There’s new life at the Dew Drop Inn, the Central City music club that opened in April 1939 — 85 years ago this month. After $11 million in renovations, the Dew Drop has reopened as a music venue, hotel, bar and restaurant complete with a mini-museum honoring the landmark’s place in local history.
For more than 30 years, the Dew Drop Inn at 2836 LaSalle St. played host to some of the most important names in rhythm and blues and early rock ‘n’ roll.
Owner Frank Painia, a Black barber from Plaquemines Parish, opened it as a bar, restaurant, barbershop and hotel in 1939 before adding a nightclub in 1945. During segregation, the club was an important stop for Black performers and travelers, even featured in “The Negro Motorist Green Book,” a guidebook which listed safe havens for Black visitors.
The list of entertainers who performed in the Dew Drop’s Groove Room includes Ray Charles, James Brown, Ike and Tina Turner and Little Richard, as well as local greats Fats Domino, Allen Toussaint, Art Neville, Irma Thomas, Earl King, Ernie K-Doe, James Booker and Deacon John Moore.
Though police often conducted raids to uphold the segregation laws of the time, Painia allowed Black and white music fans in his club and challenged the police raids in court. Besides music, the Dew Drop also offered shows featuring comedians, dancers and female impersonators. The club holds a place in local LGBTQ history because of Patsy Vidalia, the legendary drag queen who served as an emcee at the club.
The Dew Drop Inn closed in 1970, two years before Painia died. In 2021, developer Curtis Doucette Jr. bought the property and has revived the music club, renovating it into a 17-room hotel, complete with a pool, bar and restaurant.
For more information, visit dewdropinnnola.com.
Joseph M. Sutton and his family owned several retail spots in the 20th century.
The Dew Drop’s event calendar has been filling up.
