The original store location was at the corner of LaPalco Boulevard and Giase Street in Marrero. Business was brisk from the very beginning. Then, after the area was hit by a massive flood in May 1980, Acadian Carpet Center was there to help customers put their homes back in order, and the business grew quickly. Within two or three months, the company purchased a lot just up the street at 5140 LaPalco Boulevard, where the Marrero store still is today. Within a year or two, the store building and warehouse had been built and the business had a new, permanent home.

Over the years, the original partnership changed a bit, with Mr. Breaux and Dupaquier leaving the business, and Don Barge taking the reins as sole owner. And over the years, Don's down-to-earth manner and commitment to his customers made him well known in the community. Acadian Flooring America Sales Manager Kim Pierce reports, "People around here know Don, and know they can trust him and his business. Actually, pretty much everybody who works here is from this neighborhood."

Don Barge was born in Texas, but grew up near Elmer and Melder, Louisiana. One of six children, he was raised by his mother. "That's probably where he got his work ethic," says daughter Terri Siebert. Store Manager Tony Foret claims, "Don is honestly one of the hardest working people I know. He's like a good next door neighbor... sincere and caring."

Don's retired now... but only technically. He still maintains a very active role, and most days can be found at the business.

A large percentage of the employees and installers have been with the company for many years. Some for decades. It's a testament to doing good business not only with customers, but with employees, too. "When the company opened, it had two installers - two brothers, "Terri Siebert recalls, "One is still with the company today, almost 30 years later. First, their other brother came on, then it was their son, then their nephew. It's a family business through and through."

Indeed, Acadian Flooring America is a family business. Terri Siebert, Don's daughter, manages the office. Her husband Timothy, who manages the Acadian Flooring America store in Laplace, has worked for the company nearly 20 years.

Since the beginning, Acadian has made a special commitment to be a flooring store with products in stock. Terri recalls, "Even when we had just a little showroom, we had rolls of carpet in there. We've always been focused on getting the job done right and right now for our customers. And often an important part of getting the job done right is getting the job done right now." "It's not uncommon for a customer to say, 'Can you go and measure today, and install it tomorrow.' And we say 'Yeah!'"

"At first, we did just carpet and vinyl, but then ceramic tile started getting popular," Terri continues, "Now we probably stock around 2 1/2 million square feet of ceramic tile." "Our inventory is huge. We have variety that no one else has," adds Sales Manager Kim Pierce.

"Flooring America has been a really good fit for us," says Terri Siebert. "It's been wonderful. They really know the business."

Today, Acadian encompasses six store locations throughout the New Orleans area. Three locations -- 5140 Laplaco Blvd in Marrero, 201 Lapalco Blvd in Gretna, and1005 Cambridge Drive in Laplace - are Acadian Flooring America stores. Two locations - 7300 Westbank Expressway in Marrero and 1910 Williams Blvd in Kenner - are Acadian Factory Direct Flooring stores. And the newest addition to this "family of flooring" is the Acadian Flooring Design Center at 1581 North Highway 190 in Covington. Further growth seems certain.

Manager Tony Foret sums it up well, "Now, some 30 years on, we've modernized. We used to do manual inventory, now it's all computerized. But the way we do business... being a company you can trust... we still do business that same way. Customer service made our company what it is today. And that's never going to change."