O R T H O P A E D I C W S O M E N
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B U S I N E S S
Nicole Dorignac
DORIGNAC’S FOOD CENTER “Let me first say I could not be a successful woman in business
Ave. in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans. Joseph P. Dorignac
without the support, trust and love of my husband and his brothers,
Sr. was a butcher by trade, passing on those skills to his son, Joseph
as we work together as a team to keep our family legacy alive,” says
Peter Dorignac Jr., fondly known as Mr. Joe. The market grew into the
Nicole Dorignac of Dorignac’s Food Center.
first Dorignac grocery store in the late 1940s, which Mr. Joe opened
Nicole’s husband, Joseph P. Dorignac IV (Jody), and his brothers Jason, Jon Paul and Joel, are now the fourth generation at the helm.
the store expanded to its second location, where it stands today on
Nicole, Jody, Jason and their excellent team of buyers and managers are
Veterans Memorial Blvd. It became a go-to, not only for Southshore,
involved in Dorignac’s day-to-day operations. While Jon Paul and Joel
but for Northshore residents as well because of Mr. Joe’s various
explore other ventures, they continue to be involved and keep up-to-
business ventures. It is now considered a staple by both areas.
date with what’s happening at Dorignac’s. The Dorignac’s team strives to
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with his mother, Margaret, after Joe Sr. passed away. Around 1964,
Dorignac’s fit well into Nicole’s life, as she already had a passion
keep the same qualities they were built on—quality product, customer
for food. Her knowledge and love of cooking began when she was
service and local items. And there’s an up-and-coming fifth generation
young, cooking with her mother and grandmother. She says, “It was
that’s learning to love the legacy and one day will be carrying it on for
like living with a chef.” She was exposed to an expansive collection of
the future generations to come. Dorignac’s is also known for having a
literally hundreds of cookbooks, and throughout her life, accumulated
multi-generational clientele. It’s not uncommon to see a baby in the
her own cookbook collection and practiced many techniques over the
basket, mother and grandmother all shopping together.
years. From later working in the health food industry and running a
Family is what makes Dorignac’s “Dorignac’s.”
menu/catering business with her husband, she further developed her
The family business started as a small meat market on Jackson
knowledge of nutrition. She also developed strong management skills
Inside Northside