A TASTE OF HISTORY SINCE THE 1850'S

History of the " Dreyfus Store"

         Young Theodore Dreyfus, a native of Manheim, Germany, arrived in Livonia shortly after the Civil War.  This was an unspoiled territory with Bayou Grosse Tete as the main artery of commerce.  Theodore was employed by his cousins in a thriving mercantile business that attracted customers from around the countrysid.  The store became a focal point for friends and acquaintances to shop forovisions, exchange news and enjoy a social outing.  In 1902, Theodore purchased the busis from his cousins and with the help of his wife, children and several clerks, built a bustling enterprise in an attractive building, circa 1850's, that included a apothecary and local post office.  In 1925, a devastating fire leveled the original building which was then rebuilt to apporximately its present state with some modifications and additions through the years.

       In 1989, Joe and Diane Major occupied the store building and chose to retain The Dreyfus Store name, ambience and good will.  They wanted the DREYFUS STORE to continue to symbolize warmth and welcome.  At the time that the DREYFUS STORE became Joe's Dreyfus Store Restaurant, it  was operated by third and fourth generations of the Dreyfus family and was one of the oldest single-family owned businesses in the State of Louisiana.

      As of May 7, 2008, Bobby Webber and his sister, Linda Webber Ducote, both local residents, proudly carry on the warm tradition and vow to make every patron number one.