5 THINGS TO SEE & DO

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1

Take a free tour of the Dorcheat Museum & Germantown Colony Museum

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2

Explore the 6 mile Webster Parish Paddle Trail down Bayou Dorcheat

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3

Take a photo in front of downtown Minden’s murals

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4

Enjoy a walking tour of Minden’s Historic Residential District

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5

Purchase a refreshing lemonade and delicious Dorcheat Bottom cookie from Geaux Fresh

Kickstart Sites

Geaux Fresh

Miller Quarters

Smart Home

The Faces of Kickstart Minden

Meet Jodie

Meet Buddy, Sara & Rachel

Meet Phillip & Kaneshia

Jodie’s Bio:

Jodie Martin —executive chef and husband Devin Martin are the owners of Geaux Fresh Bistro & Bakery which they began out of their kitchen In 2014. In 2016 they opened their restaurant to the public, where they serve fast casual fresh food and Minnie made from scratch baked items. Jodie’s vision is to create better versions of your favorite foods to enjoy through dining or meal prep services. Together Devin and Jodie have two children, Alex and Ava Martin. They have always had a passion to serve others. In 2018 they began to partner with Generation House, a local ministry through The Christian Church At Minden. Generation House provides a safe place for women to transition back into a healthy living style. Devin & Jodie offer jobs to the women who come through this ministry. Devin & Jodie’s heart is to help those who need another chance at life. Through the restaurant the girls are provided a safe, drug free environment and are mentored daily on how to do life victoriously. For more information on Geaux Fresh check out www.MyGeauxFresh.com

Buddy’s Bio:

Buddy has been serving up delicious seafood to the Minden community for several years now! As owner of Seafood Empire, he caters to a variety of events and festivals and especially leaves a lasting impact on your taste buds during crawfish season! What began as a simple food truck has evolved over the years and you can now visit Seafood Empire at 302 E. Union Street in Minden! Buddy is known as always willing to help the community in any way he can. Whether he’s mentoring youth, or working to make Minden the best place to live and work, he continuously looks out for the needs of others.

Phillip’s Bio:

Phillip M. Smart was born in Minden, Louisiana and moved back to Minden in 2019. He is married to Kaneshia Smart. Kaneshia is a Clerk of Court and owner of P.S. I Love You. They have 3 children Kaylan, Raylan, and Emery. Phillip is an economist, business owner, and founder of the Smart Foundation. He is a member of the Minden’s Lions Club and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. When Phillip is not working or spending time with his family, you can find him volunteering across various parts of Louisiana. The Smart Foundation was created to help anyone in our community with no matter what he or she is going through. “Life is already hard enough. That’s why our hearts are always open.”~ Phillip M. Smart. We try to focus on the basic life skills and teach financial literacy to those who need assistance. We also help through a number of other causes such as fan drives for the summer, coat drives for the winter, and secret Santa for the less fortunate families who can’t afford to purchase their child a gift. We look forward to the growth in Minden and impacting even more people. For more information on the Smart Foundation check out www.smartfoundation.us

Sara’s Bio:

Sara McDaniel, founder of Simply Southern Cottage, along with her neighbor, Rachel Miller, were instrumental in garnering national attention through a successful pitch of Minden to HGTV Hometown Kickstart. Sara is a local real estate investor and content creator. Her current project, The Villas at Spanish Court, are featured as the 2022 Project House for Cottages and Bungalows and American Farmhouse Style magazines. Sara’s efforts have been recognized across several major media outlets such as Better Homes and Gardens, Southern Living, The Today Show, Forbes, Good Housekeeping, plus countless others. You can follow Sara’s daily updates on Minden across all social platforms @simplysoutherncottage.

Rachel’s Bio:

Rachel and Patrick Miller are owners of Parish Design Co. At Parish Design Co. we are a family-based design studio rooted in Minden, Louisiana. For over 25 years, we have been building brands and websites for clients all over the country. Recently, our focus has shifted to support local design endeavors in our community. From murals and social awareness campaigns, to drone photography and video editing, we believe we are making a positive visual impact in the greater Minden area. Check out our website for more information about us and our merchandise. https://parishdesignco.com/

Contributing Local Businesses:
Kepler Creek Manufacturing
Kichler Lighting
Levrack
Madden COntracting
Pam’s Upholstery
Perryman Welding
Roca Tile
Sisal Rugs
The Tree Guys
Velvet Home & Decor
Webster Door & Millwork

Purchase your Friendliest City in the South shirt here:
https://parishdesignco.com/products/friendliest-city-in-the-south

Watch Hometown Kickstart: “Making Over Minden” on Discovery+