NEW ORLEANS —
One of the hardest hit areas after Hurricane Katrina was the Lower Ninth Ward.
Twenty years later, there is only one grocery store serving the community.
Burnell Cotlon, owner of Burnell’s Lower 9th Ward Market, continues to serve his community at the intersection of Caffin and Galvez, where visible remnants of Hurricane Katrina’s destruction linger.
“Through good and bad times. I’m still here. I’m still here because it’s bigger than me. This is about the community,” Cotlon said.
The Lower 9th Ward was severely impacted by Katrina, and Cotlon’s market remains the only business in this part of town.
“We’re not going to talk about COVID or what the rest of the world is going through. Here in the 9th Ward, as I said earlier, this is still the only business in this part of town. Right across the street, there used to be a movie theater. All those fields.. That used to be houses. We used to have everything back here, but it’s all gone,” Cotlon said.
Inside the market, Cotlon offers a variety of services, including a barber shop, hair salon, sweet shop, snoball stand, and a laundromat, thanks to Ellen DeGeneres.
The market provides essential goods at affordable prices.
“Clothes. Pig lips. Candies, milk, bread. Some things I can get right away. Some things I have to wait. But I go and get it,” Cotlon said.
The nearest store is miles away, forcing residents to take multiple buses to reach it.
“People should not have to catch three city buses to get to the nearest store, which is Walmart in the next city of Chalmette,” Cotlon said.
Cotlon built the store after realizing the need for local access to groceries following the storm.
“Before I opened these doors here, I would sell merchandise out of that door over there. That little window. I did that for several years until I had the money to open this place,” Cotlon said.
His life savings went into building the market, and the walls are adorned with photos of Cotlon with notable figures who have supported his efforts.
“Everyone always asks me about this one, me with Mark Zuckerberg,” he said.
The market also features heartfelt messages from people worldwide who appreciate Cotlon’s dedication.
“These are notes from people from all over the world,” Cotlon said.
Cotlon attributes the lack of other stores in the area to economic factors.
“It’s about money. A lot of the big box stores aren’t coming here because there isn’t a lot of people. A lot of people won’t come back because there’s not enough stores. Like what came first, the chicken or the eggs?” Cotlon said. “Meanwhile, the people here at the farm that are here, myself included. They are hurting.”
Despite the challenges, Cotlon remains committed to his community’s revival.
“I just want to see the Lower 9th Ward catch back up with the rest of the city, even if that means I have to do it alone. I’m still here,” Cotlon said.
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