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The French Quarter Café is an N'awlins style restaurant/café founded in 2006 by a young
couple who relocated from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. It’s their way of keeping
N'awlins a part of their lives while sharing its history and culture with Northern Ohio. Neither
was born nor raised in New Orleans, but they fell in love with this unique and captivating city
while living in the CBD (Central Business District) above Emeril Lagesse’s original restaurant
just outside the French Quarter.
Chris and Kimberly (Francesangelo) Davis were living in New Orleans while Chris attended
Tulane University and Kimberly ran a Wine Bar/Restaurant. The couple got married here in
Cleveland, where Kimberly is originally from, in July 2005. Two weeks after their honeymoon,
Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. They were forced to quickly pack their car and abandon
their adopted hometown. They spent eight hours evacuating to a city that was normally only
20 minutes from downtown where Chris’s father ran a car auction. When they finally arrived
at 11 p.m. they helped board up the business’ windows and settled down in an office building to
weather the storm.
They were forced to stay at the auction because all the hotel rooms were occupied and the city
declared a mandatory curfew that prohibited travel due to fallen debris and flooding. After
four long days with no power or water, and running out of food, they decided to head north to
Kimberly's family in North Royalton.
As newlyweds they moved in with Kimberly's family until they were allowed to return to New
Orleans three months later. They had been living two blocks from the Convention Center in
New Orleans where residents waited several days before receiving any help. Needless to say,
the area they lived in was severely affected. When Kimberly and Chris returned to the city they
found Emeril’s had been completely looted and the front door to their apartment building was
battered from numerous break-in attempts. The restaurant where Kimberly worked had closed
and Tulane University was shutdown. Left with few choices they packed their belongings into
a U-Haul Truck and returned to North Royalton. After being forced to leave a city that was so
close to their hearts, they knew they could not just leave it behind, they knew they had to do
something to keep its memory alive in the daily life. They decided to open a restaurant
honoring New Orleans and everything they loved about the city. The newlyweds opened the
French Quarter Café in August 2006, with the Grand Opening having been held on Katrina's
one year anniversary. The French Quarter Cafe is attached to the far left end of Discount
DrugMart at 5540 Wallings Road, North Royalton, 44133 (on the corner of State Road &
Wallings Road). We look forward to meeting you soon!
Experience the Big Easy!
The French Quarter Café is an
N'awlins style restaurant/café
founded in 2006, one year after
a young couple relocated from
New Orleans after Hurricane
Katrina. This is their way of
keeping N'awlins an everyday
part of their lives, while sharing
its southern hospitality, history
and culture with Northern
Ohio…..READ MORE
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