Whitney-Cecile

Whitney-Cecile. The name is as Southern and elegant as the neighborhood itself. Found in the heart of Metairie and bordered by Lake Pontchartrain to the north and Interstate 10 to the south, this upscale community offers residents suburban living just 6 miles from downtown New Orleans. The neighborhood is close to shopping centers and has some of the best dining options in all of Metairie. With the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway close by, commuting from Whitney-Cecile is extremely convenient. There’s recreation in the area as well, with the levee offering residents the chance to run, walk or bike along the Lakefront Trail, which provides stunning views over the water.

One of the things homeowners like most about Whitney-Cecile is its tranquil atmosphere. Streets are lined with large live oaks, and many homes have well-kept lawns and gardens. While strolling past houses built in styles as diverse as Craftsman and French Provincial, you can see a variety of colors of brick as well as some wooden and stucco facades. Traditional homes like Acadian and ranch-style houses stand out, too, thanks to the former’s large porches and the latter’s classic design. Prices range from $315,000 for a well-maintained established residence to $1 million for a house near the lakefront with three bedrooms and five bathrooms.

Young children can attend the Metairie Academy for Advanced Studies. Serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade, this was Jefferson Parish’s first elementary magnet school. It was founded in 1939 and was recently recognized nationally as a Blue Ribbon School. St. Angela Merici School was founded in 1965 and is a private parochial facility. Named a Cognia School of Distinction for the 2022-23 school year, it offers multiple teams for competitive sports and dozens of extracurricular activities like Quiz Bowl, Boy or Girl Scouts, and a geography bee. Riverdale High School is the fifth most diverse public high school in Louisiana, according to Niche. It’s an International Baccalaureate World School, which awards diplomas recognized and respected by universities the world over.

Whether you’re in the mood to browse or buy, Lakeside Shopping Center is just next door. Originally built on 52 acres, the open-air mall began operations in 1960 with only 13 stores. The first regional shopping mall in the New Orleans area, it was enclosed in 1969 and air-conditioned, a luxury for the time. Today, the center still offers wonderfully chill air in the summer, along with more than 100 stores and restaurants. One of the largest malls in the state, the center underwent a $10 million renovation in 2019 that installed skylights, soft seating, a revamped food court and more.

Another unique place to shop is Jefferson Feed. Opened in 1950, it originally sold horse feed from a station wagon. But Anthony Benedetto, founder of the store, parlayed horse feed into today’s collection of six shops making up the Jefferson Feed chain. Locally owned and operated, the store now sells pet food of all kinds, toys, supplies, garden equipment and a large selection of plants. It also sponsors adoption days where customers can give dogs, cats, rabbits and ferrets a loving forever home. And just to make sure your four-legged friend is properly spoiled, the store makes fresh homemade pet treats throughout the week.

Also a local landmark, the Acme Oyster House is one of New Orleans' best-known eateries. Opened in 1910 as the Acme Café on Royal Street in the French Quarter, the first location was destroyed by fire, so the eatery moved to a nearby spot where it’s been operating ever since. The Metairie location opened just six months before Hurricane Katrina and carried the company through the ensuing crisis. As the name suggests, oysters are the star here, and they come raw or chargrilled by the dozen. There’s also fried alligator, soft shell crabs, po’boys and jambalaya, to name just a few of their most popular meals.

Whitney-Cecile provides residents with shopping, dining, education and ease in a suburb found right in the heart of a city.

Written By

K.T. Phillips

Photography Contributed By

Andrew Williams

Video By

Curtis Newkirk