restaurant where he was employed. This McDonald’s franchise was also the first to receive the Nation Restaurant News’ Successful Settings Award. Today, Henry L. Coaxum, Jr. is the owner/operator of seven McDonald’s restaurants in the NOLA area. However, three of Henry Coaxum’s original restaurants were severely damaged and their doors shut after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. He eventually bought and reopened the St. Charles Avenue restaurant in February 2006 - just in time for New Orleans’ 150th Mardi Gras celebration. This was the first McDonald’s restaurant to reopen on the east bank of New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina. In 2006, Coaxum set a restaurateur record by acquiring and reopening four closed full-service restaurants in five months. In December 2006, he reopened his originally-owned Read Boulevard location, which was rebuilt to its award-winning appearance and décor.
education incentive programs for his student employees. For those employees who still attend high school, they are rewarded with pay raises for good grades. As for the for college students, his “scholarships” help pay for books and tuition if the student employees’ grades are maintained while being employed. Coaxum proudly states, “Our youth need to learn that you can get rewarded if you work hard at both school and a job. Who knows, that job could end up being your career.” One would assume that for all of the efforts and successes, the rewards granted in kind are well-deserved. Coaxum has served as President of the Great Southern Region’s Black McDonald’s Operators Association. He was appointed by New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu as Chairman of the NOLA Business Alliance Board
Moving forward, Henry Coaxum then reopened the S. Claiborne Avenue restaurant (one of his original three restaurants he owned pre-Katrina) in January 2007. In July of that year, he reopened the Bullard Avenue McDonald’s, which was the first quick-service restaurant to reopen on Eastern New Orleans Avenue. Finally, on September 25, 2009, Coaxum, of course, had reason to celebrate his 25thanniversary with the McDonald’s Corporation, mixing that with the many impressive years served as a corporate employee and as a franchisee. He celebrated with his loyal staff at the newly renovated Coaxum Enterprises Training and Resource Center, a 7,000 square-foot facility that houses his corporate office and training and equipment labs. Coaxum generously offers his state-of-the-art facility for use by local non-profit organizations, universities and business development groups. Organizations and small businesses in need of meeting and training facilities can make arrangements to tour the facility by contacting Coaxum Enterprises, Inc. at 504 241-6942. Behind all of his accomplishments, Henry L. Coaxum, Jr. gives back royally, inside his establishments, and outside, as he extends all of his know-how, his business acumen and his timeless support . It is obvious that Henry Coaxum is a major advocate for the future of today’s youth, with his offerings of two
In August 2010, Coaxum was elected as President of the Great Southern Region’s Black McDonald’s Operators Association Coaxum received “The Ronald Award” from the McDonald’s Corporation. The prestigious award honors McDonald’s owner/operators for outstanding service - to both the McDonald’s brand through exemplary operations, marketing and employee relations practices, as well as to their local communities Coaxum was recognized by the Neighborhood Development Foundation as being the recipient of The Leadership Award 504mag 23