HISTORY OF THE NEUTRAL GROUND
Over the course of more than forty five years, the Neutral Ground has had a host of locations, caretakers and iterations.
The music and the coffee have always flowed.
FIRST VERSE
The Neutral Ground Coffeehouse started its life as the Penny Post, named after London’s early postal system. Greta, the patron saint of the Neutral Ground, opened the Penny Post on Maple Street in New Orleans in the winter of 1974. It was in an old building with several rooms that favored a variety of activities including live music, card games, chess, and ample conversation. The bohemian coffeehouse served pastries, coffees, teas and other non-alcoholic beverages and welcomed people of all walks of life. Trading songs with one another, teaching backgammon to each other’s children, the regulars became a family.
After a fire in 1977, Greta decided not to re-open, instead suggesting to her newfound family to open the Penny Post as a co-op. Their quest for a new location brought them to the former home a of seedy neighborhood bar called the Red Lion. They moved to our current location on Danneel Street and re-opened the Penny Post.
SECOND VERSE
The great wooden bar of the Red Lion was cut in half, a great barge wood wall installed down the middle. On one side our Penny Post, the other half taken over by the legendary Borsodi, who has run various coffee houses across the US. Both coffee houses had their own dedicated followers. Borsodi being more beatnik, hosting poetry readings and plays, while The Penny Post featured live acoustic music. Hosting weekly “open mic” nights, having a line up of performers playing traditional folk, bluegrass, and singer song-writers, the Post was a light attracting numerous people of all walks of life.
The Penny Post was a co-op, owned and operated by its members. Members were asked to volunteer for the various duties required in running a coffeehouse. With the help of it’s members, the Penny Post grew and flourished for several years. Unfortunately, the good vibrations and love of fellow man were eventually unable to compete with the ongoing financial strains, and in 1992 the Penny Post sadly closed its doors.
All was not lost.
THIRD VERSE
Deprived of their Third Place, a core group of Penny Posters gathered together, and, after a two month hiatus, the Neutral Ground Coffeehouse rose from the ashes.
Same rose, different name.
With the goal of better business practices, but maintaining much that was the Penny Post, The Neutral Ground continued in the same vein. While acoustic music still reigned, more genres began crossing its doors.
The well worn chess sets and backgammon boards unpacked and returned to regular use. Weekly “open mic” nights continued. Singer -songwriters vetted their tunes.
The Neutral Ground members spent many hours and put their soul into keeping their coffeehouse thriving for several years. But as with coffeehouses throughout the world, issues of money continued. In the summer of 2000, the Neutral Ground closed its doors.
The sirens had not sung their last.
FOURTH VERSE
Philip Melancon had been an active member of the coffeehouse since the Penny Post days. Phil purchased the coffee house, called a few friends, and threw the doors open after two days. The Neutral Ground Coffeehouse had yet another lease in life.
Fourth verse, same as the first. The Neutral Ground welcomed all. It was a meeting place for students, professors, carpenters, lawyers, bums, and musicians. Phil hosted chess tournaments, round table discussions, and of course, “open mic” nights. Being the ambitious and flamboyant person that he is, The Neutral Ground hosted three to four acts a night, more than 100 acts a month.
Through the years, Phil has tried different variations of the co-op. Members came and went, and Phil relied on numerous saints and volunteers. Phil has kept the coffeehouse afloat through stubbornness and sheer will. For the past few years, Phil has tried to trick others into taking it over from him. With little luck, Philip eventually resigned that the Neutral Ground would permanently close.
That could not be borne.
FIFTH VERSE
Rumors began to circulate…someone’s buying the Neutral Ground. Hope battled with fear that new owners might turn it into something horrible, or worse, boring.
In the summer of 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, the current owners have yet again re-opened the Neutral Ground.
Both of us have spent 20 plus years in and out of the Penny Post and the Neutral Ground in its various transitions. Understanding that all still need a Third Place to call our own, we have stubbornly, if not wisely, chosen to keep it alive.
We hope to serve its soul well.
The Neutral Ground Coffeehouse must stand.
In the words of our old friend, Borsodi:
“There should be some common ground somewhere, after all, where free spirits can gather and not seem peculiar and out of the way.”
UPCOMING
EVENTS
Come visit, drink some coffee, and listen to some live music.
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