Dooky Chase's Restaurant History
Opened in 1941 by Emily and Edgar "Dooky" Chase, Sr. Dooky Chase's Restaurant became known as the meeting place for advancement of the Civil Rights movement in New Orleans. After the marriage of Leah and Dooky Chase, Jr., it became one of the first African American fine dining restaurants in the country. Beginning in the 1950s, its "upper room, backstairs" was used by national and local civil rights organizations and leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Rev. A.L. Davis and Judge Israel M. Augustine, Jr. of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference: Thurgood Marshall, A.P. Tureaud and Mayor Ernest "Dutch" Morial of the NAACP: Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Revius O. Ortique: Rev. Avery Alexander; and Freedom Riders Oretha Castle Haley and Rudy Lombard of the Congress on Racial Equality, all of whom debated, strategized and successfully fought for desegregation. Later, as its civic and cultural reputation flourished, Dooky Chase's Restaurant was visited by American Presidents, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.