Meet Diane Heying | cafe owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Diane Heying and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Diane, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When I was in my mid 20’s, I had my own retail business for a few years and really enjoyed it so I was familiar with the struggles of being your own income and management. After attempting to partner with a friend and a colleague in 2014 to open a medical + wellness spa dermatology clinic in the city, which came to a grinding halt due to a disagreement, I decided to reroute my passion for wellness into the one thing I could be a solo owner of, a cafe. It came together by happenstance, I believe. My husband happens to own the adjacent property to the cafe’s future location and he often suggested it would be a fantastic spot to open a coffee bar. It wasn’t until I began to work on the insurance for the medical spa, I happened to meet the son of the property we now call Lamara. I felt it was meant to be when at a meeting to discuss policies he said his parents owned the lot, and poof! the idea felt possible.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I spent most of my 20’s working as little as possible, enjoying my friends and social life so I had a rather late start to a career. It wasn’t until I was 30 I started to focus on what I wanted to do. I worked in cosmetic dermatology for 17 years as a representative for prestigious brands, which taught me a lot about target marketing, brand awareness and how to develop and grow a business through customer engagement. In 2014, I came up with a business plan to open a wellness and medical spa, juice bar and retail space and to partner with an established dermatologist to create the first of its kind in New Orleans. Along the way we had a difference of opinion that could not be overcome and we sadly parted ways, leaving behind the almost completed project. It was from the mistakes I made on this project that gave me the guidance of what NOT TO DO the next time. It also helped me be more organized on how to move this next project along. The lesson I learned and always share is get everything in writing prior to starting. My excitement and trust overshadowed the practicality of paperwork. One must feel comfortable discussing how to handle any disagreements that could arise in a business partnership and a plan on how to resolve them.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For me as a non native, New Orleans has 3 versions of itself. The tourist one, which includes Bourbon Street, The Mississippi River, the cemeteries, street music and of course Southern food. The second one which I prefer is the local and artistic bohemian scene, There is a subculture here of artists, creatives and musicians who can afford to live and work here supporting themselves. There are neighborhoods that are specifically immersive in art such as the Bywater and the Marigny and of course Mid City, where I live and work. The restaurants, businesses and cafes in these neighborhoods are more unique than what the more touristy areas have as options. We have wonderful, independently owned restaurants that are doing menus that are more designed for locals not seeking out the traditional offerings found in the Quarter. We have a wine store that once expanded into an outdoor grill and music venue that now to today is a must for anyone who comes to visit. Always top on the list as the music is always fantastic, food is delicious but it’s unique to New Orleans as o no where else could a commercial outdoor place exist in a residential quirky neighborhood.There are galleries everywhere in the city and we have several lovely museums, an outdoor sculpture garden, public building murals by local established artists to check out as well as small public walkways and parks worth investigating. Finally there is the 3rd version of New Orleans, which is darker and less sought out. It’s the neighborhoods abandoned post Katrina, the people left behind or ignored, the small corner markets where only the neighbors hang out, the people sitting on their porches or in the neutral ground while they go by. The small music clubs that surround the city are a staple to its culture

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Definitely my husband, Misha. He is all about making things happen. Nothing is impossible for him but rather just an obstacle he feels is pretty much always able to be overcome.

Website: www.lamaracoffeeandktichen.com

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