WITH OVER 94 YEARS OF CONTINOUS COMMITMENT TO OUR CUSTOMERS, our mission is to provide the best value in home furnishings, appliances, and bedding in the River Parish community. We will provide the highest level of service possible, from the initial sales process, through delivery and in-home post-sale service.
Nearly a century has passed since electrician Louis Joseph “L J” Haydel left his career with Shell Norco to pursue a business venture at the beginning of the Great Depression. His general manager at Shell warned him the business wouldn’t last, but he returned with an apology and offered congratulations 27 years later, when Haydel’s Furniture-Appliances-Bedding moved to its current location at 541 Apple Street in Norco. Currently, Haydel’s celebrates 94 years in business, having survived not only the Depression, but countless ups and downs of the economy, a global pandemic and, most recently, the devastation of Hurricane Ida.
L J Haydel never parted ways with the store and his signature white short sleeved shirt embroidered “L J Haydel Inc.” just below the collar, even after enduring a stroke. It was a major part of his daily life until he passed away in 1982. The same was true for his son, Harold Haydel, who served customers from the 1940s through the early 2000s before his passing in 2008. Third-generation owner Michael Haydel never doubted he’d come to operate Haydel’s. Strapping on the white shirt at age 10 was a precursor to stepping into his grandfather’s shoes to keep one of the oldest connections to Norco’s history alive and thriving. “I enjoy meeting people and helping people, especially the ones who come in and tell stories about my grandfather and father,” Michael said. “It was great to hear some of the stories about the 30s and the 40s and the 50s. They used to have fairs in Reserve, where they would set up the new appliances. People would come in here talking about how they remembered him bringing the appliances for people to see.” To this day, most of the customers are familiar with Haydel’s history as one of the oldest surviving businesses in the River Parishes. Older customers remember how the store was once a drop-off location for Louisiana Power and Light, long before locals paid Entergy bills online. Others come in with referrals from parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.
The past few years have added new layers to the 94-year history, allowing Haydel’s to reassert its role as an essential business in tune with the needs of the community. Those needs have varied through the years having carried bicycles, tractors and lawnmowers before evolving into what it is today — a competitively priced dealer of living room, bedroom and dining room furniture, kitchen/utility appliances, and mattresses and bedding. Haydel’s fared better than some big box stores during inventory challenges that shook the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our goal was to make sure that we purchased what we could at the time,” Michael Haydel said. “As time has gone on, things have improved greatly. The main products – mid-range washers, dryers, refrigerators – are now back where they should be.” Haydel’s had a major role in the rebuilding of the community after Hurricane Ida, providing the inventory needed to move families back into their homes. The showroom was reopened to the community by September 7, only days after the storm. In the months that followed, customers came to Haydel’s after not being able to find a particular product elsewhere. After finding competitive pricing in a convenient location, many left saying, “We’ll be back.” This past year, Haydel’s was voted Best Home Appliance Store and Best Home Furnishings Store in the second annual Best of the River Parishes competition. “It’s very humbling to know that people think that about us and to know we can offer quality products at a good price with follow-up customer service,” Haydel said.
At Haydel's Furniture-Appliances-Bedding, you can buy with confidence that you are receiving the best price, value, and service in the great River Parish market. Within 30 days of purchase, if you find the identical product and service at the same terms from a local authorized dealer, just bring or mail us proof of the lower price, and we'll refund 100% of the difference!
