With a humble beginning of a roadside meat market stand in 1925, Byrd’s Grocery and Meat Market became a mainstay for the maritime and seafood industry. Located at the corner of Lameuse Street and Bayview Avenue, the grocery store served not only the families of the area, but also the shrimp and oyster boats so vital to the seafood industry.
Founded by Frank Byrd, the meat market was expanded by his son, William, who left his work aboard the shrimp boat INDEPENDENCE. To meet the growing demands of the area, “Bill” began offering groceries and providing meat to Keesler AFB. With the help of his wife, Clara, and their children (Billy Joyce, William, Marianne, Myrna, Peggy, Ruby and Rocky), Bill was dedicated to the success of the store. In the 1950’s, Bill retired and his oldest son, William, assumed ownership and further expanded the operation. Later, Rocky would become co-owner and manager. Over the years, the store would see four generations at the cash register serving the community.
Byrd’s Grocery and Meat Market served as an invaluable resource to the maritime and seafood industry in the supplies it provided to the boats. Not only would the boats “grub up” for their harvesting trips but would also be able to purchase non-grocery supplies such as deck boots, pick out gloves, oyster knives and alum for their sore hands. Well-known vessels such as the REVA ROSE, JOAN FAYARD, THELMA LECKICH, MICHAEL JR, CAPT BLOOD, KING ARTHUR and many more would place orders that were carefully packaged to preserve and would often be delivered directly to the boat.
Because of the strong friendships and trust between the grocer and the captains, credit would often be extended and the tab settled when they returned with their catch sometimes weeks later. This courtesy would also be extended to the families of the shrimpers and oystermen to sustain them. On weekends, the grocer would keep extra cash in the safe to cash checks when the banks were closed.
In service to the boat yards in the early years, the market would make tallow from the cows and store it in barrels. This would be used by the boat repair companies to grease the sliders or skids to more easily move them in and out of the water for repairs.
It was the extra mile that Byrd’s Grocery and Meat Market went that helped keep the maritime and seafood industry moving along and thriving and made the grocer a trusted friend until they closed in 1998. The building remained a well-known landmark until it was severely damaged in Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and had to be razed. However, the legacy and memories remain.
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