NEW ORLEANS- After over a decade, local brewing company Dixie Beer is set to return its brewing operations to the City of New Orleans. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the future site of brewing operations located at 3501 Jourdan Road in New Orleans East.
"My district is thrilled to have this announcement made today to show growth in our area," said District "E" Councilmember Cyndi Nguyen. "We welcome the new jobs this facility will create along with the tremendous economic impact that Dixie brewing will continue to have on the New Orleans region, the state of Louisiana and the rest of the country. We are excited that it will all begin right here in New Orleans East."
Dixie, founded in 1907, was displaced after Hurricane Katrina and relocated to Wisconsin. Dixie's historic Tulane Avenue brewery never reopened after the storm. Since 2017, brewing has been moved back to the south at the Blues City Brewery in Memphis, Tennessee.
Tom Benson, the late owner of the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans, bought a majority stake in the Dixie brand in 2017 from Joe and Kendra Bruno, with plans of returning the brewing operation to New Orleans.
These efforts were made possible by the Bruno family who took a leap of faith to purchase the struggling Dixie Brewing Company in 1985, and they continued to help it survive post-Hurricane Katrina. They allowed for the flavor and company of this iconic Louisiana beer to live on.
The new facility will create more jobs within the city and will serve as a catalyst for economic development within New Orleans East.
"New development continues to be a major factor in New Orleans East, an announcement like this along with the designation of federal opportunity zones help to foster an area for potential increased growth, tourism and new facilities," said Nguyen.
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Media Contact:
Terrie Guerin
Councilmember Cyndi Nguyen, District "E"
tguerin@nola.gov
(504) 658-1053