Repurposed New Orleans Storefront Becomes Free Market and Roller Rink

More than two decades after Hurricane Katrina, the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans remains defined by vacant lots and boarded-up businesses. On one corner, a graffiti-marked former Family Dollar has been repurposed into the New Orleans Free Store, a community resource that operates twice a week. When the doors open, residents rush inside to browse racks of clothing, shelves stocked with household goods, toys, books, food, and medical supplies like birth control. Despite the building’s rough exterior, the 9,000-square-foot space is climate-controlled by industrial fans and serves as a vital hub for the neighborhood.

Ernestine Lane, a shopper at the store, noted that visitors might be hesitant due to the building’s appearance. “They see the graffiti on the outside of the building and it’s a misconception,” Lane said. “I say ‘Go in, there’s blessings in there, go in.'” Inside, the store offers more than just essentials. Dan Bingler, founder of the Greater New Orleans Caring Collective, which manages the project, emphasized the importance of dignity in aid. “People who are struggling don’t just want the bare necessities,” Bingler said. “They want nice things, too, because they deserve nice things, too.”

Bingler, 42, launched the initiative three years ago after his pandemic-era mutual aid efforts expanded into a broader community resource center. Following Hurricane Ida in 2021, the collective accumulated significant donated items. Bingler secured a deal with the property owner to use the abandoned building rent-free, covering only utilities, which helps maintain the site until future redevelopment. He believes this model could be replicated in empty storefronts nationwide.

For local families like that of Hilsa Rodriguez, the store is indispensable. Rodriguez, a mother of six, shops there with her stepdaughters, Angela and Gloria Calix. The sisters picked out school accessories and clothing, with Gloria also selecting a vest for a baby she babysits. “The free store helps us a lot,” Rodriguez said. “We’re very grateful.”

Beyond retail, the space hosts free STI testing, food distribution, basic medical care, art classes, punk shows, and roller skating. The polished concrete floor serves as a makeshift rink where skaters can rent equipment. Volunteer Phyllis “Queen” Matthews and local resident Erin Sims help run operations, underscoring the deep community roots of the effort. Sims, who survived Katrina and watched her neighborhood struggle to recover, highlighted the area’s status as Louisiana’s number one food desert.

Bingler views the store as essential preparedness for future disasters. “When something happens again, number one is we’re closer. We’re more prepared,” he said, adding that the facility will serve as a shelter and relief center during the next crisis. “Even if it’s just skating with a generator,” Bingler said, “the New Orleans Free Store will be there.”