Parkway Bakery was founded in
1911. Parkway was built on a vacant lot
on the corner of Hagan Avenue and Toulouse Street by a German baker named
Charles Goering, Sr. Charles Goering Sr.
relocated from another bakery nearby.
Henry Timothy, Sr. purchase Parkway Bakery in 1922. Parkway Bakery served as a neighborhood
bakery producing delicious breads, donuts and a sweet roll which was named the
seven sisters because there were 6 golf ball size pieces in a circle and the
seventh in the middle. In 1929, Parkway
Bakery added the new “Poor Boy” sandwich created by Bennie and Clovis Martin of
Martin Brothers Coffee Stand and Restaurant.
Bennie and Clovis said “What are we going to feed these poor boys” thus
the new “poor Boy” sandwich was invented to help feed the striking streetcar
conductors. Parkway Bakery baked their
own “Poor Boy” bread and the original “Poor Boy” sandwich consisted of potatoes
and maybe a drizzle of roast beef gravy.
Some people in New Orleans refer to the “Poor Boy” as “po’boy”.
Henry and Jake Timothy, the two
sons of Henry Timothy, Sr, inherited Parkway Bakery in the early 1960’s when
their father died. In 1978, they shut
down the bakery due to a flood that destroyed the two brick lined ovens, one
from 1910 and the other dating from the 1930’s, each the size of a single car
garage originally fired by coal and later converted to natural gas. A lot of
their business came from American Can Company which was directly across Bayou
St. John from Parkway. They employed
1500 workers and were capable of producing 5,000’s cans a minute. American Can Company operated 24 hours a day
and 7 days a week. The two Timothy
brothers stayed open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week feeding them. When American Can Company closed in 1988,
Parkway Bakery reduced their days and hours but continued making “po’boy”
sandwiches. The Timothy brothers closed Parkway Bakery in 1993.
Jay Nix purchased Parkway Bakery
in 1995. He dismantled the brick ovens and salvaged 20,000 bricks. He used the
bricks at the base of the bar front and also for four sets of steps entering
the dining room. The remaining bricks were sold to help finance Parkway’s
renovation. It took him ten years to
accumulate enough money, time and courage to reopen. In December of 2003 Parkway Bakery was
revived serving the memorable po’boys that everyone loved surrounded by an interior
collection of memorabilia from the 19th century.
Parkway Bakery came to a sudden
halt in August of 2005 due to Katrina. Parkway suffered six feet of water in the restaurant
but with the help of God and family, Parkway was able to reopen in December of
2005 to begin feeding the courageous few New Orleanians who had returned to
Mid-City and the surrounding areas.
The doors of Parkway are open
daily from 11 am to 10 pm and closed every Tuesday. With the hard work and strength of Jay and
his wife, three sisters, two nephews, one niece and over 40 employees Parkway
Bakery and Tavern continues the 100 year old tradition of a family owned and
operated business serving comfort food and drink. They serve over 25 different po’boys
including seafood, sausage, turkey, ham, chicken, alligator, hamburger, b-b-q
beef and their famous roast beef po’boy.
Parkway also has a full bar and plenty free parking. We are the oldest tastiest po’boy shop
anywhere!
