–Introduction
In the heart of Loreauville, Louisiana, tucked between the still waters of Bayou Teche and the steady hum of Main Street life, stands a storefront with a legacy stretching back to 1867.
This is Village Market—a humble grocery store with a history as deep and enduring as the town itself. For more than 130 years, five families have carried the torch of service here, each generation adding their own chapter to this story since the closing days of the American Civil War.
More than just a place to shop, it has become a cornerstone of community. Large enough to meet the needs of its patrons, yet small enough to know each one. In a world of changing times, it has remained steadfast.
Today, it is Loreauville’s largest employer within the city limits, a quiet economic engine that not only feeds families, but fuels local enterprise. Some of their goods find their way into the kitchens and counters of beloved local businesses—Teche Cafe, The Main Cup, Caribbean Ice, and Sizzlin Sneaux.
In this small town, where everyone knows your story, 120 South Main Street continues to write its own—one bag of groceries, one familiar face, and one proud day at a time.
Find out more of our History below!
The general/grocery store at 120 N Main St. in Loreauville, Louisiana, has a storied past—a place whose walls have witnessed generations of change, resilience, and community spirit. Through changing hands and changing times, it has stood strong, thanks to the loyalty and heart of Loreauville’s residents.
The origins of this enduring establishment can be traced back to Adrien Gonsoulin, a native of Iberia Parish and descendant of the area’s earliest settlers. While many may remember him as the owner of Mariah Sugarcane Plantation, Loreauville remembers him best as the man who helped the village rise from the ashes after the Civil War.
Gonsoulin’s first venture in the village was a humble coffee house and bakery he opened in 1867. Just two years later, he transformed the bakery into a general mercantile store—a sign of his commitment to serving the growing needs of the community. But fate would not make things easy. A devastating fire reduced the original store to ashes. Still, Gonsoulin remained undeterred. With unwavering resolve, he forged ahead and, by 1881,
erected an impressive two-story brick building. Behind it, he added a cypress barn to house essential farm equipment—a reflection of the store’s deep ties to the agricultural lifeblood of the area.
Not just a businessman, Gonsoulin was a visionary. He was instrumental in bringing the first railroad to the area, aiming to streamline the transport of sugarcane from his plantation to the mill. His sense of duty to Loreauville extended beyond commerce; he would go on to serve as the Village’s Postmaster for twelve years, further solidifying his legacy.
In 1907, just half a block away from Gonsoulin’s store—where the First National Bank now stands—another chapter began. Alfred Granger Sr. opened his own shop, aptly named the “Granger Store.” by 1930, as Gonsoulin prepared to retire (he passed away three years later at his daughter’s home in Montegut), Granger—once an employee of Gonsoulin—seized the opportunity to step into the historic brick building down the road.
In 1944, the store proudly adopted a new name: Alfred Granger & Sons. The two-story building had by then become a cornerstone of village life. Shoppers could find everything from groceries and household essentials to fine foods and farming implements. Not only was it a place to shop but it was a place to get a loan or start a savings account. The second floor was transformed into apartments, where members of the Granger family lived over the years. Edward Granger fondly recalled how his father would playfully refer to those upstairs dwellings as the “Honeymoon Hotel,” as newlyweds from St. Joseph Church often spent their first days of marriage there.
Tragedy struck on July 11th, 1958, when Alfred Granger Sr. passed away suddenly while attending a wrestling match in Lafayette. His wife, Roslyn, had preceded him in death in 1955, and ownership of the store was passed to their children—Walter, “Benny,” and Maude, and Francis Granger. The family continued operations in the beloved old brick building while construction began on a new one behind it. In 1966, shortly after the move, the original two-story
building was torn down by Norris Rader. Edward Granger recalled pitching in during the demolition, helping clean up bricks and remnants of the past. The land where the old store stood became the parking lot for the new building.
In anticipation of the new grand opening, the Daily Iberian published a feature on October 12, 1966, celebrating the legacy of the 80-year-old structure that had become part of Loreauville’s fabric. In that article, Gerald J. Delcambre shared a sentiment that many could relate to—calling the store a place “where the latest gossip was learned,” a gathering spot where folks swapped stories and shared laughter. The new building carried that same energy forward, now with modern touches: clothing, appliances like washing machines, and a designated Women’s Department located where the deli now sits. The office was in the back, later to become today’s meat department.
By 1970, the business was officially incorporated as Alfred Granger & Sons. But just five years later, the Granger siblings decided to move on. In 1975, ownership passed to Oran Steiner Sr., and a new era began under the name Steiner’s Market. Mr. Steiner brought with him innovation. He relocated
He relocated the store entrance from the side to the front, expanded the south side by 20 feet, and revamped the layout—moving the office to the front and converting part of the former department area into storage. Coolers were added for produce, dairy, meats, and frozen goods. And in a nod to Cajun tradition, he put the old cypress barn to good use, crafting fresh cracklins and grattons that kept customers coming back. Much like the Granger’s before them Steiner’s Market started as a family affair with his children Betty and Oran Jr working at the store and at one point Oran Jr took over the business at some point in the 90s. However, for Oran Jr the grocery business just wasn’t what he wanted to do. He wanted to travel and move away from Loreauville.
In 1998, Steiner officially passed the torch to Ron and Judy Miller, ushering in a new era under the banner of Miller’s Market, LLC. Ron arrived in Loreauville while still managing another store out in Centerville—a juggling act that spoke volumes about his dedication and work ethic. Drawing from years of retail experience (and much like Steiner before him), Ron came in with a clear and confident vision of how he could improve and modernize the store.
At the heart of his plan was a renewed emphasis on groceries and refrigerated goods. Ron envisioned a store with more coolers, better inventory flow, and a layout that catered to the everyday shopper. One of his first major moves was phasing out the underused clothing section. In its place, he opened up the former storage area to make way for a full-fledged deli service. With the installation of commercial fryers and burners, the store began offering classic Southern fried chicken and hearty hot plate lunches—quickly becoming a favorite among local workers looking for a warm, home-style meal on the go.
But Ron’s improvements didn’t stop at the retail floor. Behind the scenes, he upgraded the warehouse area by pouring a new concrete slab to enhance the loading dock. This seemingly small change made a world of difference, streamlining deliveries and making life much easier for stockers and truck drivers alike.
And perhaps most beloved of all—yes, beloved—Ron resurrected a local legend: the Ziggy the Clown toy vending machine. Long believed to have existed at some point during the Steiner era, the machine was restored to its rightful place near the front of the store. To this day, Ziggy remains an endearing fixture and a source of wide-eyed wonder for children (and nostalgic adults) who pass through the aisles of Village Market.
In 2008, Ron hired Todd Simon—a native of Maurice, Louisiana—to join the team as the new store manager. At the time, Todd brought with him over 30 years of experience in the grocery business. His career had begun humbly at the age of fourteen, working as a stock boy and learning the ins and outs of the trade from the ground up. After graduating high school, Todd steadily climbed the ranks in the industry. He eventually became a store manager for Delchamps Grocery and later rose to oversee an entire region of stores.
His journey then took him to Associated Grocers of Baton Rouge (AGBR), where he first served as a produce buyer before transitioning into a field representative role. In that position, Todd was responsible for calling on independent grocery stores across the region. His job involved helping reset store layouts, advising on operations, and offering critical feedback—sometimes delivering tough truths that owners didn’t always want to hear. But when they listened, their businesses flourished.
Still, for all his accomplishments, Todd had aspirations beyond advising others. He didn’t just want to support store owners—he wanted to become one. Ron, well aware of Todd’s dream, saw something in him that aligned with the future he envisioned for Miller’s Market. Hiring Todd wasn’t just a staffing decision; it was a long-term plan. From the very beginning, there was a shared understanding: one day, Todd would take the reins.
That day came in November of 2013, when Todd Simon officially purchased the store and became the controlling member of Miller’s Market LLC. While the legal name of the business remained unchanged, Todd made a key symbolic shift—he renamed the store Village Market. It was a simple name, but one rich with meaning. It honored the location at 120 South Main Street and reflected the store’s longstanding role in the heart of the community—serving the village before it was even officially known as Loreauville.
Since taking ownership, Todd has guided the store through a period of thoughtful growth and modernization. He expanded and upgraded the deli, investing in new equipment to increase speed, quality, and service. He brought in organic and gluten-free food options, ensuring the store could meet the evolving needs of modern shoppers. New energy-efficient coolers were installed—not just to reduce utility costs, but to keep refrigerated products fresher for longer.
But perhaps most importantly, Todd has remained deeply committed to the community that surrounds the store. Whether it’s delivering groceries to homebound residents, discreetly extending credit to families facing hard times, or donating to local events and causes, Todd has made generosity a cornerstone of his leadership.
Like the store’s stewards before him, Todd has his eyes on the horizon. He hopes to continue expanding Village Market—particularly the deli and cold beer sections—while staying true to the values that made the store a community institution in the first place: service, progress, and heart.
Now, standing at the threshold of the next chapter, the store’s current manager, Joshua J. Boudreaux—a proud U.S. Army Veteran and native son of Loreauville—is looking to become the next owner of Village Market. With a heart for service and a deep connection to the town he calls home, Joshua plans to continue the store’s legacy. His vision is clear: to honor the past while investing in the future, helping those in need and supporting the community just as so many others have done before him.
After more than 140 years, the building at 120 N Main Street remains more than just a store—it is a living piece of Loreauville history. And as the community continues to evolve, so too will this cherished establishment. Who knows what new memories will be made and what stories will be told next?
For the Origins of Ziggy the Clown please go to following link:https://vmloreauville.com/2025/10/27/forward/
— Resources —
- Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, Biographical Section, pp. 111-112., 1891
- Tech News from St Martinville August 5, 1933
- Welcome to Loreauville, Louisiana: Village on the Teche, Est. 1871, 2012
- Edward Granger, Grandson of Alfred Granger Sr.
- Loreauville Memories Facebook Group
Stories from Loreauville Memories
Stories from Loreauville Memories
“Most people our age have great memories of Granger’s Store. I remember a sweet lady named Verna Mae…I think she was a Prados and had red hair. I would buy material from her and she would make dresses for me….I particularly remember a red “princess style” dress she made for me. I also remember “NaNa” Crochet working there. I used to go there all the time and pester them.
Mr. Walter was instrumental in getting me my first job. He was on the BOD at New Iberia National Bank and recommended to them that they hire me. I was hired to work for them the day after I graduated. I was very lucky.
I think Gene Estilette was related to Mr Gonsoulin. “
-Janice Breaux Stacy
“During summer vacation I would help Verna Mae take all of the dishes from the shelves to wash. We used galvanized tubs of sudsy water and wash every plate, cup, and saucer then dry them. Verna and NaNa were such classy little ladies. So soft spoken and gentle. Verna became a beautician.”
-Gail Louviere
“I worked for Norris Radar in 1966 cleaning mortar off of the bricks for them to resell. We used a Cane Knife to knock off mortar. There was 3 of us doing this. Cannot remember the other 2” -Baron Bayard
Note: Other Comments suggest the two others were Glen Leblanc and Edward Granger