From the outside, Downtown Hammond looks like a ghost town. Streets are empty, businesses are dark, and ice covers nearly everything in sight. But inside Brady’s Restaurant, it’s warm, it’s loud, and it’s one of the only places still open.As a winter storm brought record-breaking cold and widespread power outages to Tangipahoa Parish, Brady’s decided to open its doors — but not for business as usual. Instead, they served first responders, power crews, and residents left without heat or electricity.“We decided to open, but we didn’t really publicize it,” said the restaurant’s co-owner. “We don’t want people coming here just to come here and hang out.”Thousands of homes went dark Tuesday as freezing temperatures swept across the parish, leaving utility workers scrambling to restore power.“A lot of people got to have fun, but a lot of other people put themselves in danger,” the co-owner said. “They put their lives on the line. So the least we could do is give them a hot meal.”Brady’s quickly became a hub for linemen, first responders, and locals looking for warmth. The restaurant served dozens of meals, prioritizing the crews who had been working around the clock to keep the city running.Kyle, a bartender at Brady’s for two years, said serving those who serve the community is just the Louisiana way.“Today, we did about 40 meals for them,” he said. “And that’s before we ever had a customer. We wanted to do them first.”Just next door, residents Dylan and Trey had the best view in town—watching Hammond freeze over from their apartment windows.“The streets are definitely getting icy,” Dylan said. “I see people driving too much. There’s a lot of people on the road that definitely shouldn’t be.”Trey was one of them. He tried driving through the ice earlier in the day but said he won’t be making that mistake twice.“Stay home,” Trey said. “And if you do go, definitely drive slow. But don’t. It’s not worth it. Be safe. Don’t be like me.”As icy roads remain a concern and temperatures stay dangerously low, Brady’s says they’ll keep serving as long as crews need them. Meanwhile, first responders continue to urge people to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.
From the outside, Downtown Hammond looks like a ghost town. Streets are empty, businesses are dark, and ice covers nearly everything in sight. But inside Brady’s Restaurant, it’s warm, it’s loud, and it’s one of the only places still open.
As a winter storm brought record-breaking cold and widespread power outages to Tangipahoa Parish, Brady’s decided to open its doors — but not for business as usual. Instead, they served first responders, power crews, and residents left without heat or electricity.
“We decided to open, but we didn’t really publicize it,” said the restaurant’s co-owner. “We don’t want people coming here just to come here and hang out.”
Thousands of homes went dark Tuesday as freezing temperatures swept across the parish, leaving utility workers scrambling to restore power.
“A lot of people got to have fun, but a lot of other people put themselves in danger,” the co-owner said. “They put their lives on the line. So the least we could do is give them a hot meal.”
Brady’s quickly became a hub for linemen, first responders, and locals looking for warmth. The restaurant served dozens of meals, prioritizing the crews who had been working around the clock to keep the city running.
Kyle, a bartender at Brady’s for two years, said serving those who serve the community is just the Louisiana way.
“Today, we did about 40 meals for them,” he said. “And that’s before we ever had a customer. We wanted to do them first.”
Just next door, residents Dylan and Trey had the best view in town—watching Hammond freeze over from their apartment windows.
“The streets are definitely getting icy,” Dylan said. “I see people driving too much. There’s a lot of people on the road that definitely shouldn’t be.”
Trey was one of them. He tried driving through the ice earlier in the day but said he won’t be making that mistake twice.
“Stay home,” Trey said. “And if you do go, definitely drive slow. But don’t. It’s not worth it. Be safe. Don’t be like me.”
As icy roads remain a concern and temperatures stay dangerously low, Brady’s says they’ll keep serving as long as crews need them. Meanwhile, first responders continue to urge people to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.
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