Calling themselves the "Belles of Bayou Road," they hope to be the vanguard of a resurgent New Orleans business scene. The city recognized their perseverance with proclamations marking their achievements. Vera Warren-Williams runs the community book center, where repairs are still under way.

VERA WARREN-WILLIAMS, Community Book Center: We had at least two feet of water without any flood insurance, so that was real difficult for us, and it still is. As you can see, we have not been able to repair our floors. And you know that books and water in any form don't mix.

TOM BEARDEN: To help herself succeed, Warren-Williams is adding a coffee shop and a business center to the store. She hopes to encourage others to come back.

VERA WARREN-WILLIAMS: We believe, here on Bayou Road, in this little small corridor, this strip of businesses, that if other businesses can see what we have done with the little that we have and still operating under the conditions that we are operating on, that it may inspire them to move forward and to get themselves together.