Ain't Dere No More

When I first moved to New Orleans many, many years ago (ok, let's pretend it wasn't that many years ago) one thing I noticed about the city was that there weren't a lot of national chain outlets. Yes, there were Sears and JC Pennys and stores like that. But there were Time Savers instead of 7-11s, there were Popeyes (and this was before Popeyes became the big chain it is today) instead of Churchs, there were K&B Drugs instead of Eckerds...

New Orleans as a city held onto its own culture, it was its own bastion in the world. Now there are Hooters and Hard Rock Cafes in the French Quarter. I have nothing against either of these establishments, but you put enough of them in any downtown city and you can't tell which city you are in any more. New Orleans is a city unlike any, not just in the United States, but the world. You take a walk through downtown New Orleans, through the French Quarter you should be able to tell you are in New Orleans and not Atlanta or Denver or San Diego or any other city.

Yet time is taking its toll on the city. Like I said there are more places like I mentioned before setting up shop in the city. Harrahs is here, gambling keeps getting brought out and touted as the cure all for all the city's problems. Let's make New Orleans a mini Las Vegas.

The following two songs are by Benny Gruch and while they are played for laughs they really are very sad songs...and unfortunately too true.

And Schweggman's Gone Away AIN'T DERE NO MORE
(Benny "Grunch" Antin) Anzel Anzel, BMI


Where's the downtown stores
Ain't there no more
Where's the Schwegmann's stores
Ain't there no more
Where's all the stores
Ain't there no more

Everybody cried
On the Live Eyewitness news
McKenzie's got closed down
'Cause a zink was all mildewed

Well, they opened up again
But while I was in line
They all closed down, but I heard they're gonna
Open one more time

Just hotels, just hotels
More are on the way
Mr. Bingle quit at the Carlton Ritz
"Cause he can't reach the buffet..ay

Krauss is gone so you can't try on
No queen-size lingerie
But, watcha gonna do with K & B
And Schwegmann's gone away

A & G's ain't there no more
Mc Crory's ain't there no more
Waterbury's ain't there no more
Dailey's ain't there no more
Red Goose-'a ain't there no more
Them biddies shoes-'a ain't there no more
Godchaux's Mens …On the second floor?
That's the one! ain't there no more

Maison Blanche and Holme's
Was just like dinosaurs
That roamed out in Gentilly Woods
Before it was explored

Downtown a million years
Then gone in just a blink
MB's and Holmes and dinosaurs
Are mostly all extinct

(Just hotels chorus)

Lowes State show ain't there no more
Miller Wohl ain't there no more
Leonard Krower's ain't there no more
Claiborne Towers ain't there no more
Well, Kress's then ain't there no more
'Was a "five and ten" ain't there no more
Old Grocery store with the …double screen door?
That's the one! Ain't there no more

Paw paw shopped at Schwegmann's
Forty years or more
'Cause Schwegmann's had a bar-room
Right there in the store

Paw Paw got some French bread
Then he hung around
He'd walk home with the shopping cart
So he wouldn't just fall down

(Just hotels chorus)

Labiche's ain't there no more
Kreeger's ain't there no more
Stein's is great ain't there no more
Rivergate ain't there no more

Hey, look they're layin tracks
Canal street-car is back
And Rubenstein's and Walgreens
Still right there where they at

(Just hotels chorus)

Watcha gonna do with K & B
And Schwegmann's gone away

Schwegmann's gone away
Ain't there no more
Schwegmann's gone away
Ain't there no more

(Repeat and fade)






AIN'T DERE NO MORE - PART 2
(Benny "Grunch" Antin) Anzel Anzel, BMI

We're gonna go out 'most every night
Checkin out all the Christmas lights,
Ain't Dere No More's, got lots to say
Listen up fast or get out the way

I tried all night in Metry
At various locals
You can't catch oysters out the
West Esplanade canal

So-- Spray Rudolf with a can of Off
And set the house alarm
We'll go see lites in Metry
And what they got that's gone

JC's…Ain't dere no more
House of Lee's…Ain't dere no more
Metry Ford…Ain't dere no more
On Metry Road…Ain't dere no more
Pelican Bowl…Ain't dere no more
Wrap' N Roll…Ain't dere no more
How 'bout the Real…Superstore
That's the one…Ain't dere no more

If your lights in St. Bernard
Stay up the whole year then
Just wait at least till Trick or Treat
Before ya plug em in

So-Spray Rudolf with a can of Off
And set the house alarm
We'll go see lites in St. Bernard
And what they got that's gone

Atlantic Thrift…Ain't dere no more
Drug Store was Trist…Ain't dere no more
Jerry La Vie's…Ain't dere no more
Broom Factory…Ain't dere no more
Cow Town…Ain't dere no more
Whole thing burned down…Ain't dere no more
West's Lumber…Cut them boards
2 x 4's…Ain't dere no more

Lakeveiw's getting swank
Coffee shops and banks
And churches where they all give thanks
For the streets that ain't yet sank

So-- Spray Rudolf with a can of Off
We'll go see lites in Lakeview
And what they got that's gone

Rockery Inn…Ain't dere no more
Velvet Swing…Ain't dere no more
Lenfant's in the back…Ain't dere no more
Smokehouse smoke stack…Ain't dere no more
Don't Cook Tonight…Ain't dere no more
Call Chicken Delight…Ain't dere no more
Lakeview Show then…Harrison Drug Store
Studio-A…Ain't dere no more

On St. Charles Avenue
They need some more de¢cor
But Audubon Park wouldn't be so dark
If the Copelands lived next door

So-- Spray Rudolf with a can of Off
And set the house alarm
We'll go see lites in Uptown
And what they got that's gone

Eiffel Tower…Ain't dere no more
Loretta's Flowers…Ain't dere no more
Swan Boat…Ain't dere no more
A Schweikhardt's float…Ain't dere no more
Beaconette…Ain't dere no more
Frank's on Feret…Ain't dere no more
The Kiddie Store…No, that's Broadmore!
Wise's…Ain't dere no more

Whatcha wanna see now…Across the river
I'm goin back home..Comin with us
Bridgebowl…Ain't dere no more
Keyhole…Ain't dere no more
Coulon's, Borne's…Hardware stores?
Don't tell me…Ain't dere no more
Belle Promenade Mall…Ain't dere no more
The stores 'n all? …Ain't dere no more
Magnolia Grill…Ain't dere no more
Wego On The Hill…Ain't dere no more
Cellar Club…Ain't dere no more
It's The Last Roundup…Ain't dere no more

Jacobson Young…Where the lights are strung
We must be goin down…Carrollton
Jim's Fried Chicken…Ain't dere no more
Homeplate still kickin? …Ain't dere no more
Pelican Stadium…Ain't dere no more
Lemme guess…Ain't dere no more
Security's…Ain't dere no more

Rueter's Seeds…Ain't dere no more
Cloverlands' Cows…Ain't dere no more
Post Office Now? …Ain't dere no more
Gerard Chevrolet…(Impala 2-Door)
Let me drive…Ain't dere no more

Whatcha wanna see now…Out by the lake
I'm goin back home…Betta just wait
The Bounty…Ain't dere no more
East End Bakery…Ain't dere no more
Schult's got the…Fresh Hardware
Bart's…Ain't hardly there
Maggie and Smitty's…Ain't dere no more
And all those kitties…Ain't dere no more
The My O My…Ain't dere no more

Bali Hai…Ain't dere no more
Dancing Fountains…Ain't dere no more
Just keep on countin…Ain't dere no more

Rosenberg's…That's The Name!
18 - 25…Tu-lane
Gus Betat's, right…Ain't dere no more
Witcha' Paw Paw's bike…Ain't dere no more
Hadocol…Ain't dere no more
The Parades 'n all…Ain't dere no more
Topaz…Where that went?
Hi Balls…25¢
Miller The Killa'…A Real Killa' Dilla'
Ain't Dere No Mooorrre