Thinking of grocery shopping today, or “making groceries” as some moms or grandmothers have called it in days gone by, visions of bagged lettuce, fresh-baked cakes and pies, or precooked packaged dinners come to mind. Others order groceries online and drive through lanes where purchases are packaged and put into cars for customers.

That wasn’t the case, however, when grocers first began selling foods under one roof. Recent conversations with managers of locally owned grocery stores revealed just how far the industry has come, while still retaining the commitment of family grocers to feed other families in our community.

Fremin Family history

The Fremin family has a proud heritage of serving the community since 1941 when Wilton and Bertha Fremin started a store on the corner of Corrine and what is now Ambassador Lemelle street. Since moving to the location on Admiral Doyle Drive, his son Rayward Fremin Sr. and wife, Velta, worked together to grow the business while raising nine children. Sons Ross and David, along with their wives, now manage the grocery and furniture stores. They specialize in meat products, pastries and the ever-popular Magic Dust seasoning.

After a fire caused a large amount of damage to Fremins’ Food and Furniture last year, members of the Fremin family came to know just how much their family business meant to their friends and customers through the outpouring of support shown by the community. Their “family” grew to include extended family members of employees, other local grocery store families, friends in the community and loyal customers.

“The furniture store customers waited until the store reopened before buying furniture they were in need of,” said David Fremin.

Ross Fremin described how customers who have since left New Iberia for other nearby towns still shop at their store because of the loyalty they feel as a result of the good service they receive there.

Theriot’s Grocery and Market

Another grocery store that has withstood the test of time is Paul Theriot’s Grocery and Market on Julia Street. According to David Theriot, in 1941 his father, Paul Theriot, purchased a small store near its present-day location. When he went off to serve in World War II, Paul’s father and sister ran the store until he returned. In 1946 Paul started his business in the new store on Julia Street. At that time most families owned only one car, which the husbands took to work. Wives received their groceries by bicycle delivery and customers paid their bills monthly. The bicycles could carry all the groceries and the stores did not have to be large because the variety of food items was not vast as found today.

Weekly specials were advertised in the Daily Iberian in one-page ads. David Theriot now proudly displays his dad’s framed page of food specials dated Feb. 14, 1957, on the wall near the deli. Sale-priced items noted in the ad included T-bone steaks for 69 cents a pound and Betty Crocker Angel Food Cake mix for 31 cents a box. At the bottom of the page were listings for 10 other neighborhood Independent Grocers. The framed advertisement was a gift from the Fremin family. According to David Theriot, the Independent Grocers Corporation is now Associated Grocers of Baton Rouge.

Along with specialty meats such as sausage, cracklins and hogshead cheese, in 1983 David and his wife Sandra, with the help of their son Mike, began preparing plate lunches to rival mom’s home cooking.

Simoneaud’s 65 and counting

In 2014 Simoneaud’s Grocery and Market celebrated 60 years of business, having opened its doors in 1954 on Ashton Street. With the purchase of the store from Shelton Freyou, V.P. Simoneaud and his wife Hazel began the business which grew to include stores on East Main Street and Admiral Doyle Drive. Their sons Claude, Roy and Wayne worked with their parents until each took over management of the stores.

V.P. Simoneaud was no stranger to the food industry. Since childhood he helped his dad, D.A. Simoneaud, sell items such as live chicken, eggs, dry bean, corn, rice, canned goods, shoes and cloth from a tarpaulin-covered wagon. The route included Lydia, Weeks Island, Glenco and many rural Iberia Parish Areas. Roy Simoneaud and his wife Toni now own and operate the two stores.

With the sale of delicious offerings of fresh baked pastries and breads, specially prepared meats and vegetables, and a deli lunch counter, they achieve continued success. Toni Simoneaud explained that their secret to success is “our time-honored philosophy of offering the very best customer service and highest quality meats and produce to our customers.” This philosophy continues to be practiced today.

North Lewis Market

Bi-Lo Supermarket is another family-owned supermarket on North Lewis Street. It was established in 1985 when friends Curtis Hulin and Chip Romero formed a partnership. Later Hulin and his sister, Joyce Hulin Boudreaux, became owners of the store, buying out Romero’s portion. Boudreaux came with years of experience dating back to 1957 when she worked at the National Food Store on Center Street.

Many homemakers can attest to the convenience and deliciousness of Bi-Lo’s “almost” world famous brisket when feeding large gatherings at special events. Its fresh meat, produce and bakery items, along with an unrivaled liquor and wine selection, continue to attract shoppers from far and near. Children and parents alike are delighted at Christmastime when the Hulin family makes homemade Christmas candy and Mrs. (Joyce) Claus, appears to distribute the candy to all customers. Bi-Lo now is owned by her son, Buddy Boudreaux.

New to the neighborhood

Figuratively speaking, Rouses is the newest kid on the neighborhood block when thinking of family-owned grocery stores. The origin of Rouses dates back to Thibodaux in 1923 when J.P. Rouse opened City Produce Company. According to the Rouses Market website, his son, Anthony Rouse, and cousin, Ciro DiMarco, took over the produce business when J.P. Rouse died in 1954. In 1960, Anthony and Ciro opened a 7,000 square-foot grocery store in Houma.

Third-generation Donny Rouse is now the CEO of the family business. The family continued to expand its grocery business in the years that followed. Stores are now located in Louisiana, along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Lower Alabama. The New Iberia Rouses Market is the latest to open and brings the total number of stores to 63, with 6,700 team members.

In a recent conversation with Marcy Nathan, creative director for Rouses Markets, she stated the family is “ecstatic and thrilled to be in New Iberia.”

As shoppers see more and more changes in the grocery industry, some factors remain the same. The sense of community, personalized service and the sharing of friendships formed over the years will always be a valued commodity found at family-owned neighborhood grocery stores.

Today’s recipes were shared by these local family grocers.