Anthony J. Rouse, Sr.

March 5^th, 2009 -  Anthony J. Rouse, Sr., founder of Rouses Markets, a pioneer of the modern supermarket, and an icon of his Louisiana community, died today. He was 79.

Rouse was known for business savvy and quick wit - he described his family's experience during the Great Depression by saying, "We were so poor that we couldn't pay attention." But it was Rouse's commitment to his family and community that will be his lasting legacy. Rouse relished working with sons Donald and Tommy, who are managing partners of the company, and his son-in-law, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. A loyal supporter and booster of Louisiana's farmers and fishermen long before the buy local trend set in, from the time he opened his very first store, Rouse made it a point to always carry fresh local seafood and produce. Rouse's enthusiasm for all things local was infectious. Rouses Markets' tradition of buying from local farmers, fishermen and manufacturers is stronger today than ever.

An ardent fisherman and deer and duck hunter, Rouse treasured any opportunity to spend time outdoors, particularly with his family. As passionate about local food as he was about local ingredients, Rouse established a culinary scholarship to the famed John Folse Culinary School at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux.

Rouse was born in Marrero then moved with his family to Thibodaux, where his father, J.P. Rouse, had formed City Produce Company, a wholesale business that shipped locally grown vegetables throughout the country. As a teenager, Rouse went to work with his father. An innovator, and never one to shy away from hard work, in 1960, Rouse left the company to open a 7,000-square foot grocery store in Houma with his cousin, Ciro DiMarco. It was a two-man shop. Rouse and his cousin did everything from stocking the shelves to bagging the groceries.

When DiMarco retired in 1975, Rouse's son Donald became manager of the store, which was renamed Rouses. Soon after, the family opened their second Rouses Market in Thibodaux, where the company is headquartered. The business continued to expand, and over the years, Rouse introduced more and larger stores in South Louisiana, including a superstore and a prototype, upscale Epicurean-style market. In 2007, two years after hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the New Orleans area, Rouses' company acquired A&P's Southern Division, giving the company its first stores in New Orleans itself.

Today there are 35 Rouses locations throughout Louisiana and Mississippi, including five Epicurean-style markets. Rouses is now the largest independent grocer in Louisiana with more than 4,700 team members.

Rouse was responsible for launching numerous new products and features unique to the Louisiana marketplace, including gourmet fare, prepared meals based on his own family's recipes, and in-store smokehouses and sausage kitchens. He also put together the state's largest supermarket selections of fine wines and natural and organic products.  For his efforts, Rouse and his company received numerous honors, including being named Progressive Grocer's store of the month in 1984 and 2006.  Rouses was particularly proud to be named "Best Grocery Store in New Orleans" only one year after assuming ownership of A&P's Southern Division.

Anthony Rouse is survived by his wife, Joyce Guillory Rouse, sister, Anna Mae Ciaccio, and six children: sons Anthony Jr., Wayne, Donald and Tommy Rouse, and daughters Cindy Acosta and Jeaneen Rouse, as well as 17 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.   He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph P. Rouse and Leola Pitre Rouse, sisters Marie Aucoin and Jenny Turner, and brother Joseph Rouse.

ORGANIC ACIDEMIA ASSOCIATION
3175 IRONHORSE DRIVE
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Anthony Rouse, working on an expansion of Rouses Corporate Office. May 1, 2008.

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