Frenchmen Art and Books: An Oasis In New Orleans

Frenchmen Art and Books is an independently owned and operated bookstore in New Orleans that now carries Nevada Bob Gordon's 50 Years with the Wrong Woman. The store can be found at 600 Frenchmen Street where it has been cultivating a following since 1978.

If you check out their site you might find Delia Owens' Where the Crawdads Sing, which just happens to be a major motion picture that has been attracting audiences this summer. We're guessing that some day Nevada Bob's memoir will become a feature film. It's certainly worthy, a compelling story of resilience, with a mix of both action and humor

As its name proclaims, Frenchmen Art and Books is more than a bookstore. They also feature original work by New Orleans artists Amzie Adams, David McPherson, Patrick Sart and others. 

"I'm the fourth owner," owner David Zalkind told us. "My wife Gretchen and I own the store, and we have really good employees as well." Zalkind said the store stays open late and attracts both an afternoon crowd and a night crowd that is often surprised when they see our lights on. "It's like an oasis," he said, and people gravitate to the vibe. 

The book selection is not only well curated, but there's a surprise on every aisle. "It becomes a journey as people see books they wouldn't ordinarily see together. It's theater for the eyes," he added. "While you're here you can hear street musicians outside, and inside we have Spotify playing. Sometimes people start dancing spontaneously, and sometimes the whole store is dancing."

When Nevada Bob visited earlier this year Zalkind played "House of the Rising Sun" on his Spotify, a song that Bob likes to sing. "He was singing along with the song while walking about the bookstore... It was fun. Everybody enjoyed it."

People come from all over the world. "In August we have a lot of Europeans come in because that is when they take a month's vacation," he said. 

As we discussed the challenges New Orleans has faced since Katrina, Zalkind brought up insights from a 19th century writer who lived in New Orleans for a spell.  "Lafcadio Hearn spent 9 years here, writing articles for the newspaper. In the 1880's he described New Orleans as quaint. The North was becoming industrialized and the South was shattered, trying to get its footing. There's a sense in which this description fits the city again today." In spite of the challenges, he says, "What really keeps you going is really good food and really good music." 

There's no better description of life in New Orleans than that.

Nevada Bob at Frenchmen Art and Books, New Orleans

Nevada Bob Gordon with David Zalkind of Frenchmen Art and Books.

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Frenchmen Art and Books

Independently owned and operated bookstore 

in the same location since 1978

600 Frenchmen St., New Orleans, La 70116

https://frenchmenartandbooks.com/

If you can't make it to New Orleans, you can find Nevada Bob's
50 Years with the Wrong Woman 

Here at Amazon.com