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Fast crawfish

Pull up to the window and place your order—in pounds. Tiger Tails drive-thru on Perkins Road at Acadian Thruway is where crawfish meets McDonalds.

Owner Jeanne Persac (left) explored advertising for five years and basically “up and quit in November last year” to pursue the crawfish business. Her step-brother, crawfisherman Phillip Boyd, suggested the idea.

“I get all our crawfish from him, all medium to big-sized, no little ones,” she says. She launched Tiger Tails on March 28 and reports first-year business has been incredible, especially for how hard crawfish are to come by this year.

The crawfish shack doesn’t plan to close its doors in June like most crawfish-only retailers. “When the season is over we’ll move on to sno-balls.”

And when that season is over?

“We’re thinking fried turkeys for tailgate season and possibly boiled shrimp and crabs,” Persac says. “We’re a year-round business.” And this being Louisiana, there will probably always be something to throw in a pot.

Shop the shop, walk the walk

The much-anticipated addition to the Mall of Louisiana, The Boulevard, is finally looking like one rather than a construction site.

Shopping feels like a vacation stroll here with new stores among the tropical palm trees lining the walkway. As of March, Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Loft, Apple Store, Chico’s, Jos. A. Bank, L’Occitane, Sephora, Select Comfort, Soma and Camille’s Sidewalk Café were open for business.

May will bring G by Guess, Marble Slab Creamery, Aerie by American Eagle and MW Tux Formalwear Rental, mall spokeswoman Mary Lou Kennedy says.

The Cajun rickshaw

A bicycle, a carriage, and a semi-athletic driver. That’s all Kim Hodgeson needed to start her business, Cajun Carriages. The point is simple: Give people free rides around downtown. Sporting the slogan “Trips for Tips,” the carriage will pick you up and drop you off anywhere downtown, and helps compensate for the headache that is downtown parking. They make money by selling ads on the carriage.

Need a ride? Flag them down or call 933-8122. Want to advertise? Same story. “We drive slow; we’ll stop for you,” Hodegson says.