DELCAMBRE — The small community of Delcambre has struggled to rebuild after devastating storm surge flooding by hurricanes Ike in September and Rita in 2005.

Mayor Carol Broussard has been vocal during rebuilding efforts about the types of business that must be located within the community for residents to consider staying here.

Recently, meeting some of those needs, Delcambre native Brennon LeBlanc and Darrin Dartez, both pharmacists, have opened the Twin Parish Plaza, located along Louisiana 14.

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LeBlanc said after Hurricane Rita he and Dartez thought it might be a good opportunity to develop a business in the area, and after hearing the long-time Delcambre pharmacy would not come back, the two started working on the project.

“We teamed up with Mike Tarantino at IDF and he got us in touch with the Twin Parish Port Commission and they helped us out a lot trying to find land and even some grants because it was such a big risk on our part,” LeBlanc said. “We started putting things together. It was about a two-year process.”

The land was elevated to 12 feet, 6 inches before construction began. The Plaza, open less than a month, is now home to four new businesses — The Delcambre Pharmacy, Acadiana Comprehensive Therapy Services, Dr. Angela Langlinais’ practice and Express Yourself Screening.

Physical therapist Jason Guidry, owner of Acadiana Comprehensive Therapy Services, said he believes his is the first free-standing occupational therapy outpatient clinic in Delcambre.

“This was really the perfect situation,” Guidry said. “In this shopping center you have a doctor, therapist and pharmacist all in a one-stop shop, and, with gas prices the way they are, people just don’t want to leave their community. They want to stay here and would like to have services here so we’ve been very well received.”

Express Yourself Screening has experienced growth and success in the last couple of years in the Delcambre/Erath communities. Owner Torie Rudisill, an Erath native, started the business out of her home in 2006 and recently found a new home at The Plaza.

“I think the more biz we can get in this community the better,” Rudisill said. “The more businesses, the more people will want to stay because they will have something to stay for.”

Proud to be a part of the new development, Rudisill said the last few years have been a difficult situation for the community.

Ray Dugal III, assistant vice president of Gulf Coast Bank, one of only two banks with branches left in Delcambre, said as part of the area Chambers of Commerce he is doing all he can to attract new business to the area.

“Any help that can be brought to the small businesses in Delcambre would be appreciated,” Dugal said.

“If people can go eat at the restaurants we have, visit the gift shops or florists, anything would be great. I wish more people would consider coming to spend time in Delcambre and Erath and points in between. It would definitely help us.”

With approximately 18,000 cars traveling along Louisiana 14 in a 24-hour period, LeBlanc said the location is a natural fit for business. He said there has been talk locally of a grocery store returning to the community and a great deal of interest from food vendors to lease any available space.

“It’s tough here,” he said. “Every hurricane season everyone will hold their breath, but these people here are different and unique. These people here are strong and it will take a lot more than a storm to get many people to leave here. So it makes sense to bring in the businesses that have what they need to them.”

Dr. Adrain Simm, Delcambre dentist