From ethnic foods to Amusement Parks... what kind of business would New Orleans sorely use right about now?

It's July. I want a water park!

A gourmet peanut butter and jelly food truck! I'd do it myself but I don't have the ability to make my own peanut butter and jams. On Eat St. they had this truck that made all of these fancy pb&js. We neeeed that. NEED.

Oh god. Are you using us for market research so you can relocate here?

No no Suzanne... I'm a Yelp Elite from Seattle (born and bred) that moved to Australia, then back to Seattle before moving to Belize... then I moved to Atlanta where I met an amazing girl from Louisiana... who then followed me to Hawaii (where they don't even have good tacos which is why I'm asking this question)... where we got married... and now her parents are getting older and we need to move closer to spend quality time with them...  so we're putting down roots in New Orleans. Needless to say... there are a lot of details I'm leaving out... but I'm very very excited to land in town next month. Please be nice to us. We promise to be nice back.

This is the hipster who hates people with mortgages, so I'm going to say whatever business you open, do it far away from my neighborhood. We're a bunch of normals who would just not understand how hip and cool you are. /endrant

Don't worry Katie... I stopped being hip 4 years ago. Now I'm a manager that "Enforces the highest ethical standards." And stuff like that or something.

Ooo, I love this Talk Thread and looking forward to having you and your wife in New Orleans, Scott. :) Daiquiri shop on St. Charles. I know that doesn't sound like a sweet biz enterprise, but mama needs her daiquiris during Mardi Gras. Just sayin'.... #moreideastocome

With all the International students from China, you would think there would be better/authentic Chinese restaurants here...

Are authentic Chinese restaurants in America even a thing?

No but what we have could be much better.

really good *insert ethnic food here*
Indian, Korean, Chinese...

Also places that are open late that aren't bars or in the FQ

And Suzanne, if it gets me good Indian then I say do all the market research you want on the yelp talk boards.

Oh...I'll even be nice to this guy for some good Indian food in NOLA. I'd also love a good ramen or Korean place but like, one step at a time I guess.

I'm looking forward to the farmers markets. Hawaii has a very limited amount of options.

The farmers markets here are pretty limited as well.

Little Tokyo has legit ramen.

Still waiting for SOULcycle to trickle its way down here.

Water park

I can't wait for the hipster eradication service to open up shop at St. Roch Market.

Man I'm looking forward to good ribs.

Hi Scott, welcome to Yelp NOLA!

In all seriousness, we are lacking in a variety of vegan/vegetarian fare in this city. Right now, there's only one entirely veg restaurant and several that have a couple options. I'm think having non veg options is fair enough (I've run my share of restaurants and know that it's a big risk in a city whose cuisine is very meat & seafood-focused), but it would be great to have more options. It would be great to not have to call ahead and warn chefs that a vegan will be entering the premises LOL.

This is interesting: in Memphis, they have a restaurant (Deja Vu) with NOLA specialities and there's an entire vegan menu! I met the chef there (he's from here, left after Katrina) and all but begged him to come back. I'd love to try vegan versions of the classics here if they could be done right... or at least close enough. My cooking skills only go so far.

This is such a good thread I am actually popping my head up from my prairie dog hole.

Torchy's a great but cheap counter service taco chain out of Austin.

Whataburger!

A good cafeteria in the city-proper like Luby's.

A Publix Supermarket.

Papa Murphy's Take N Bake Pizza.

Dairy Queen Brazier burger.

A "Reader" Chicago's best green sheet.

Comcast, they have free LOGO!

IKEA

I would love it if NOLA gotta an In-N-Out just to see what the fuss is about!

Dave & Busters....is that project still happening?

Or do they just like torturing us with the commercials?

IKEA!!!!
That is it RIGHT there, Charles!
How come we haven't met yet?
Next Elite event I hope!

oh, and I'm rather fond of a tex-mex chain out of Austin Texas called Chuy's.
I've noticed that they are franchising because now Nashville has a handful of them now.
I would LOVE one here in New Orleans. Since you asked...

As you can tell we don't ENTIRELY hate chains here, we're just not getting the right ones. ;)

Please God don't ever let an Ikea open here. For the love of all that is pure and right in this world, don't let an Ikea open here.

IKEA isn't gonna open in NOLA, I remember reading an article a while back where an IKEA rep said that the NOLA region simply doesn't have the population to support an IKEA store.

Not that I don't love IKEA, it's basically my entire bedroom, and I crammed an IKEA bedroom set into my then-tiny car for the drive down from Maryland.  Just wanted to set the record straight.

a girl can dream...

Not sure if ikea lovers have heard of blue bag. A Nola company that goes to Houston ikea so you don't have to...for a small fee of course. I also would like to see what the hype is over in n out animal style and all that jazz.

A brothel themed like Magic Mike

I think he tried that with Saints & Sinners...

This is actually giving me a pretty good idea of what to expect. I'm originally from Seattle but married a Louisianian. We met in Atlanta and are coming to you from Hawaii... what that means is this...

Seattle is a foodie town with "full facilities" Music and irony reign. Recycling is king and it's true about the rain, but nobody tells you about the 9 months of dark that come with it.
Atlanta has too much artificial cheese, great festivals and people,Pollen will kill you, but otherwise a fine place to visit.
Hawaii is the most isolated island chain on earth, ocean and jungle is amazing, city not so much. Worst traffic and highest cost of living in America. Irony is not well understood.

Looking forward to some good music, good food, people that can laugh at themselves and a town that knows how to have a party.

Jen, Saints and Sinners has no male strippers. I was sorely disappointed.

@Jillian I know S&S doesn't have strippers, thank goodness. Only male strip club that I've ever been to was horrifying

I could see that Jen. Perhaps what we need is a hot, hunky handyman service.

That also does deep cleaning.

Um yes hi where do I sign up. I have $4 to invest in this business venture. Did I mention it also has to be affordable?

I want:

1. A place that does dim sum in NOLA proper.  I believe the only such place in NOLA metro is Panda King on the Wank.
2. Dave and Busters, but somewhere in East Jefferson where it can actually survive.
3. Uno Chicago Grill (sorry but I really really really like their Deep Dish)
4. &Pizza
5. Chuy's
6. Jetski rental place.  Closest one that I know of is in Biloxi.

Katie, I will work on this and start posting ads on Craigslist and setting up a Kickstarter. I hope everyone is ready for "Manly Maids"!

Ugh delivery yes. So much.

New Orleans has the best food delivery, possibly in the world.

yelp.com/biz/new-orleans…

More recreational activities for families LIKE a water park that so many have stated above!!

1. Cajun Resteraunt .....Not wannabe creole/cajun

2. White Castles

3. In & Out Burger

Almost forgot

4. Trader Joes

Trader Joes is opening in Metairie.  The company confirmed it will open near the end of 2016, I believe, at Vets & Labarre, just a few blocks east of Causeway.

Sweet.  I heard a few months back they were rumored to open on Feret as well.  No confirmation.