Like a good friend returning after a prolonged, unplanned absence, New Iberia welcomed back Fremin’s Food & Furniture following a soft opening for the grocery store Monday.

That the community cares about the family business has been evident since fire destroyed much of the building and ruined the interior the second week of March. When the initial shock subsided and grief gave way to hope, the family vowed to reopen with its proud leaders emphasizing there never was an alternative but to do just that.

Family members, friends and employees rolled up their sleeves and began renovating as soon as possible after the building’s contents were removed.

In late June, David Fremin Sr., 64, owner/furniture; Rayward Fremin, 62, owner/fireworks, and Ross Fremin, 60, owner/grocery, relaxed for a few minutes and talked about the comeback in an empty building that already had a new ceiling and floor on the grocery side. The three men are the eldest of nine children born to Rayward Fremin.

“We’re getting it, huh? It looks good. It does make a difference,” Ross Fremin said in The Daily Iberian as he watched  painters work the third week of June.

People dropped by regularly to check on them and their progress and to volunteer their help, including local competitors in the grocery and furniture businesses, the Fremins. said

Rayward said, emphasizing the last four words, “New Iberia’s a community that just takes care of itself.”

To a man, they said there were tears, understandably, while the tragedy unfolded shortly after 5 p.m. March 9, and in the days that followed but they were replaced as much as humanly possible by a resolve to complete the mission and reopen, hopefully on or before Labor Day Monday. The renovation took a little longer and it was decided to open the grocery store this past week.

“It’s been a process. We’re not totally complete but we’ve got to get the doors open. That’s kind of a necessity to get moving and forward. It’s just little minor things we’ve got to get done,” Ross Fremin said in Thursday’s Daily Iberian.

“The customers have been very good. They seemed to be excited that we’re back,” he said. “A lot of good comments and ‘thanks yous.’ We should be thanking them but they’re thanking us. It’s definitely heart-warming.” 

Fremin’s Furniture is scheduled to open within the next four to six weeks, Ross Fremin announced this past week, noting, “The furniture side received more damage, no doubt.”

The business that began in 1941 when it was opened by Wilton Fremin moved to its current location in 1983 by Wilton’s son, Rayward. It has grown ever since, its roots sunk deep into the fabric of the community.

It is little wonder the residents reacted the way they did, feeling the loss. After all, the business has been there for a few generations.

Welcome back, Fremin’s. We really missed you.

DON SHOOPMAN

SENIOR NEWS EDITOR