veterans and Transcontinental. That store remained in operation until 2019, when it was torn down to make room for the current store. Many people were critical of the old Zuppardo's, because frankly, it was a dump. Its produce section was outdated and sunken. Its aisles were dirty and narrow. Its customer service desk was crowded. Overall, the store was dark and didn't look like it had been updated since 1963.

Friends, I can assure you that the new Zuppardo's is immaculate and top notch. I would now argue that it's the best, yes, the best grocery store in the New Orleans Metro. A TulaneLSU Top 10 grocery stores of the NOLA Metro is forthcoming.

For the time being, here are my favorite 10 improvements at Zuppardo's.

10. Grocery basket area



The old grocery basket area was crowded and disorganized. The new one is capacious and bright. I appreciate that the old baskets were salvaged, reminding us that some things never change.

9. The meat section



There isn't a greater selection of different animal parts in the entire NOLA Metro, not even some of the Asian supermarkets. Zuppardo's always has chicken feet, which are labeled as claws, hearts, livers, and necks. Most grocery stores have limited selections of any of these items, but Zuppardo's seems to never run low on these hard to find items.

8. New and improved Honduran food selection



I prefer getting my Honduran groceries at Zuppardo's now over Ideal Market. Better quality. I don't remember ever being able to buy these items at the old store.

7. Improved freezer section



Who can forget the old narrow freezer aisles, poorly lit and dirty, many of the freezers open faced with giant slabs of beef in them? These new freezers are on par with those at Publix. Two large baskets easily fit in the aisles, so no need to jostle for position with the purple haired ladies of old.

6. New bakery section





This display puts to shame the nearby display at Gambino's Bakery. World class bakery space and display. Those doberge!

5. Expanded prepared food section



Now superior to Langenstein's and Rouse's. As people turn to prepared meals more and more, Zuppardo's is the city's best grocery for them.

4. Muffuletta king cake



There are plenty of new and unique food offerings at Zuppardo's that you can find no where else. Zuppardo's is also one of the few locations to sell Dong Phuong king cakes.

3. Improved butcher





The actual butchers are the same, but the displays are light years ahead. Good prices remain.

2. Continued hard to find staples and classics





Few groceries sell dried shrimp anymore, a favorite snack of mine. Nor does any grocery have better store made French bread. To get a hot loaf straight from the oven and eat it while shopping is one of my favorite Zuppardo memories. That can continue.

1. Produce section



"It all started with a (produce) cart." Zuppardo's had allowed its produce section to slip to one of the worst in the Metro area. It is now one of the best, if not the best. No more step down. No more unusual smells. It's a world class produce section.


Friends, Zuppardo's is still finishing its parking lot. In the meantime, parking is ample in the lot across the street. It makes a difference when the owners are there...A BIG DIFFERENCE! I am happy to report on the rebirth of a New Orleans classic. The new Zuppardo's is at the vanguard of grocery stores in the South. It is now the standard for grocery shopping in the Metro. Dorignac's, it's now your move.



Faith, Hope, and Love,
TulaneLSU