Owner Reginald Robinson sits in front of his deli (photo credit: Cameron Sheppard)

Owner Reginald Robinson sits in front of his deli (photo credit: Cameron Sheppard)

Altha’s Louisiana Cajun Seasoning and Spices thrives during pandemic

Shop and deli owner says his authetic cajun products sourced from Louisiana are what sets him apart.

Louisiana-native Reginald Robinson, owner of Altha’s Louisiana Cajun Seasoning & Spices shop and deli, said his business during the pandemic has been up by about 50 percent from previous years.

On Saturdays, he said the store and deli on 201 E. Meeker St. will often serve up to 400 people a day. On Fridays, when they serve gumbo, they prepare 65 gallons of the famous cajun stew and sell out of it all before the end of the day.

He said thousands of pounds of fried catfish fillets make their way into the hands of hungry customers on a monthly basis.

The secret, Robinson said, is their authenticity and consistency — and Southern hospitality.

When he opened the location in 2016, he wanted to bring Louisiana cajun food and products to the Pacific Northwest the right way. To this day, he imports every product sold in his store or cooked in his kitchen from Louisiana.

“We bring everything in here,” Robinson said. “Our whole thing is to be Louisiana.”

From frog legs to alligator, andouille sausage to boudin, pickled okra to Camellia red beans — if Altha’s has it, it’s authentically cajun.

Robinson said sourcing every spice, ingredient and product directly from Louisiana suppliers is one of the most important things he did to set himself apart from other cajun food businesses in the state. Otherwise, it “can’t be cajun food.”

He even set himself up with his Louisiana suppliers to be the exclusive seller of these products in Washington state.

He said that often cajun food in the Pacific Northwest misses the mark for authenticity because people use non-traditional ingredients.

“If I shopped at Cash and Carry, I would be like everyone else,” he said.

Specifically, he spoke about crawfish imported from Vietnam instead of the bayou and po’ boy sandwiches that are made without flaky New Orleans french bread.

“Without it, it’s just a sub sandwich not sold at Subway,” he said.

Robinson said he not only wants Altha’s to taste like New Orleans, he wants it to “feel” like New Orleans.

He said he plans to utilize space in his deli as a music venue for blues, jazz and zydeco music. He has an idea to hire a three-piece band to lead marches around the block as they play New Orleans-style music.

Robinson wants Altha’s to be a pillar of the community and to be able to give back. During the onset of the pandemic, he worked to feed hundreds of hungry people over the course of weeks without charging them a dime.

He outlined his plan for a monthly seminar that will invite youth in the community to come to the store to be fed and to meet with entrepreneurs and experts to receive financial advice and career mentoring.

“Southern folks are about Southern hospitality,” he said.

Robinson said he will open an additional Altha’s location in Puyallup that will be even larger than the one he owns now. The opening date is to be determined as he waits for his permits to be approved.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Business

Staff at the new Riverbend Bar & Grill, 2019 W. Meeker St. in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent
Riverbend Bar & Grill in Kent launches soft opening

New restaurant next to golf complex to offer plenty of sports on TV screens

t
Rite Aid to close Des Moines distribution center; lay off 131

Company had hired more employees at facility 17 months ago but most stores now to close or be sold

Courtesy Photo, Rite Aid
Two Kent Rite Aid locations on potential sale, closure list

Company files for bankruptcy with plans to sell or close stores

Courtesy Photo, U.S. DOJ
Jury indicts man for stealing nearly $1M from Kent company

Man faces six counts of wire fraud for alleged scheme while IT manager at Algas-SDI

Blue Origin’s New Shepard booster nears touchdown Feb. 4, 2025 in Texas during the NS-29 flight. COURTESY PHOTO, Blue Origin
Kent-based Blue Origin sets all-female flight for April 14

Singer Katy Perry among crew on New Shepard-31 to launch from West Texas

The city-owned Riverbend Golf Complex in Kent will soon have its fifth restaurant in the last 15 years at 2019 W. Meeker St., when the Riverbend Bar and Grill opens this spring. COURTESY PHOTO
New restaurant coming soon to Kent’s Riverbend Golf Complex

Riverbend Bar and Grill scheduled to open this spring at city-owned facility

t
Kent-based Blue Origin plans all-female spaceflight

Katy Perry, Gayle King among the six crew members for spring trip

t
Kent-based Blue Origin completes 10th human spaceflight

Company has flown more than 50 people into space since first flight in 2021

Courtesy Photo, The Herald/Everett
Joann to close fabric stores in Kent, Renton and Federal Way

Part of nationwide closure of more than 500 stores after filing for bankruptcy

t
Kent-based Blue Origin to reduce workforce by 10%

Estimated 1,400 to lose jobs at Kent and other locations

t
Kent-based Blue Origin successfully completes 29th New Shepard flight

Unmanned mission launched Feb. 4 from West Texas

Ezee Fiber, based in Houston, Texas, features orange vehicles with white lettering, and will be offering service in Kent in 2025. COURTESY PHOTO, Ezee Fiber
Texas-based Ezee Fiber to offer internet service in Kent

Company announces $400 million expansion to Washington state; regional headquarters in Kent