The first thing one notices when approaching a faded blue Cajun cottage on Carey Street in Slidell is the giant ancient oak that spreads its huge branches over the house and lot.

“Everybody around here knows the place as the big oak,” said John Klein, who owns the building.

Before Hurricane Katrina put six feet of water into the house, Klein had a fairly good business going for six years as Evangeline’s Coffeehouse.

John Klein and Tanya Adams stand on the steps of the old Cajun cottage they had transformed into a coffeehouse before Hurricane Katrina forced them to close it. (Staff Photo by Erik Sanzenbach)

“I’ve always wanted to own a coffeehouse,” said Klein who is a plumber and a resident of Slidell for 32 years.

Klein bought the old house 12 years ago. He said the place has had a lot of owners, since it was built in 1895.

Now he wants to clean out the house, renovate it and reopen the coffeehouse. However, he has a problem — getting the money for the renovation work, which he says will cost about $75,000.

Klein said that after the hurricane, he applied to FEMA, the Road Home and any other relief agency, but they all turned him down.

“I applied to everyone ad nauseum,” he said. “I’ve tried everything.”

But Klein is not one to give up. He and his partner Tanya Adams came up with a unique way to raise money. For the past three months, they have been holding a garage sale every Saturday morning at the ruined coffeehouse.

“So far business has been good,” Klein said.

Every Saturday morning at 8 a.m. Klein and Adams line the deck he built surrounding the old oak tree with all sorts of items, clothes and furniture that has been donated to the cause. There is more stuff inside the coffeehouse.

“We have a little bit of everything here,” Klein said.

He said the response has been good, and he feels that is because people in the neighborhood remember Evangeline’s before the storm, and they want to bring it back.

He notes that on the second floor are meeting rooms, and there used to be art displays from local artists every week.

“We even had a couple of weddings here,” Klein said. “I think people really miss the place.”

Right now, Klein said he needs more donations for the garage sale. He said he would even come and pickup items. He said he is hoping it will take another year to raise all the money, and then another year for the renovation before he can be open for business.

“I think Slidell needs a home-grown coffeehouse,” Klein said.

The renovation work will be quite a job. The house needs to be re-wired, and all the plumbing needs to be changed out, and that is not to mention the mold remediation. But Klein remains optimistic, and thinks his garage sale will make him realize his dream.

“Incrementally, we are getting closer and closer,” he said.

To donate items to the garage sale, call either 265-5890 or 640-6269. The garage sale is every Saturday at 8 a.m. under the big oak tree at 2852 Carey Street.