Throughout its storied history, the Dew Drop Inn has been many things, but it began as a humble barbershop, with founder Frank G. Painia selling refreshments to neighbors in the newly developed Magnolia Housing Projects. By 1939, the Dew Drop Inn had officially opened its doors, and in a post-war era of segregation and Jim Crow laws in the South, the venue—with its open-door policy, welcoming everyone—became a social, civic, and entertainment hub for New Orleans residents.
The Dew Drop was a haven for Black musicians touring through New Orleans, hosting many who would go on to become household names, like Ray Charles and Little Richard. It also put on variety shows, comedy nights, and drag performances until the venue closed its doors in 1970. The hotel hung on until Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005, after which it sat vacant, a hobbled titan, for nearly two decades.
Here in the present day, a newly-renovated and reopened Dew Drop Inn stands triumphant, a living piece of history, carrying its legacy on its shoulders. The venue hasn’t missed a beat, with local and touring musicians gracing the stage every week, as well as comedy nights, jam sessions, DJ sets, drag shows, tribute nights, and more. During a recent Sunday brunch, a packed house dined on traditional soul food as local singer Naydja Cojoe and her band stormed through a lively set on stage.
The hotel has also been completely renovated, with new rooms and suites and a heated pool. And as a finishing touch, there’s a small museum in what used to be the barbershop downstairs, a knowing nod to Frank G. Painia and his family’s enduring legacy here in New Orleans. So as the saying goes, do drop in and stay a while.