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Donny Rouse
My grandfather died March 5, 2009. He and my grandmother had been
married for 58 years.
Pa began his career sorting shallots and ended it as owner of the largest
independent grocery chain in Louisiana. He knew every inch of the
business. He loved it. Even at 79, he couldn’t stay away from it. He was
in the office the Friday before he went to the hospital.
Our new Rouses Market in Youngsville opened two months before
Pa died, and he and my grandmother were there to cut the ribbon. It
was one of our largest grand openings in history, and our first store in
Acadiana. Pa was an entrepreneur, like his dad, like my dad and uncle,
and he got a kick out of competition. No one was more excited about our
expansion. We opened our first grocery store in New Orleans October
of 2007, and less than a year later, Rouses was voted Best Grocery Store
in the city. Pa was as proud of that as he was of how much we’d grown.
Ali Rouse Royster
In 2005, I interviewed my grandfather for my Nicholls State University
MBA project on entrepreneurship. Pa believed in education — he was
very proud that his grandchildren had the opportunity to go to college
when he didn’t even get to finish high school. But one thing was clear
after the interview — you don’t need an MBA to be an entrepreneur.
You just need passion — and the right people. Here is an excerpt from
the interview.
• • •
Ali: Who are the key people at Rouses?
Mr. Anthony: The key people are my sons, Donald and
Tommy. They are my youngest boys. But the people I rely on most
are right at the store, the managers and employees at the store.
Ali: What were your expectations for Rouses?
Mr. Anthony: Where we are now is way over my expectations.
I never dreamed it would become this big. (We had 16 stores at this
point. No one could have imagined we would some day have 45.)
Ali: What were the major milestones, where you felt like the
company shifted?
Mr. Anthony: We had to change with the times, or we
wouldn’t be where we are. When we got in the biz, no one had
computers or really cash registers, and we had to change with that.
There were no huge stores, and now there are these big megastores
to compete with. Changing with the times is part of our success.
Ali: What’s special about Rouses?
Mr. Anthony: We always try to give the best quality at the
best price, and a big thing is service. Bagging groceries, carrying
them out, listening to the customers, I think that’s one of the biggest
assets we have.The people working here ... they have an interest in
it and seeing it succeed, and they are loyal. And the products we
carry and make. We have the latest products, but we always strive
for better products. And we adjust, a whole lot faster than the big
stores. We adjust to our customers needs and get what they want.
Ali: What makes you happiest?
Mr. Anthony: I really raised a family in this business, and
grandchildren.
Ali: Is it challenging?
Mr. Anthony: It’s a demanding industry of your time and
energy, and it’s a 24-hour job especially when you are at the head.
And there’s always a challenge. Without a challenge, you get lost,
you get complacent, and that’s not good.
• • •
The interview took place a fewmonths after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Ali: How did the recent hurricanes affect Rouses?
Mr. Anthony: We had a lot of damage and a lot of damage
to our customer base and to the people. We managed and came out
of it and got all but one store (in Metairie) back up and
were fortunate compared to other people.
Ali: Is there anything you think I missed?
Mr. Anthony: No, you did very good.
Ali: It went pretty good?
Mr. Anthony: I think so.
Ali: If I think of anything else, I know how to reach you.
Mr. & Mrs. Anthony J. Rouse on their wedding day, circa 1949
A MAJOR LOSS • ROUSES HISTORY