Here I am, stuck in the middle with you

Picture it: New Orleans, early 1800s. Railroads were all the rage and the most important ones ran right through what is now Gert Town. It wasn’t until later in the 19th century that the neighborhood was established and homes were being built.

I’m sure you’re wondering how this New Orleans neighborhood got such a strange name. General store owner Alfred Gehrke was a mainstay in the area. His establishment was a popular hangout spot and he purchased nay of the properties surrounding his store, located near S. Carrollton and Colapissa. The neighborhood became one and the same with his name. In true New Orleans fashion, we morphed the name from Gehrke to Gert.

Filled with small cottages, shotguns, and vacant land, Gert Town is going through a Renaissance. Developers have come in and started building new homes and added in a wine shop, craft brewery, and even a chocolatier opened. Artist lofts are now in the old Blue Plate building and the prestigious Xavier University calls Gert Town home.

Lagniappe: Famous New Orleans musician, Allen Toussaint, was born and raised in Gert Town.