[StBernard] Two chains coming back to Chalmette

[Westley Annis]

Two chains will soon reestablish themselves in Chalmette: Winn-Dixie
officials said Wednesday their Paris Road supermarket will reopen Oct. 12
and they will hold a job fair there this Saturday, Sept. 16, while
McDonald's will open a restaurant Sept. 20 on Paris Road.

They will be the first supermarket chain store and first national fast-food
restaurant to come back to St. Bernard Parish since Hurricane Katrina.

"It will enhance the parish and help our residents to have major chains
returning,'' said St. Bernard Parish President Henry "Junior'' Rodriguez.
It's a good sign when such businesses are ready to invest their money in St.
Bernard's future, Rodriguez said. 
McDonald's, a national name in the fast-food industry, and Winn-Dixie, which
has numerous supermarkets throughout the Southeast, joins Walgreen's and
Home Depot as other chains that have returned to St. Bernard Parish since
last year's storm.
Negotiations are continuing with several other chains, Rodriguez said.

Winn-Dixie officials, meeting Wednesday with Parish Council members Joseph
DiFatta, Craig Taffaro, Judy Hoffmeister, Mark Madary and Kenny Henderson,
said they project reopening Thursday, Oct. 12 at their store in the 3300
block of Paris Road.

Council members urged them to also reopen stores in Arabi and Meraux but
nothing definite was announced by the Winn-Dixie officials, which included
Senior Vice-President Dave Henry. 

It's still to be determined whether the new supermarket will be open 24
hours a day. 
But officials said a job fair will be held at the store on Saturday, Sept.
16 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and that positions for 75-80 employees will be
available. The store expects to hire many part-time teen-age workers,
Winn-Dixie officials said.

Council members also told officials they should consider selling expanded
lines of basic clothing items, housewares and have an expanded deli.

St. Bernard currently has one supermarket, Main's Chalmette on West Judge
Perez Drive, which opened several months ago, and a Breaux Mart supermarket
is also expected to open soon. Council members said the parish needs more
than one store and predicted they all will do brisk business.

The McDonald's, which will be in the 3400 block of Paris Road, has said it
will be open 24 hours a day.