It’s been said that every great love story starts with an even greater “how we met” story. Well, the same might also be said for great small businesses – like this New Orleans institution that has written a tale, over more than a century, fit for the silver screen. As home to one of the best po'boys in New Orleans, Parkway Bakery & Tavern is undeniably one of the best small businesses in Louisiana, a must-visit for any out-of-towner who craves an authentic taste of New Orleans, and a go-to for locals with an incurable craving for a po'boy. But, the tale of this beloved neighborhood bakery and tavern would have written "The End" in the early 1990s had it not been for one man: Jay Nix.

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When he bought the building in which Parkway Bakery & Tavern in Louisiana was housed in 1995, Jay Nix wasn’t thinking about saving the historic restaurant, which had shuttered just a few years earlier. He simply didn’t want the building near his home to turn into “an all-night liquor store,” and the building sat empty for a decade.

During that time, locals consistently urged Nix to bring back the neighborhood favorite. He eventually agreed.

To really grasp the significance of the return of the Parkway Bakery & Tavern, you have to understand just what kind of impact it had on the community for decades.

Led by Charles Goering Sr., a local German baker, the Parkway Bakery & Tavern opened in 1911 and became a neighborhood staple. Goering sold the bakery to Henry Timothy in 1922. Under Timothy’s leadership, the bakery solidified itself as the place to go for fresh bread, Seven Sisters sweet rolls, and, eventually, the po'boy.

During the Great Depression, the bakery added the iconic po'boy -- then known as the "poor boy" -- the creation of locals Bennie and Clovis Martin, to its menu.

But the bakery did more than simply add the po'boy to its menu; Timothy fed striking railway workers the now-iconic sandwiches for free.

As often happens in business, the Parkway Bakery & Tavern passed from one generation to the next and faced its fair share of challenges, including a flood in 1978 that destroyed the bakery’s original ovens. But the business persisted until its biggest customer closed down; the iconic neighborhood bakery would follow in 1993. That, it seemed at the time, was the end, except, well, it wasn’t.

Fast-forward to that monumental decision Nix had made to restore the Parkway Bakery & Tavern. All of those stories about how the bakery had impacted the community and its residents for decades inspired Nix to push past whatever doubts or fears he had and to take a leap -- one that included his family selling their home to fund the Parkway’s rebirth.

He also got creative. To preserve the bakery’s rich history, Nix dismantled the brick ovens. Most of the 20,000 remaining bricks went to build the base of the bar in the tavern and steps that lead to the dining room. Nix sold the rest of the bricks to raise funds and allow locals to purchase a rich piece of New Orleans history.

Opening day finally arrived in 2005 and, as Nix says on the Parkway Bakery and Tavern website, something curious happened. “…all the old-timers came back. Normally when there’s a new place, the young kids get it, and then the old-timers maybe will try it, but it went just the opposite. The old-timers all came."

He continues, “…and then young people were saying, ‘How did they get here before us, and how did we miss out on it?’”

The New Orleans business owner has ensured the 21st-century Parkway Bakery & Tavern pays homage to its roots when it comes to the food, too. The same recipes from a century ago are still used today. Whether you sink your teeth into one of the seafood poor boys or a classic po'boy, you’re in for a treat.

From deep-fried Creole barbecue shrimp and Louisiana catfish to the specialty house-made roast beef with gravy, there’s a po'boy for every palate, and locals and visitors consistently offer glowing reviews of the food, the ambiance, and the service.

Diners may come for the po'boys, but there’s plenty more to love on the menu, too. Complement your po'boy with such favorites as fried pickles, house-made chili, and Parkway’s fried chicken and sausage jambalaya.

When you’re in New Orleans, Louisiana, stop by to experience this rich piece of local history. “It’s an institution that feeds the city day in and day out,” Parkway Bakery & Tavern owner Jay Nix says. “All walks of life come through our shop and we are happy to feed them.”

Many thanks to Jay Nix for sharing the Parkway Bakery & Tavern history for OnlyInYourState’s 2024 Small Business Spotlight. Learn more on the official website of Parkway Bakery & Tavern, or stop by the Facebook page of this small business in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Parkway Bakery & Tavern is one of many amazing businesses in Louisiana that’s doing great things in the state. If you have another business you’d like to see profiled on Only In Louisiana, please nominate them for a chance to be featured. Follow Only In Louisiana on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know on the state’s events, restaurants, local businesses, and hidden gems.