Freret Street just got a lot sweeter. Husband-and-wife team Keiyanah and Matthew Ratleff have opened a locally owned outpost of Cinnaholic, the national build-your-own cinnamon roll chain, bringing made-to-order, plant-based pastries to the uptown corridor and adding to the neighborhood’s growing list of Black-owned businesses.
The shop is at 4921 Freret St, according to Cinnaholic. The Ratleffs marked their grand opening on June 27, 2025, celebrating with a $2 signature roll offer for early guests, according to a company announcement published by Biz New Orleans.
Keiyanah says the whole thing started when she spotted a Cinnaholic cinnamon roll on Instagram, then she and Matthew decided to bring the brand home as franchisees. NOLA Family reports that the New Orleans natives financed and renovated the former house on Freret themselves to turn it into a bakery.
What They Serve
The Freret shop’s menu is entirely plant-based, free of dairy, eggs and cholesterol, and built around custom cinnamon rolls that customers can trick out with a long list of frostings and toppings. The chain and the local owners tout more than 20 frosting flavors and over 20 topping options, which add up to dozens of combinations, according to a company release published by Biz New Orleans.
Freret Street Comeback
Cinnaholic’s arrival is part of a slow-but-steady comeback on Freret Street, where a mix of national brands and independent operators has been filling in storefronts in the post-pandemic years. Big Easy Magazine notes that renewed foot traffic, along with encouragement from neighboring merchants, helped convince the Ratleffs to plant their flag on the corridor.
Plans To Grow
The couple is not stopping at Freret. They have signed a multi-store agreement and are already planning additional locations around the region. WVUE/FOX 8 reports that a second shop is expected in Metairie, with a third planned for Slidell. A Black History Month profile from WGNO cites plans for Metairie and Baton Rouge, and local outlets differ on the third site.
What It Means For The Neighborhood
The Ratleffs say they want Cinnaholic to be more than a sugar fix. Their goal is to use the bakery as a training ground where employees pick up customer service experience and small business skills they can carry into future jobs or ventures of their own. The New Orleans Chamber lists Cinnaholic NOLA as a member, and the shop brings another evening-friendly stop to a Freret strip already known for its restaurants and bars.
