Leslie Turk

Rouses opens Thursday in Sugar Mill Pond

by Leslie Turk

Rouses Markets opens tomorrow in Sugar Mill Pond, bringing the Thibodaux-based, family-owned company’s total number of locations in Mississippi and Louisiana to 35. The 62,000-square-foot Youngsville store is Rouses' first location in Acadiana.

“We have designed this store specifically for Acadiana,” says Managing Partner Donald Rouse. “As a Louisiana company, we believe in buying local. We’re buying seafood straight from the boats, produce direct from Acadiana farmers, and of course we’ll have all of the Louisiana-made products people in Acadiana know and love. I also think people will respond very favorably to our everyday low prices,” he continues. Rouse says in the past 50 years, the company has built trusted relationships with its vendors, allowing it to bring in high quality products at low prices.

Rouses new market features a unique, open layout, with the ability to get in and out quickly. It has a full-service butcher shop with hand-cut meats and dry-aged USDA Choice Angus beef, a seafood market specializing in Louisiana seafood and more than 1,000 varieties of fresh local, seasonal and organic produce.

After only a year in New Orleans, Rouses was voted the 2008 "Best Supermarket" by readers of The Gambit. The paper noted: "Since taking over operations at several Sav-a-Center locations last year, Rouses has impressed locals with its high-quality service and selection of meat, cheese and breads. Louisiana owned, Rouses also carries a wide selection of ethnic and organic food, wine and spirits and gifts and flowers. It also offers weekly specials and a tasty selection of prepared foods for those on the go."

Also, Rouses is apparently not only a cool place to shop, but also to work.