Hey Blake,
Tiles in the sidewalk outside one of our favorite Covington restaurants, Del Porto Ristorante, spell out the name “Hebert’s.” What’s the story?
Dear reader,
Del Porto Ristorante has welcomed patrons to the corner of Boston and New Hampshire streets in Covington since 2007. But since the turn of the 20th century, that building also has been home to a movie theater, car dealership, drugstore and St. Tammany Parish offices.
According to a 1972 history of the building by Carol Harrison Jahncke, the building dates to 1912 and was originally the site of the Parkview Theater. It was operated by Sidney Fuhrmann, an actor, artist, theatrical producer/director and Vaudeville-era showman. He also opened the Majestic and Deluxe theaters in Covington and theaters in Madisonville and Mandeville. In 2001, Covington leaders named a city-owned theater, the Fuhrmann Auditorium, after him.
In 1926, his Parkview Theater building was converted into an automobile dealership, the Frederick-Planche Motor Company. It became Covington Motors in 1939.
The following year, pharmacist Oliver Hebert bought the building and opened Hebert’s Drugs there. In later years, the building was also home to Dunning’s Florist, St. Tammany government offices and even a parish courtroom.
Owner Darlene Hagan opened Del Porto in 2000 at a different location before married chefs David and Torre Solazzo took over the business in 2002. They relocated Del Porto to its current address in 2007.
Johnson will be honored at a birthday party Thursday, June 20, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Cafe Istanbul.