Modern Vespa

Fine Living Network

Show - "Opening Soon by Design" covers Vespa New Orleans

Episode FLOSD-111

• June 01, 2006 9:30 PM EST
• June 02, 2006 12:30 AM EST

The Materne family (owners of Vespa NO) were in the middle of refurbing a downtown location to move the business into when Katrina hit.

Catch it if you can ... worth a watch.

Thanks for the heads up—looks to be the same time here PST, for us west coasters.

Just finished watching Vespa New Orleans on the Fine Living Network. Thanks for the information, Tikka.

Wow. So many feelings. I went to LSU for grad school and lived in Baton Rouge for six years. I lived less than 5 minutes from the Baton Rouge location featured in the show. I also know several people affected by Katrina and am personally embarassed by our government's reaction to the tragedy there (I know, that's a political statement; sorry, Jess. But when you know people who are struggling to survive, it's tough not to have opinions).

The thing that struck me the most was the family's belief in themselves and the Vespa product. I thought it was amazing that they compared their situation to that of Italy after World War II, when Vespas were born.

I met some great people in Louisiana, and the Materne family seems to share the remarkable spirit of many people I knew while living there. I certainly hope they make it.

I lived in New Orleans for 5 years. I left in 2002, though. I know several people still there, one is leaving as soon as he gets a new job elsewhere.

My beautiful house was not destroyed but it's messed up hard. I kept in touch with the woman who bought it and she had emailed me only 2 weeks before Katrina to show me photographs of some lovely renovations she had done and how the garden I had planted was maturing, how my two avocado trees (planted from seeds pulled out of avacadoes we bought at the store for dinner one day) had finally matured enough to bear fruit for the very first time. They're all dead now, all of it, and all the work my husband and I did and all the work she did was pretty much made pointless by the dirty flood line and the mold and the smell. She sold the house for a song.

I missed the show tonight. I forgot I'm back living in the Central Time Zone! We move too much.

I would like to see that also. I was born in New Orleans, lived on St. Charles Ave. Only lived down there about 5 years as a child. Moved back 20 years ago, was transfered, for 2 years lived in Gretna. The people are great, love to party, and are good souls, Beale.

I also thought that was great. These people have a true love for the product and really wanted to share it with people by even selling their stock from their back yard after the old store was wiped out.

Read a post Crystal made on Vespaquest back in February :
http://www.vespaquest.com/2006/02/vespa_new_orlea.html

Agreed. Their story is fantastic, albeit tragic sometimes. But, what I admire also is the underlying commitment they have as a family to eachother (it would seem from what was shown). It's rare that a family can find something to rally around together like that and at the same time build a financial future (hopefully) as well.

The two sons are getting an education that no school can teach them. Cheers to all of them.

Great episode. My only complaint is that it was only a half hour show.