“Entrepreneur of the Month”
Edison Wheeler
B
Hughes Aircraft as a consultant to the Navy,traveling throughout the United States in this capacity also rendering his services aboard the Navy Missle Cruiser to fire test equipment ahead of schedule. Many years had passed since Edison Wheeler’s first experience as a business man in New Orleans, but the spirit of entrepreneurship was still stirring in his heart. The desire to own a restaurant and night club burned with fervor within him as he sat in the Wichstand Diner on Slauson and Overhill. He made an assessment of the operation and decided to make an offer to buy the business, his offer was accepted and many leans years followed due to being an absentee owner who
vanced in the Aerospace Program. He was an integral part of the first manned space shuttle, “Project Apollo”, which earned him unprecedented recognition in the New Orleans Times Picayune. It was an historic first for a black man’s picture to appear on the front page of the newspaper. At the end of his tenure at Rockwell, Ed moved on the
was dealing with high interests rates, a changing society and legal problems. By the year 1988, he had not reached his goals and many problems caused great concern to the future of his business career. In 1989, Mr. Wheeler seized the opportunity to purchase the “20 Grand”, an establishment which was located
Edison Wheeler across from the Wichstand on Overhill; he moved into a new venture, La Louisiane Restaurant, Inc. Success did not come overnight, but through hardwork and perseverance, La Louisiane Restaurant is now known locally and throughout the state for it’s excellent Creole Cuisine, entertainment and ambience. The restaurant has enumerable community awards and has hosted many high ranking Louisiana officials including the New Orleans Mayor, the Honorable Marc Morial, who has commended Mr. Wheeler’s success in bringing New Orleans to Los Angeles via his “Creole Gumbo”. The accolades continue to echo from LosAngeles to Louisiana. While recognizing the need to support Black Business and acknowledging the obligation of Black entrepreneurs to give their best to the community, Mr. Wheeler offers competitive prices at La Louisianne. Mr. Wheeler has given life to the phrase that he himself coined, ”La Louisianne, a fresh Taste of Louisiana.” 5812 Overhill Dr. (Slauson Avenue) Los Angeles, California Call 323-293-5073 for reservations, private parties and information or visit http://lalouisannela.com
45 June 2011 Black Business News www.bbnews.org
Business
orn in New Orleans, Louisiana where he embarked upon his first business venture at the young age of seventeen. He owned and operated a restaurant and night club for a brief time before being drafted in to the Army. He served at Fort Lewis, Washington and was honorably discharged in 1962. En route home to New Orleans, Ed stayed over with relatives in Los Angeles. It was during this visit, he concluded that the economic and educational opportunities in California were far greater than those in the slow changing south; thus the decision was made to migrate to Los Angeles. In 1973 Ed graduated with honors and a degree in Electrical Engineering from California State University in Long Beach. He was employed by Rockwell International and rapidly ad-