Parenting

Justin Kennedy

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When Justin Kennedy isn’t eating, sleeping, and breathing all things po’ boy related, he’s a loving husband, a devoted father, and a man who pours his heart into everything he does. He and his wife have a unique, true Louisianian love story: they met during a po’ boy competition in 2017 where both of their family businesses competed for the title of Best Po’ Boy in Louisiana. Both bustling shop managers now divide their time between New Orleans and Lafayette, but Justin never misses a chance to call his wife and daughter throughout the day, even if it’s just for a quick chat. His passion for people and his community shines through in every interaction, and his love for his daughter, Josephine, is a testament to the kind, compassionate person he is. Whether he’s greeting customers with a warm smile or guiding his daughter with a nurturing hand, Justin embodies the essence of dedication and love in both his personal and professional life.

“From someone who never thought they’d become a dad, I think everyone needs to experience it.”

WHAT DOES A NORMAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU:

JUSTIN: When I’m here on the job, I live upstairs, and I get down to work around 7:30. I’ll look online and see what orders and parties we have coming in. I walk the restaurant in the morning while it’s quiet and nobody’s here, and the place is clean. I get the restaurant set up for everyone, just making sure the AC is running and the lights are on. My mother also lives upstairs, and she’ll meet me down here. I’m a member of a little gym on the street, and I’ll go there for about 30-45 minutes, get a little exercise, get my mind straight, and get out for a little bit. When I show up at nine o’clock, everybody else is showing up. When [there are] people everywhere, moving, prepping, I know if I didn’t come here earlier and get all that premeditation done, I’d be walking into a hornet’s nest. We open at 10, but we usually get a bunch of big orders from 10 to 12, and then 12 to 2 is our lunch-dinner rush. I’m pretty much in the kitchen walking around whenever we’re busy. I’m never stagnant. I’m never sitting in the office. If I am, it’s just for a second, just to orchestrate. I make sure the staff is comfortable. I make sure no one’s overworked while still being productive. I make sure I talk to every single employee every day, even if it’s just a simple, “Hello, how you doing?” I’ll come in [the office] in the afternoon, check my list, and think, “What do we need to do to get forward?” After that, we close up. [Throughout the day], I’m talking to my wife and my daughter. We’re always on the phone, or we do a lot [of] FaceTime.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR CAREER?

JUSTIN: That’s an easy one: meeting people. I love people. I love to be around folks. I like to be around the hustle and bustle. This place–Parkway–is different. You have plenty of nice [restaurants] in this town, but every walk of life comes to this place. When they come here for a good sandwich, you’ll have people in line waiting to order, and then they just start chatting, and they make friends that they would never meet otherwise. I’ve met presidents here. I’ve seen kids I could hold in my hand, and now they’re in college or doctors or lawyers, and I love the aspect. It’s more than a restaurant; It’s a place that’s rooted in New Orleans. 

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING A DAD?

JUSTIN: What I love most about being a dad: it’s almost something you can’t even describe [or] put into words. We waited to find out if it was going to be a boy or a girl. Of course, I wanted [a] boy, [but it was] out of my hands. When the doctor showed me it was a girl, all that [stuff] went out the window. I don’t care if I ever have a boy–give me five more girls! There’s just a sweetness to [Josephine]. [A child is] something you know love has created, and it’s something that you can give unconditional love. Loving a child is like a love you can never experience unless you have it. Her little smiles or watching her grow–I’m not a seasoned dad–but I’m loving this. It gives me a jump start to be a better person. [Being] a dad, you look at life totally different. Your dreams are their dreams; it’s not about you anymore, it’s about them. It’s not about what you want, it’s what they want, and it makes you humble yourself. 

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PARENTING STYLE?

JUSTIN: My wife is soft and sweet and understanding, and I’m a little louder. When [Josephine] sees me, she gets a little rambunctious–probably a typical dad thing. We let her explore–no rules–she’s going to figure it out. Of course, we say “no” to certain things, but we try to let her see why it’s the right or wrong thing to do. If she’s doing something great, we praise [her]. We try not to do screen time; we read books. I think we should let them figure out things on their own to an extent. Right now, we’re just letting her figure things out and helping her along the way.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO TOGETHER AS A FAMILY?

JUSTIN: When we’re in New Orleans, we love the aquarium, City Park, Café Du Monde, and the Children’s Museum. In Lafayette, we’ll go to Moncus Park, and go to the splash pad or pool. Our favorite thing to do in Lafayette is going over to [Becca’s] parent’s house to barbecue or put up a fun jump. We love family time. She has family here in New Orleans and family in Lafayette. I love having fellowship with [Josephine], cooking, or doing something with family, whether it’s playing games or relaxing at the house. At this point in time, that’s the [most fun] thing. 

WHAT PERSONALITY TRAITS OF YOURS DO YOU SEE IN YOUR DAUGHTER?

JUSTIN: I want her to be kind and treat everybody with respect and to have respect for herself. I want her to not be so serious while knowing what’s right and wrong. I want her to have fun. She’s definitely witty. Her personality is persuasive, but she is hard-headed. When she wants something, she won’t let it go. She loves the [outdoors]. I think she’s going to be an outdoorsy girl. She loves to explore things, and I think that’s a trait she gets from me. Her personality is coming in, and it’s huge. 

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR OTHER PARENTS?

JUSTIN: Spend the most time with them in these early stages–I think it’s the most important. Because I see my daughter on a weekly basis, I don’t interact with her every single day. I see her three days a week, or every day on the phone, [but] when I see her [in person], the change is magnificent. You can’t love them enough.

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