ST. FRANCISVILLE — A quaint little town bursting with southern charm is one way to describe St. Francisville. 

With a population of just 1,531 people—per the 2022 census—it's a small town with big things to offer. The tourism industry is flourishing and the town's natural beauty attracts visitors from all over the world. 

“This is just a Mecca for everyone. We welcome everyone and everyone feels welcome here," Wendy Womack-Phillips, owner of local boutique Birds of a Feather, said. 

More recently, the downtown area of St. Francisville has undergone a revitalization. Newer businesses are remodeling old buildings and bringing the streets to life with tourists and locals, alike!

“Downtown is our main street where you get to see all these great, local small businesses popping up and thriving because of locals and also tourism here and that reverberates throughout the entire parish," Executive Director of Visit St. Francisville Devan Corbello said.

Open for only four months, Big River Pizza Co. is one of three concepts inside its building on Commerce Street. The expert staff has transformed the simple art of making pizzas, with a six-foot wood-fired oven and carefully curated recipes. 

At just 24 years old, Nick Kent is the general manager and mastermind behind most of the menu items. He says he learned from some of the best Italian chefs in the northern U.S. and took that knowledge back to his hometown of St. Francisville. 

Kent envisioned a hip, yet age-appropriate atmosphere for the front of the restaurant. Families can grab a slice of Big River Pizza Co. and then head over to Away Down South, an ice cream parlor in an adjacent room.

Down the hallway towards the back of the building, you'll discover what Kent calls "The hidden gem of St. Francisville." Proud Mary's is a speakeasy for adults 21 and over, where you can sip a classy cocktail in a swanky, dimly-lit lounge.

“We frequented that spot for a long time and really loved the red, the bookcases, the low lighting, the animal print," Kent said. 

Downtown St. Francisville is also loaded with unique boutiques to shop at. If you're looking for lagniappe, Birds of a Feather is one place you can "flock" to!

The European antique and fine consignment shop is home décor galore, cluttered with timeless treasures to add to your "nest." 

"Bring your girls' group, bring your friends. Have a nest environment that you want to be in," Womack-Phillips said. 

Womack-Phillips has traveled the world for years and even sells some of her findings from Bali such as rugs and robes. She eventually chose to settle down in St. Francisville because it felt safe and welcoming.

“We’re a community. We’re an old-fashioned, old school, look-it-up textbook community," Womack-Phillips said.

Kent also chose to run his business in the town of St. Francisville because of the strong community roots and prosperous tourism industry.

“What makes St. Francisville so special is the culture. And I think that the culture is directly dependent on the people. Of the community and the people that visit this space as well," Kent said. 

One thing that keeps both of these business owners motivated is an endless stream of community-oriented events. On Aug. 25, a "Pop and Shop" event took over the downtown scene, and Corbello says more exciting occasions are in store. 

"One of our newest ones is the Louisiana Food and Wine festival and that happens in November," Corbello said. 

To keep up with the latest happening in St. Francisville, click here for more information.