Frank Douroux’s Little Gem Saloon

- Compiled by Karen Armagost (2012)

Quick Facts

Location:

449 South Rampart Street

MANAGED BY:

Little Gem Saloon

The Little Gem Saloon was Frank Deroux’s first tavern on the 400 block of South Rampart Street and also featured early jazz musicians. Later a “loan office” (pawn shop) was here, and after that a bar called Pete’s Blue Heaven. The corner was often a starting and ending place for Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club funerals.

449 South Rampart is one of three remaining two-story brick Italianate buildings that were part of an original row of five joined terrace houses. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Saving The Eagle Saloon, the Iroquois Theater, the Karnofsky Store, and the Little Gem Saloon is one of the top priorities of jazz preservationists in New Orleans. Unfortunately, to date no progress has been made on restoring these historic sites on the 400 block of South Rampart Street.