It's New Orleans: Out To Lunch

Typically, nationwide businesses start out in a big city where there s a big market. As the brand grows and demand grows with it, the business gradually spreads across the country to ever smaller markets until eventually everybody s within a few miles of, say, a Walgreens. There are notable exceptions to this pattern. For example the largest retailer on Earth, WalMart, started out as a single store in Rogers, Arkansas. In New Orleans we ve gotten used to getting national brands long after they ve made it big in other places. Trader Joe s comes to mind. As does Target. And even WalMart itself is a relatively recent addition to Orleans parish. But with the entrepreneurial climate here in New Orleans about as hot as our summer, we re not a brand afterthought any more. Quite the opposite. We re a city where brands originate. New Orleanian Lauren Myerscough launched a brand here, called Cocktail and Sons. Cocktail and Sons makes all natural, handcrafted syrups designed for classic cocktails. They re used by profes