A deeply rooted New Orleans institution, the First and Last Stop bar, has closed its doors in a sudden and contentious move, ending more than 75 years of continuous service in the city’s 7th Ward.
For decades, the corner of Pauger and Marais Streets was more than just a watering hole — it was home to tradition, community, and the rhythms of Black-masking Indian tribes like the Monogram Hunters. As reported by The Lens, Big Chief Tyrone “Pie” Stevenson, 66, said the space has been sacred ground for generations of the tribe, where they hold weekly “Indian practices” and prepare elaborate Mardi Gras suits.
The bar’s current steward, Carolyn “Totsie” Monnie Cushenberry, 74, has spent nearly a third of her life there. She first walked in about 30 years ago, worked the bar, and eventually became proprietor. When the previous owner passed away, she and her husband bought the bar. As her longtime lease continued, the bar became a warm gathering place: red iron doors, a long wooden bar, a jukebox spinning old R&B and jazz, a pool table, video poker — all familiar fixtures for generations.
But the bar’s future took a sharp turn in late September, when the Reagle family — who own the building — told Cushenberry they had sold it. New owner Daniel Sellers swiftly posted an eviction notice on November 1, cut the power to the bar, and chained the doors shut, locking Cushenberry out. According to Cushenberry, she offered to negotiate, but the new owner demanded she pay for fire and liability insurance — costs she says were never part of her lease.
The eviction came as a shock to the tight-knit 7th Ward community. Stevenson said that when he learned of the eviction, he “sat down and cried.”
Tensions escalated into a confrontation: Cushenberry alleges that Sellers insulted her with racial slurs, a claim he strongly denies. The two later involved police; officers instructed Sellers to seek proper eviction proceedings in court.
Adding another twist, local musician Kermit Ruffins posted an Instagram photo of the bar on November 7 with a caption that read, “Old school bar I just got, opening soon.” Public records, however, show Ruffins did not purchase the building — Sellers bought it in a cash transaction that closed October 1.
Longtime patrons are devastated. The First and Last Stop was more than a business — it was a community pillar. Neighbors, staff, and tribal members are now searching for ways to preserve its story, while Cushenberry considers her next steps.
What happens to the building now remains uncertain. But for many in New Orleans, the loss feels personal: a legacy tied to generations, culture, and shared memory has been abruptly taken away.
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