Even in New Orleans it’s hard to imagine what Professor Longhair, oysters, streetcars, and hardware might have in common.

The answer is, Rampart Street.

Professor Longhair lived there. P&J Oysters have been there for about a century. Mary’s Hardware store has been there for about 5 years. And the streetcar has just made a return, and, after a long absence,  is once again rattling up and down the broad, grassy, neutral ground.

City officials are predicting that the return of the streetcar will breathe life back into the street and revive its fabled New Orleans history of arts, entertainment, and commerce.

Is any of that actually happening? 

Sal Sunseri from the street’s oldest inhabitant, P&J Oysters, is joining Peter for to lunch today.

And so is Sal’s newest neighbor, David Blazak from Mary’s Hardware store.

Photos at Commander’s Palace by Alison Moon.