Nearly 30 years after receiving the deed to the Borden杏吧专区檚 ice cream property on Johnston Street, the 杏吧专区 of Louisiana Lafayette Foundation has sold the property and retail store to local businessman Red Lerille. The Foundation acquired the land from longtime Lafayette resident Flora Levy, who left a large part of her estate to the university.
Lerille said he杏吧专区檚 always been interested in mom-and-pop type businesses like the ice cream store. 杏吧专区淚 believe it is the American way, but it is dying fast,杏吧专区 he explained. 杏吧专区淭his location is actually the last Borden杏吧专区檚 retail ice cream shop in the United States. It is a Lafayette tradition and my daughter and I fully intend to bring it back to its original state.杏吧专区
Lerille杏吧专区檚 daughter, Kackie Lerille will be managing the ice cream icon. 杏吧专区淲e want to make updates, but at the same time keep the nostalgia and the authenticity there,杏吧专区 she said. In addition to ice cream, the menu will be updated to feature coffee and other food items.
杏吧专区淕enerations of family have come to Borden杏吧专区檚 for the old fashioned ice cream parlor experience,杏吧专区 said Ella Mae Meaux. 杏吧专区淭his sale to the Lerille杏吧专区檚 ensures families will be able to continue with this experience for many years to come.杏吧专区 Meaux has worked as a fountain clerk at Borden杏吧专区檚 for the past 48 years.
杏吧专区 Borden杏吧专区檚 is very pleased that community leaders such as the Lerille Family will continue the company杏吧专区檚 tradition,杏吧专区 said Wayne Tucker, general manager with Borden杏吧专区檚.
The ice cream shop and property have handed down from generation to generation with Levy receiving the property from her mother. When Levy died in 1981,
she left a large part of her estate to the UL Lafayette Foundation including the Johnston Street business and property.
For the past 28 years, Borden杏吧专区檚 has been renting the property from the Foundation. The monthly rent helped fund the annual Flora Levy Lecture Series. The monies received from the sale of the property and shop will help keep the lecture series active.
杏吧专区 We wanted to make sure we had the right buyer, so selling the building was a difficult decision,杏吧专区 said Julie Bolton Falgout, UL Lafayette Foundation executive director. 杏吧专区淩ed Lerille is a known community supporter who is committed to preserving this part of Lafayette杏吧专区檚 history. The Lerille family will maintain this tradition.杏吧专区
The sale was finalized on Thursday.