NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – When word came that Winn-Dixie was closing stores across the region, many in New Orleans East worried the grocery on Chef Menteur Highway would shutter, leaving a “food desert” for residents in the area.

But on Monday (Feb. 2), Rouses Markets held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the building, officially marking the transition from Winn-Dixie into something new.

“If anybody was to replace it, it would be Rouses. So, I’m excited,” one shopper told Fox 8.

Rouses Markets bought the location last November. It was a part of the company’s plan to buy up Winn-Dixie locations set for closure and turn them into new Rouses locations in markets and communities that didn’t already have a Rouses.

“If you only have one place to shop, you’re kinda stuck with whatever is available,” one shopper told Fox 8. “So now I have options and I’m taking advantage of it.”

In late 2025, Rouses announced the purchases of 10 Winn-Dixie locations:

• 9701 Chef Menteur Hwy., New Orleans
• 4627 Westbank Expressway, Marrero
• 12519 Airline Highway, Suite A, Destrehan
• 2104 Williams Blvd., Kenner
• 70431 Highway 21, Covington
• 4100 Highway 59, Mandeville
• 731 Washington St., Franklinton
• 1803 LA Highway 3125, Gramercy
• 10974 Joor Rd., Baton Rouge
• 4400 Hardy St., Hattiesburg, MS

CEO Donny Rouse said the intention was to ensure communities could get quality food along with Rouses’ signature service.

“It’s fun seeing the customers’ appreciation for us, opening up and bringing all of the programs we have to the communities,” Rouse said.

Related coverage

• Rouses opens new location in New Orleans East food desert
• Rouses Markets to acquire 10 Winn-Dixie locations in Louisiana and Mississippi

Beyond the fresh food, business leaders applaud the new grocery stores as a move to ensure economic stability and growth in communities across the region.

“This is a Louisiana company, a Louisiana business that continues to invest in Louisiana,” Ray Gregson said.

Gregson is the CEO of the River Region Chamber of Commerce, which represents businesses in St. Charles, St. John and St. James parishes. He recently attended grand opening ceremonies for the new Rouses stores in Destrehan and Gramercy — both of which were former Winn-Dixie locations.

Gregson said he was glad to see that Rouses not only retained all Winn-Dixie employees in the takeover, but hired new staffers, too. Rouses said roughly 120 employees are employed at each new location.

“We’re doubling the workforce that we have at each store, so we can have the departments and the customer service that we want at Rouses,” Rouse said.

Gregson said he sees the investments in the new stores as a signal for other companies to set up nearby.

“I think it sends a message. It says, ‘Hey, look who just invested in the River Parishes,’” he said.