The Dew Drop Inn « Central City Partnership

Become a Member

The Dew Drop Inn

Meet them fin gals, buddies and your pals…down in New Orleans on a street they call LaSalle…at the Dew Drop Inn…Meet all your fine friends at the Dew Drop Inn…Meet me at the Dew Drop Inn…

“Dew Drop Inn” by Little Richard

The Dew Drop Inn continues the legacy started by impresario, Frank Painia, in 1939. Mr. Painia presented first class entertainment, in an upscale environment; while operating a full service restaurant, barber shop, hotel, and apartment complex at 2836 LaSalle Street, in New Orleans.

Today the Dew Drop Inn building is still standing; though weakened cosmetically, by Hurricane Katrina. The Dew Drop Inn Hotel and Apartments, where Ray Charles, Big Joe Turner, and Ike & Tina Turner all resided, currently houses only 5 tenants. The Dew Drop stage, that presented innumerable musical legends, is dark. Soon, the stage will be lit again, presenting “up and comers” and today’s top notch talent; several who performed at the Dew Drop Inn its heyday. Past Dew Drop Inn performers included: Little Richard, Fats Domino, Ike & Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Allen Toussaint, Billie Holiday, Solomon Burke, Nat “King” Cole, James Brown, Ruth Brown, and many others. Now with all that’s gone, the Dew Drop Inn’s spirit is alive and well, by recently having forged a partnership with New Orleans premier culturally iconic organization, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation.

In January, 2010 the Dew Drop Inn received ‘historic designation’ from the New Orleans Historic Landmark Commission. This recognition has helped keep the Dew Drop Inn’s comeback on track. The Dew Drop Inn, LLC, along with its partners Dew Drop Inn Foundations and Youth in Action (a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization) is in the midst of a full restoration and renovation of the Dew Drop Inn’s (venue) physical structure; scheduled for completion in time for Jazz Fest 2010. Besides the “for profit” venue, restaurant, hotel and apartments, the Dew Drop Inn Foundation and Youth in Action are developing a Dew Drop Museum (similar to Hollywood’s Granny Museum, that was originally slated for New Orleans) and the Dew Drop INNstitute (similar to New York’s Julliard School of Art College, New York’s New School of Music College and New Orleans NOCCA High School). The Dew Drop Museum and INNstitute will display Dew Drop history and artifacts, while telling the story of how the Dew Drop became the launching pad for many international performers, businessmen booking agents, record labels, and “ground zero” for the New Orleans Civil Rights Movement, with its partners attorneys Ernest “Dutch” Morial and A.P. Tureaud.

Little Richard, Fats Domino, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Lloyd Price, the Sam Cooke Estate, Bumps Blackwell Estate (Bumps discovered Little Richard and Sam Cooke), all gave reverence to the Dew Drop, and have agreed to offer items for display at the Dew Drop Museum and offer extended lectures at the Dew Drop INNstitute.

Finally, in addition to this Central City – New Orleans economic development, the Dew Drop Inn Apartments “Legends” wings will offer affordable housing for New Orleans musicians meeting certain criteria of current or future “Dew Drop Legend” status.

As we move forward in 2010, the Dew Drop Inn will reach back to its New Orleans musical heritage and legacy on LaSalle Street.




Home About CCP Board of Directors The Neighborhood The Dew Drop Inn Join Us Photo Gallery Contact

Become a Member Get the Flash Player to see the slideshow. Admin \| Register Printing Services by UPrinting.com		The Dew Drop Inn Meet them fin gals, buddies and your pals…down in New Orleans on a street they call LaSalle…at the Dew Drop Inn…Meet all your fine friends at the Dew Drop Inn…Meet me at the Dew Drop Inn… “Dew Drop Inn” by Little Richard The Dew Drop Inn continues the legacy started by impresario, Frank Painia, in 1939. Mr. Painia presented first class entertainment, in an upscale environment; while operating a full service restaurant, barber shop, hotel, and apartment complex at 2836 LaSalle Street, in New Orleans. Today the Dew Drop Inn building is still standing; though weakened cosmetically, by Hurricane Katrina. The Dew Drop Inn Hotel and Apartments, where Ray Charles, Big Joe Turner, and Ike & Tina Turner all resided, currently houses only 5 tenants. The Dew Drop stage, that presented innumerable musical legends, is dark. Soon, the stage will be lit again, presenting “up and comers” and today’s top notch talent; several who performed at the Dew Drop Inn its heyday. Past Dew Drop Inn performers included: Little Richard, Fats Domino, Ike & Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Allen Toussaint, Billie Holiday, Solomon Burke, Nat “King” Cole, James Brown, Ruth Brown, and many others. Now with all that’s gone, the Dew Drop Inn’s spirit is alive and well, by recently having forged a partnership with New Orleans premier culturally iconic organization, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. In January, 2010 the Dew Drop Inn received ‘historic designation’ from the New Orleans Historic Landmark Commission. This recognition has helped keep the Dew Drop Inn’s comeback on track. The Dew Drop Inn, LLC, along with its partners Dew Drop Inn Foundations and Youth in Action (a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization) is in the midst of a full restoration and renovation of the Dew Drop Inn’s (venue) physical structure; scheduled for completion in time for Jazz Fest 2010. Besides the “for profit” venue, restaurant, hotel and apartments, the Dew Drop Inn Foundation and Youth in Action are developing a Dew Drop Museum (similar to Hollywood’s Granny Museum, that was originally slated for New Orleans) and the Dew Drop INNstitute (similar to New York’s Julliard School of Art College, New York’s New School of Music College and New Orleans NOCCA High School). The Dew Drop Museum and INNstitute will display Dew Drop history and artifacts, while telling the story of how the Dew Drop became the launching pad for many international performers, businessmen booking agents, record labels, and “ground zero” for the New Orleans Civil Rights Movement, with its partners attorneys Ernest “Dutch” Morial and A.P. Tureaud. Little Richard, Fats Domino, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Lloyd Price, the Sam Cooke Estate, Bumps Blackwell Estate (Bumps discovered Little Richard and Sam Cooke), all gave reverence to the Dew Drop, and have agreed to offer items for display at the Dew Drop Museum and offer extended lectures at the Dew Drop INNstitute. Finally, in addition to this Central City – New Orleans economic development, the Dew Drop Inn Apartments “Legends” wings will offer affordable housing for New Orleans musicians meeting certain criteria of current or future “Dew Drop Legend” status. As we move forward in 2010, the Dew Drop Inn will reach back to its New Orleans musical heritage and legacy on LaSalle Street.