Big Freedia has big plans for this coming year. Aspiring to make a longtime dream come true, the ‘rebound queen’ has shared her plans to open an entertainment venue that will include a restaurant, jazz club and boutique hotel. The Freedia Hotel aims to open by Mardi Gras 2024, with construction expected to begin this spring.
“This dream has been in the works for a long time, I will be one of the first black hotel owners in New Orleans”, Freedia tweeted. “I will let you know when the official opening date is, I look forward to seeing you at Freedia Hotel.”
Despite its name, Hotel Freedia plans to function more as an entertainment space than a hotel. With just five rooms, the venue’s main attractions will be its nightclub offering food, drink and music, as well as an outdoor pool area. The planned hotspot will be located in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans, on Decatur and Frenchmen streets.
Freedia manager Reid Martin describes the space as a cross between a country club and a music venue. Understanding the importance of music, the team intends to feature local and national musicians in its events. This idea first came to fruition during the pandemic, when the ‘Break My Soul’ star artist found herself cooking more.
“Not being able to go out and work during the pandemic, cooking brought so much light and creativity that it really got me interested in doing a restaurant,” Freedia said, according to Rolling Stone. “And I’ve always dreamed of opening a hotel, so it kind of came together that way.”
If you haven’t planned to visit New Orleans, you certainly have a reason to do so now.
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