A Jefferson Parish judge has voided the leases associated with the Port Orleans Brewing and Avo Taco brewpub project in Gretna. On September 28, 2026, Judge Donald “Chick” Foret ruled that the leases were unconstitutional and nullified the deal, which had relied on $10.3 million in parish-backed funding. This decision has left the nearly completed development in a state of legal uncertainty.

The controversial project, located on parish-owned property along Huey P. Long Avenue, had been pitched as a $25 million mixed-use development. The ruling declared that the lease agreements amounted to an unconstitutional donation of public funds to private parties. In response to the ruling, Port Orleans Brewing has stated that they plan to appeal the decision.

Concerns about the project were flagged as early as 2025 by the Jefferson Parish Inspector General’s Office. The IG’s reports pointed to issues in the selection process and the lease structure, which included provisions that allowed Jefferson Facilities Inc. (JFI) to collect rent based on business revenue. Despite the concerns, a revised lease was approved by the Parish Council in April 2025.

The fate of the nearly finished brewpub remains uncertain. Construction was nearing completion by July 2026, but the recent ruling casts doubt on the opening timeline. The $10.3 million public investment is now at the center of a legal and financial controversy.

This court decision raises important questions about governance and risk for investors and developers involved in public-private partnerships in the New Orleans metro area. The immediate impact on local contractors, tenant business plans, and leasing confidence on the West Bank highlights the broader repercussions of the ruling.

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