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Where animals were once auctioned off, musicians now play and spectators watch and are entertained at the Richard Sale Barn. Photo by Mandie David Kiddy

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The outside of the Richard Sale Barn.

Richard Sale Barn in Abbeville doing well

Richard Sale Barn is rich in cultural heritage, and has been a social gathering place in Abbeville since the 1930s. What originally started out as a livestock sale arena has now been transformed into an amphitheater concert hall which has featured local artists including Roddy Romero and the Hub City All-Stars, Mike Dean, and Michael Juan Nunez.
In 1937, Abbeville’s Richard Sale Barn was built by J. Avery Richard. Originally called Abbeville Commission Company, the barn was a cattle auction house. J. Avery’s grandson, Johnny Richard began to help his grandfather at the age of 7 by cleaning out the pens and herding cattle through the chutes into the auction pit. In its heyday, the barn had the distinction of being the only stockyard accessible by water in Louisiana.
By the early 1980s, the sale barn had closed its doors.
As Johnny says, “It was no longer feasible for a buyer to come this far from the interstate.” The barn remained vacated for several years until Johnny Richard and his wife, Kathy, purchased it around 1990. The couple opened it as a gallery to sell their handmade wares. Johnny specialized in making saddles and whips, while Kathy was a jewelry designer whose work featured alligator teeth.
The building is an important part of not only the Richard’s history, but that of Abbeville as well. In order to preserve the location, Kathy and Johnny petitioned to place it on the historical registry. Kathy explains, “At the time, it was the only barn in Louisiana to be placed on the historical registry. We were able to show the social significance of the barn. Back in the day, people did two things to visit. They went to church, and they came to the sale barn to interact with each other. It was a social gathering place. It is very historic; it’s a part of our culture. We wanted to save it from being torn down.”
Often times, the Richards would throw small gatherings for their friends at the sale arena. When there were musicians present, the building was often complimented on its acoustics. The amplified sound was purposefully created as a means to carry the auctioneer’s voice throughout the barn. Soon word of mouth spread, and local musicians became interested in playing there.
It wasn’t until the late 90’s, when a French music group called Opus 37 requested to book Richard Sale Barn for a concert, that the Richards began to see the potential to completely revamp the arena. At that time, the sale barn was not equipped to hold a concert. However, the Richards quickly went to work laying boards atop the pipes of the auction pit to create a stage. Opus 37, a 37-piece a cappella choir, arrived in Abbeville just as the Richards were putting the last nails in place! The concert was a success, and Johnny and Kathy began to see a new vision for what was once thought to be an obsolete space.
It wasn’t until 2006 that Richard Sale Barn reopened its doors, under the non-profit lease of Le Bayou Legendaire. The first concert series generated a lot of interest, and it has since grown into a popular music venue. In fact, for the past two years, Richard Sale Barn has been voted as the second best location to listen to live music in Southwest Louisiana (the first being Lafayette’s Acadiana Center for the Arts).
Richard Sale Barn is a smoke-free and kid-friendly environment. Concert goers are seated in the same amphitheater benches that were once occupied by livestock buyers some seventy years prior. There is a concert held on one Saturday per month during the spring and fall seasons. The doors typically open at 6 p.m., and the concert promptly begins at 7. There are two fifty minute sets, with a half hour intermission between. Since there is no green room, it is a very interactive experience for musicians and attendees alike.
For the Richards, keeping the building open is very much a labor of love. Johnny explains, “We were able to find a way to reuse the barn and keep it alive, without destroying the integrity. Today, people come to the barn to watch musicians, and they tell how they used to sit in this same place as a kid with their grandfather to buy cattle. It’s special to hear people say that.”
Richard Sale Barn is located at 1307 Henry Street in Abbeville. Throughout the past decade, they have featured Louisiana legends including Lil Buck Sinegal, Henry Grey, and T.K. Hulin. Their 2016 concert series kicks off on February 20th with a Lafayette band called Stop the Clock Cowboy Jazz. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at Piazza Office Supply and Robbie’s in Abbeville, or through their website at www.richardsalebarn.com.

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