Irma Thomas headlined the lovingly restored Dew Drop Inn’s opening night on Friday, March 1. In a glittering outfit, the delightful soul queen of New Orleans ruled from the venue’s stage on a celebratory day many thought would never come. After more than five decades of decay, the resurrected Dew Drop is welcoming musicians, audiences and hotel guests again.

Photo by John Wirt

Thomas sang an hour-long set of songs she performed at the storied venue in the 1960s. The full house that turned out for the new Dew Drop’s debut enthusiastically received the 83-year-old singer and her classics, including “Ruler of My Heart,” “It’s Raining” and, by request, the especially apropos “Time Is on My Side.” Vocally, Thomas remains a force of nature. She also shared some of her Dew Drop history.

Before singing another of her signature numbers, “Hip Shakin’ Mama,” Thomas recalled that Patsy Vidalia—a longtime emcee and drag performer at the Dew Drop—taught that song to her on the premises some 60 years ago. But Thomas doesn’t sing the song’s more risqué verses. “Those are the kind of songs Patsy sang,” she explained.

Like Thomas, Deacon John Moore is a survivor from the Dew Drop’s golden age. For his reopening night appearance, the 82-year-old singer-guitarist performed a scorching “Statesboro Blues” with the Dew Drop Legacy Revue Band, led by Ron Jones, son of Joe Jones (“You Talk Too Much”), one the Dew Drop’s house band leaders played back in the day.

Jones and the Legacy Revue Band rolled through classics by 1950s-and ’60s-era recording artists Fats Domino, Little Richard, Jessie Hill (“Ooo Poo Pa Doo”), the Hawkettes (“Mardi Gras Mambo”), Earl King, Professor Longhair (“Big Chief”) and Ray Charles. Other guest vocalists included Charmaine Neville, whose father and uncles were part of the Dew Drop scene; and Quiana Lynell, singing the Allen Toussaint-composed ballad originally recorded by Art Neville, “All These Things.”

Except for tours of the Dew Drop Inn’s first-floor museum and the memorabilia-decorated hotel rooms named for musicians and cultural figures, opening-day events proceeded under the “Meet All Your Fine Friends” banner above the first floor’s low-rising stage. The banner borrows a line from rock ’n’ roll pioneer Esquerita’s tribute song to the Dew Drop Inn.

Following an $11 million renovation, the Dew Drop Inn Hotel & Lounge complex contains a 410-person music venue, 17-room boutique hotel, a restaurant, two bars and a pool.

The venue’s legacy was palpable during the morning ribbon-cutting ceremony that preceded Friday’s nighttime festivities. Proclamations included the Louisiana state senate’s “heartiest congratulations and commendation” to historic Dew Drop figures Little Richard and his producer, Bumps Blackwell; Fats Domino producer Dave Bartholomew; pianist and songwriter Huey “Piano” Smith; singer Gerri Hall; and Dew Drop founder and original owner Frank Painia. Family members of the honorees, including Painia’s grandson, Kenneth Jackson, accepted the state senate proclamations.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony speakers included Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “Congratulations to all of you for bringing the real soul of New Orleans back to Central City,” she said. “This is a beautiful day.”

City council member Lesli Harris and New Orleans’ 91st district representative in the Louisiana House of Representatives, Mandie Landry, also delivered remarks. Another speaker, Stanley B. Stewart of Macon, Georgia, cousin of Little Richard, recalled the impromptu performance by Richard at the Dew Drop Inn that inspired his cousin’s history-making rock ’n’ roll hit, “Tutti Frutti.”

Speakers directed the lion’s share of credit for the Dew Drop revival to its developer and new owner, Curtis Doucette Jr.

Photo by Jafar M. Pierre

“If anybody has ever wondered what it’s like to stand in somebody’s dream, it’s happening right now,” said Kelvin Luster, senior vice president and community development director for Home Bank. The Lafayette bank is one of the medley of entities that financed Dew Drop’s rebirth.

Doucette thanked Painia, the Dew Drop’s visionary creator, as well as the present-day collaborators for the venue’s renovation. “You don’t know how it feels to look out from the stage and see a room full of people,” he said. “Don’t stop coming.” The developer also said he hopes the spirits of past Dew Drop musicians will inspire the musicians who’ll perform there now.

After the morning’s thank yous and honors, ribbon cutting emcee Warren Bell Jr.—whose saxophonist father played the Dew Drop during its first era—led the crowd in a champagne toast to the dream made real.

Doucette and his team are planning their spring festival season lineup. “It will be our first Jazz Fest,” he said. “We’re super excited. I’m excited about a big act we have coming, but I can’t announce it yet.”

Dew Drop hotel rooms have been available since January. The restaurant serves breakfast and lunch on weekdays and brunch on weekends. The bar opens daily and musical entertainment is scheduled Wednesday through Saturday nights.