Big Freedia Reveals Plans to Open a Hotel in New Orleans
Big Freedia has announced plans to open a hotel in New Orleans in 2024. Known for being the larger-than-life ambassador and Queen of New Orleans Bounce music, Big Freedia is a nationally recognized hip-hop artist, TV personality, and cultural influencer. In addition to having released her own critically acclaimed Eps: ‘3rd Ward Bounce’ (2018), ‘Louder’ (2020), and ‘Big Diva Energy’ (2021); Big Freedia is also featured on Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul” and “Formation” records and covered Lady Gaga’s “Judas” for the 10th anniversary of “Born This Way”.
Big Freedia’s rise in the music industry was chronicled over six seasons in the highly rated reality show, ‘Big Freedia Bounces Back’ from 2011-2016 on Fuse TV. Currently, she is filming a brand-new series, ‘Big Freedia Means Business,’ chronicling Freedia’s triumphs in music, business, and life that will debut this summer on Fuse and which will presumably include coverage of her plans to open a hotel in New Orleans.
As reported by NOLA.com, the hotel will be located in the famed Faubourg Marigny neighborhood at the corner of Decatur and Frenchman streets. The Marigny, of course, is known for its live jazz which is something the hotel will embrace. In fact, according to Freedia’s manager Reid Martin, the property will be more of a music club and pool party space as opposed to a traditional hotel. Only five rooms will be available to rent.
“The hotel is not the economic driver of it,” Martin said. “It’s primarily a music venue and a pool party spot. Think of a country club with a music venue.”
The property, which is owned by developer Zach Kupperman (with Freedia serving as the primary investor in the project) includes a 4,800-square-foot building with two floors and an adjacent space that originally housed a now demolished garage.
There are plans for a restaurant to be included on the first floor alongside the music venue with the hotel rooms on the second floor and the pool and clubhouse to be built on the neighboring adjacent space.
Originally, Big Freedia wanted to open a restaurant and it blossomed over time into the idea of a hotel.
“Not being able to go out and work during the pandemic, cooking brought so much light and creativity it just really got me interested in doing a restaurant,” Freedia said. “And I always had a dream of opening a hotel, so it just kind of came together that way.”
Access to the hotel, restaurant, and pool will be made available through the purchase of NFT memberships with the cryptocurrency Ethereum in addition to old-fashioned methods.
No word yet on an official opening date, although plans are in motion to have it operating by Mardi Gras 2024.
