The Crescent City's first shopping mall opened for business in March 1960. It was anchored by Big Easy-based D.H. Holmes and Godchaux's ["Gawd-showz"], along with the J.C. Penney depicted here.
In this circa-1957 rendering, the prospective LAKESIDE CENTER mall includes a 5-story office tower.
Drawing from Charles R. Colbert, Architect / Tulane School of Architecture
In the final plan, the office building was omitted.
Drawing from Charles R. Colbert, Architect / Tulane School of Architecture
Graphic from the D.H. Holmes Company, Limited
There were two 5 & 10-type stores in the original LAKESIDE CENTER. An S.S. Kresge was along the mall's north concourse. TG&Y opened onto the south concourse.
Drawing from the Kresge Company Annual Report 1960
LAKESIDE CENTER TENANTS 1961:
D.H. HOLMES (with The Potpourri restaurant, Coiffures American Beauty Salon and Holloway House Cafeteria) / J.C. PENNEY / GODCHAUX'S / T G & Y 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / S.S. KRESGE 5 & 10 (with The Dinette luncheonette) / WINN-DIXIE supermarket / Arnold's / Baker's Qualicraft Shoes / Butler's Shoes / DeLis Young Fashions / Dino Studio / Du Say's For Pets / First National Bank of Jefferson Parish / Fun Arcade / Gordon's Jewelers / Halpern's / Hausmann's Jewelers / Home Services / Household Finance Corporation / Jean's Hosiery / Jefferson Savings & Loan Association / Jim's Lounge / Kreeger's / Lakeside Barber Shop / Lakeside Beauty Salon / Lakeside Toys / Lerner Shops ladies' wear / Little House / Maternity Fashions / Paris Hats / Pittsburgh Paints / Schiff's Shoes / Singer Sewing Center / Steven's / The Coachman / The Magi Gift Shop / Turntable Records / Thom McAn Shoes / Vision Plaza / Walgreen Drug (with Walgreen Grill) / Western Auto (with freestanding Auto Center) / Werlein's For Music / Wright's
This rendering, titled "Bird Cage Mall," shows the concourse of the prospective shopping complex. Apparently, the mild climate of New Orleans made it possible to maintain bird aviaries (such as the tall structure seen in the background) as part of the open-air mall.
Drawing from Charles R. Colbert, Architect / Tulane School of Architecture
One of the original center's three anchors, Big Easy-based Godchaux's. This chain should not be confused with Goudchaux's ["Gawd-shawz"], of Baton Rouge, which was an entirely different company.
Drawing from Charles R. Colbert, Architect / Tulane School of Architecture
The new Macy's encompassed 3-levels and came with an adjacent parking garage. The LAKESIDE mall now covered around 1,295,000 leasable square feet. It had been the fourth-largest shopping center in the state. Now it was third-largest. Btw, the largest was the 1,600,000 square foot CORTANA MALL, in Baton Rouge, which closed in 2019.
Drawing from www.feil.com / The Feil Organization
And now, we embark on a Google Maps Street View tour of LAKESIDE CENTER, circa-March 2011. Our excursion begins on the north side of the mall, at Dillard's.
Photo from Google Maps
We swing around to the the back of the shopping center and J.C. Penney.
Photo from Google Maps
A little further and we are at one of the mall's southwest entries. This one accesses the Food Court.
Photo from Google Maps
Lastly, we have the southwest corner of the complex. Since the late 1990s, several upscale restaurants have opened at the mall, including the P.F. Chang's China Bistro seen here. It welcomed first diners in April 1997.
Photo from Google Maps
As an unwritten law states, a shopping complex must be renovated every 10 years, else it will loose favor with the (fickle) buying public. In the late 2010s LAKESIDE was given a 10 million dollar makeover.
Drawing from https://sizeler.com / Sizeler Thompson Brown Architects
The Food Court, a circa-1990 fixture, was given a 21st century-style upgrade.
Drawing from https://sizeler.com / Sizeler Thompson Brown Architects
LAKESIDE CENTER, 2019. The Cheesecake Factory (in dark gray) was dedicated in June 2014. A vacant Linens 'n Things, in the mall's northern periphery, morphed into Dick's Sporting Goods. By this time, LAKESIDE CENTER has cemented its position as the preeminent New Orleans shopping mall. It eclipsed two former rivals. BELLE PROMENADE MALL closed in 2000 and was razed in 2002. LAKE FOREST PLAZA shut down in 2005 and was bulldozed in 2007.
LAKESIDE CENTER
Veterans Memorial and North Causeway Boulevards
Jefferson Parish (Metairie), Louisiana
The first shopping mall in the Bayou State was built on 52 acres, situated 6 miles northwest of the New Orleans Central Business District. The area, within unincorporated Jefferson Parish, is referred to as Metairie ["met-uh-ree"].
LAKESIDE CENTER was designed by Charles R. Colbert and developed by New Orleans real estate entrepreneur Paul Kapelow. Encompassing approximately 415,000 leasable square feet, the complex opened for business, with thirteen initial stores, on March 24, 1960. The open-air venue was anchored by a 2-level (110,000 square foot), New Orleans-based D.H. Holmes, 1-level (46,000 square foot), New Orleans-based Godchaux's and 1-level (43,200 square foot) J.C. Penney.
Among thirty-two charter inline stores were Paris Hats, Hausmann's Jewelers, Turntable Records, Jean's Hosiery, Werlein's For Music, Lakeside Toys, Walgreen Drug, S.S. Kresge and T G & Y 5 & 10's, a Winn-Dixie supermarket and Holloway House Cafeteria.
The General Cinema Corporation Lakeside Cinema I & II was built in the mall's northwest parking area and showed first features on August 4, 1967. The venue was reconfigured as a 4-screen operation in 1974 and as a "5-screener" in 1978.
Several major shopping centers were built in the LAKESIDE CENTER trade area over the ensuing years. OAKWOOD CENTER {8.9 miles southeast, in Jefferson Parish-Terrytown} opened in August 1966. CLEARVIEW MALL {1.3 miles southwest, in Jefferson Parish-Metairie} was dedicated in August 1969.
There would soon be two fully-enclosed shopping centers in the LAKESIDE trade area. It was imperative that the complex be rebuilt into a fully-enclosed mall. A roofing renovation was done, with the newly-air-conditioned shopping hub dedicated on June 3, 1968. The New York City-based Feil Organization acquired the mall in 1970.
A fourth Greater New Orleans mall, LAKE FOREST PLAZA {10.7 miles northeast, in New Orleans}, held its grand opening in September 1974. The 1980s brought two more major shopping venues. BELLE PROMENADE MALL {9 miles southeast, in Jefferson Parish-Marrero}, was completed in October 1983. THE ESPLANADE {5.3 miles west, in Kenner} began business in October 1985.
The next LAKESIDE CENTER expansion brought the (51,000 square foot) East Mall. Built on the east facade of LAKESIDE CENTER, this twenty-store addition was dedicated on October 15, 1981. Godchaux's was shuttered in March 1987. Its space was divided into ten tenant spaces. A second mall within a mall, known as Lakeside Market Fair, opened in December 1987.
Veterans Memorial and North Causeway Boulevards
Jefferson Parish (Metairie), Louisiana
The first shopping mall in the Bayou State was built on 52 acres, situated 6 miles northwest of the New Orleans Central Business District. The area, within unincorporated Jefferson Parish, is referred to as Metairie ["met-uh-ree"].
LAKESIDE CENTER was designed by Charles R. Colbert and developed by New Orleans real estate entrepreneur Paul Kapelow. Encompassing approximately 415,000 leasable square feet, the complex opened for business, with thirteen initial stores, on March 24, 1960. The open-air venue was anchored by a 2-level (110,000 square foot), New Orleans-based D.H. Holmes, 1-level (46,000 square foot), New Orleans-based Godchaux's and 1-level (43,200 square foot) J.C. Penney.
Among thirty-two charter inline stores were Paris Hats, Hausmann's Jewelers, Turntable Records, Jean's Hosiery, Werlein's For Music, Lakeside Toys, Walgreen Drug, S.S. Kresge and T G & Y 5 & 10's, a Winn-Dixie supermarket and Holloway House Cafeteria.
The General Cinema Corporation Lakeside Cinema I & II was built in the mall's northwest parking area and showed first features on August 4, 1967. The venue was reconfigured as a 4-screen operation in 1974 and as a "5-screener" in 1978.
Several major shopping centers were built in the LAKESIDE CENTER trade area over the ensuing years. OAKWOOD CENTER {8.9 miles southeast, in Jefferson Parish-Terrytown} opened in August 1966. CLEARVIEW MALL {1.3 miles southwest, in Jefferson Parish-Metairie} was dedicated in August 1969.
There would soon be two fully-enclosed shopping centers in the LAKESIDE trade area. It was imperative that the complex be rebuilt into a fully-enclosed mall. A roofing renovation was done, with the newly-air-conditioned shopping hub dedicated on June 3, 1968. The New York City-based Feil Organization acquired the mall in 1970.
The first physical expansion had been done in the mid-1960s. Holmes Lakeside added a third floor, which was completed in April 1965. The store now encompassed 172,500 square feet. Godchaux's built a 9,000 square foot addition onto their store, with its re-dedication held on August 16, 1973.
Holmes Lakeside was enlarged -for a second time- with a 3-level western addition. When re-dedicated, on April 2, 1974, the store encompassed 275,000 square feet. A West Mall concourse was created, that was anchored by a 2-level (154,700 square foot) J.C. Penney. This full-line store, which replaced the mall's dry-goods-only Penney's, welcomed first shoppers on November 5, 1975.
The original J.C. Penney was reconfigured as the twenty-store Promenade Mall. This mall within a mall was inaugurated in June 1977. With its completion, LAKESIDE CENTER housed 100 stores and services.
A fourth Greater New Orleans mall, LAKE FOREST PLAZA {10.7 miles northeast, in New Orleans}, held its grand opening in September 1974. The 1980s brought two more major shopping venues. BELLE PROMENADE MALL {9 miles southeast, in Jefferson Parish-Marrero}, was completed in October 1983. THE ESPLANADE {5.3 miles west, in Kenner} began business in October 1985.
The next LAKESIDE CENTER expansion brought the (51,000 square foot) East Mall. Built on the east facade of LAKESIDE CENTER, this twenty-store addition was dedicated on October 15, 1981. Godchaux's was shuttered in March 1987. Its space was divided into ten tenant spaces. A second mall within a mall, known as Lakeside Market Fair, opened in December 1987.
D.H. Holmes was rebranded by Dillard's in May 1989. The store, which had expanded into adjacent inline space, now encompassed 297,900 square feet. The next major mall remodeling was in motion by August. The 20 million dollar project refurbished all common area, added a northeast parking garage and installed a 12-bay Food Court in existing space.
LAKESIDE CENTER now encompassed approximately 742,700 leasable square feet, with a directory of 130 stores. The complex suffered exterior damage in August 2005, as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Fortunately, the mall's interior was left intact. Within 2 months, half of its stores had re-opened.
Construction commenced on another mall expansion in 2006. A southwest parking garage was completed in October 2007. Work got underway on a 3-level (228,000 square foot) Macy's -and an adjacent southeast parking structure- in November 2007. The southeast garage was dedicated in September 2008, with Macy's holding its grand opening on October 25th.
In the 2010s, LAKESIDE CENTER was still owned and operated by the Feil Organization, The mall encompassed approximately 1,182,500 leasable square feet. There are 104 retail spaces and seventeen outparcel stores and services. The complex maintained its position as preeminent shopping mall in Greater New Orleans.
To keep LAKESIDE CENTER in the top spot, a 10 million dollar renovation was done between 2017 and 2019. The project included a Food Court and common area face lift, as well as the installation of new skylights, lighting, decorative columns and soft seating. A freestanding Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar welcomed first diners on October 30, 2017. Spanish fashion retailer Zara dedicated their (34,700 square foot) mall store on October 18, 2018.
Sources:
The New Orleans Advocate
The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana)
"Dual Anchor Shopping Centers 1952-1965" / Richard Longstreth
Tulane School of Architecture / Francine Stock
https://feil.com / The Feil Organization
https://neworleanscitybusiness.com
http://www.roofline.com / Hayden Building Maintenance Corporation
https://www.labelscar.com
https://www.cinematreasures.org
http://movie-theatre.org / Mike Rivest
"Lakeside Center" article on Wikipedia
In the 2010s, LAKESIDE CENTER was still owned and operated by the Feil Organization, The mall encompassed approximately 1,182,500 leasable square feet. There are 104 retail spaces and seventeen outparcel stores and services. The complex maintained its position as preeminent shopping mall in Greater New Orleans.
To keep LAKESIDE CENTER in the top spot, a 10 million dollar renovation was done between 2017 and 2019. The project included a Food Court and common area face lift, as well as the installation of new skylights, lighting, decorative columns and soft seating. A freestanding Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar welcomed first diners on October 30, 2017. Spanish fashion retailer Zara dedicated their (34,700 square foot) mall store on October 18, 2018.
Sources:
The New Orleans Advocate
The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana)
"Dual Anchor Shopping Centers 1952-1965" / Richard Longstreth
Tulane School of Architecture / Francine Stock
https://feil.com / The Feil Organization
https://neworleanscitybusiness.com
http://www.roofline.com / Hayden Building Maintenance Corporation
https://www.labelscar.com
https://www.cinematreasures.org
http://movie-theatre.org / Mike Rivest
"Lakeside Center" article on Wikipedia
New Orleans' Oakwood Center
The second major shopping hub in Greater New Orleans was also the region's first fully-enclosed retail complex. The first stores in OAKWOOD CENTER opened for business between April and October of 1966. This trademark was used to promote the original facility.
Graphic from the Interchange Realty Company
The second major shopping hub in Greater New Orleans was also the region's first fully-enclosed retail complex. The first stores in OAKWOOD CENTER opened for business between April and October of 1966. This trademark was used to promote the original facility.
Graphic from the Interchange Realty Company
OAKWOOD CENTER was anchored by locally-owned D.H. Holmes. Holmes Oakwood, which was the fifth branch in the chain, originally encompassed 99,200 square feet. The 2-story store included two restaurants, a Public Auditorium and freestanding Car Care Center.
Drawing from the D.H. Holmes Company, Limited
OAKWOOD CENTER TENANTS 1966:
D.H. HOLMES (with The Potpourri restaurant, Beauty Salon, freestanding Holloway House Cafeteria [opens May 1967] and freestanding Car Care Center) / SEARS (with French Quarter Coffee House, Pet Shop, Fine Fur Department, Beauty Salon and freestanding Auto Center) / S.H. KRESS 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / WINN-DIXIE supermarket / Allens Shoes / Bank of the South / Barricini Candy / Barnett's Furniture / Florsheim Shoes / Goldring's / Gus Mayer ladies' & childrens ready-to-wear / Hardy Shoes / Hausmann's Jewelers / K & B Drug (with luncheonette) / Kinney Shoes / Miller-Wohl ladies' wear / National Shirt Shops / Oakwood Barber Shop / Oakwood Cinema I & II (outparcel) [opens August 1967] / Paris Hats / Steins / Stevens Store for Men / The Magi Gift Shop / Werlein's For Music / Zale's Jewelers
A major expansion was done between August 1990 and March 1994. Dillard's built a new store, which replaced a rebranded D.H. Holmes. An extended South Wing was anchored by Maison Blanche. Now officially promoted with its original name, OAKWOOD CENTER encompasses approximately 1,087,800 leasable square feet and houses 106 stores and services. Free parking is provided for 4,500 autos.
In August 2005, the mall was severely damaged and vandalized as a result of Hurricane Katrina. The common area section was closed for nearly 2 years. This rendering depicts the interior of OAKWOOD CENTER as it would appear post-restoration.
Drawing from www.ggp.com / General Growth Properties
A circa-2009 site plan finds the mall in a transitional stage. The central section (in light gray) had been decimated. It was totally rebuilt and retenanted. A closed-off and abandoned West Wing and Mervyn's store would sit idle for over 8 years.
OAKWOOD CENTER TENANTS 2009:
SEARS (with Coffee House, Beauty Salon and freestanding Auto Center) / J.C. PENNEY / DILLARD'S / 1000 tc. / Accessories 2 Go / Aeropostale / Aldo / American Eagle Outfitters / AT&T Mobility / The Avenue / Bag It / Baker's Shoes / Bank of Louisiana / Bath & Body Works / Best Image / Bico Australia / Blush / Browz 'N Lashez / Cafe' du Monde / Candles Connection / Champs Sports / Charlotte Russe / Chick-fil-A / Claire's / Discount Connections / Ebony's Lace Wigs / Elite Too / Eyemasters / Fame / Famous Wok / Finish Line / Foot Action / Foot Locker / XXI Forever / Game Stop / GNC / Gold Factory / Good Deal Wireless / Gordon's Jewelers / Great American Cookie Company / iSupply / It's A Wrap / iWrapz / Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office / Journeys Shoes / Kay Jewelers / Kids Foot Locker / Lady Foot Locker / Lids / Luciano's Pizzeria / Men's Wearhouse & Tux / Motherhood Maternity / Mr. Goldman / New York & Company / New In Style / New Orleans Original Daiquiris / New Pro Cell / Nouveau / NYS / Oakwood Nails & Spa / Old Navy / Om Smoke / Payless ShoeSource / Perfume Outlet / Philly's Steakhouse / Popcorn Parlor / Premier Dead Sea / Radio Shack / Regis Salons / Shoe MGK / Silver Connection / Smoothie King / Solar Whitening / Sprint-Nextel / Strausie's CZ Jewelry / Subway / The 6 Scents / The Children's Place / The Ice Age / The Shoe Department / T-Mobile / Torrid / Treasures / Trendz (Coming Soon) / Underground Station / Verizon / Victoria's Secret / Wet Seal / Zales Jewelers
The Mervyn's chain was in a retail retreat from Louisiana when the hurricane hit. As a result, the store never re-opened. The original restoration plan for the west end of OAKWOOD CENTER proposed that all damaged structures be knocked down and replaced by an open-air Streetscape. This never happened.
Drawing from www.ggp.com / General Growth Properties
The damaged West Wing was eventually rebuilt in its original, enclosed mall configuration. Likewise, the moribund Mervyn's was thoroughly renovated. It re-opened, as a Dick's Sporting Goods, in October 2013.
Photo from Wikimedia / "Nfrogmation of New Orleans"
In a circa-2014 layout, the restored West Wing is indicated in light gray. It houses the aforementioned Dick's Sporting Goods, a relocated Old Navy, and Rue 21, Dress Barn, Carters and Ulta Beauty. With all recent modifications, the gross leasable area of OAKWOOD CENTER stands at 907,100 square feet, with a retail roster of eighty-one stores and services.
We conclude our OAKWOOD CENTER excursion with 2020s photos of the mall's interior. Here, we see the entry of the 9-bay Food Court. Vendors include Auntie Anne's Pretzels, Hibachi Hut and Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers.
Photo from Brookfield Properties
In a farther-out view of the East Wing, we see the Food Court entry, Wet Seal, Aldo Shoes, Shoe Department Encore and Madsoulz.
Photo from Brookfield Properties
The mall lost one of four anchors as a result of Sears' retail apocalypse. The store, which anchored OAKWOOD CENTER for over 50 years, shut down in March 2017. It was replaced by a 3.6.5. apparel store in early 2024.
Photo from https://southernretail.blogspot.com
OAKWOOD MALL
West Bank Expressway / US 90 and Terry Parkway
West Bank Expressway / US 90 and Terry Parkway
Jefferson Parish (Terrytown), Louisiana
The second shopping mall in -or around- The Big Easy was developed by the Interchange Realty Company, a consortium of New Orleans investors. The complex was designed by Curtis & Davis Architects & Engineers, also of New Orleans. OAKWOOD CENTER was built on a 68.5-acre tract located 4 miles southeast of the New Orleans Central Business District. The site, on the West Bank of the Mississippi, was in an unincorporated section of Jefferson Parish known as Terrytown.
The single-level facility, which was the first fully-enclosed mall in Greater New Orleans, encompassed approximately 691,600 leasable square feet. Its first operational store, a 2-level (189,600 square foot) Sears, opened for business on April 13, 1966. A 2-level (99,200 square foot), New Orleans-based D.H. Holmes was dedicated on August 1, 1966. By October of the same year, twenty-four stores were in operation.
Charter OAKWOOD CENTER tenants included Allens Shoes, Goldring's, K & B Drug, Gus Mayer, Steins, McKenzie Pastry Shoppe, a Winn-Dixie supermarket and (26,000 square foot) S.H. Kress 5 & 10. The General Cinema Corporation Oakwood Cinema I & II showed first features on August 4, 1967. Built in the southeastern periphery of the mall, it opened in conjunction with an identical theater at the LAKESIDE CENTER mall.
Major shopping venues in the vicinity of OAKWOOD included the aforementioned LAKESIDE CENTER (1960) {8.9 miles northwest, in Jefferson Parish-Metairie} and CLEARVIEW MALL (1969) {10.1 miles northwest, also in Jefferson Parish-Metairie}. A second West Bank shopping hub, BELLE PROMENADE MALL {4.2 miles southwest, in Jefferson Parish-Marrero}, was dedicated in 1983.
Meanwhile. a major renovation and expansion was being plotted that would extend the existing East and South Wings. This project would be completed in two stages and enlarge the shopping facility from 793,000 square feet to over 1 million.
The first phase, consisting of a 2-level (175,000 square foot) Dillard's, was dedicated on October 9, 1991. Now vacant, the old Holmes-Dillard's building was sectioned into inline stores. The Lower Level accommodated American Eagle Outfitters, Express, Kirkland's and Sam Goody Music. A (35,000 square foot) Marshalls set up shop in the Upper Level.
Ground was broken for a second phase South Wing expansion in March 1993. A 2-level (157,000 square foot) Maison Blanche, and twenty-five inline stores, were dedicated on March 10, 1994. Planning for a fifth anchor department store was underway by 1995.
Chicago's General Growth Properties acquired the holdings of the Rouse Company in November 2004. As a result, the shopping hub was added to the GGP portfolio. Housing 124 stores and services, OAKWOOD CENTER had become one of the most upscale shopping venues in the Crescent City.
Unfortunately, the shopping center was devastated as a result of Hurricane Katrina, in August 2005. The structure was not damaged so much by the storm and flooding but was looted and set on fire in the aftermath. Eighty percent of the stores were damaged by smoke and water.
One third of the mall was demolished, with 95 million dollars spent on its reconstruction. Sears became the first store to re-open, in early 2006, with Dillard's returning in late 2006 and Penney's in late 2007. Mervyn's did not re-open. A mall-wide re-grand re-opening was held on October 19, 2007.
The mall's West Wing, vacant and closed to the public since 2005, was finally rebuilt in 2012. New stores, such as Rue 21, Ulta Beauty and Dress Barn, opened, along with a relocated Old Navy. Three of these stores had exterior entrances, which formed a small Streetscape on the mall's southwest facade.
Mervyn's, which had been sitting empty since being closed by Hurricane Katrina, was renovated. It re-opened, as a Dick's Sporting Goods, on October 13, 2013. Sears shuttered their OAKWOOD CENTER store on March 26, 2017.
Brookfield Property Partners, based in Hamilton, Bermuda, acquired a share of General Growth Properties in 2016. In August 2018, Brookfield established 100 percent ownership of the corporation. Hence, OAKWOOD CENTER became part of the Brookfield retail center portfolio.
Sources:
The Times- Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana)
http://southernretail.blogspot.com
The single-level facility, which was the first fully-enclosed mall in Greater New Orleans, encompassed approximately 691,600 leasable square feet. Its first operational store, a 2-level (189,600 square foot) Sears, opened for business on April 13, 1966. A 2-level (99,200 square foot), New Orleans-based D.H. Holmes was dedicated on August 1, 1966. By October of the same year, twenty-four stores were in operation.
Charter OAKWOOD CENTER tenants included Allens Shoes, Goldring's, K & B Drug, Gus Mayer, Steins, McKenzie Pastry Shoppe, a Winn-Dixie supermarket and (26,000 square foot) S.H. Kress 5 & 10. The General Cinema Corporation Oakwood Cinema I & II showed first features on August 4, 1967. Built in the southeastern periphery of the mall, it opened in conjunction with an identical theater at the LAKESIDE CENTER mall.
Major shopping venues in the vicinity of OAKWOOD included the aforementioned LAKESIDE CENTER (1960) {8.9 miles northwest, in Jefferson Parish-Metairie} and CLEARVIEW MALL (1969) {10.1 miles northwest, also in Jefferson Parish-Metairie}. A second West Bank shopping hub, BELLE PROMENADE MALL {4.2 miles southwest, in Jefferson Parish-Marrero}, was dedicated in 1983.
The first physical expansion at OAKWOOD CENTER added a third floor to the existing Holmes Oakwood unit. The project, completed in October 1974, increased the size of the store to 148,800 square feet.
Maryland's James Rouse Company acquired OAKWOOD CENTER in August 1982. They initiated an interior face lift in September 1983. A Food Court, installed in a vacant Kress store, opened for business on August 1, 1984. A new name was also bestowed on the complex. Henceforth, it would be officially promoted as OAKWOOD MALL.
Maryland's James Rouse Company acquired OAKWOOD CENTER in August 1982. They initiated an interior face lift in September 1983. A Food Court, installed in a vacant Kress store, opened for business on August 1, 1984. A new name was also bestowed on the complex. Henceforth, it would be officially promoted as OAKWOOD MALL.
A second OAKWOOD expansion added a 2-level (82,000 square foot) Mervyn's to the west end of the mall. This store welcomed first shoppers on November 28, 1986. Stores in the D.H. Holmes chain were rebranded by Dillard's in May 1989. An official mall name change -back to OAKWOOD CENTER- was adopted in August 1991.
Meanwhile. a major renovation and expansion was being plotted that would extend the existing East and South Wings. This project would be completed in two stages and enlarge the shopping facility from 793,000 square feet to over 1 million.
The first phase, consisting of a 2-level (175,000 square foot) Dillard's, was dedicated on October 9, 1991. Now vacant, the old Holmes-Dillard's building was sectioned into inline stores. The Lower Level accommodated American Eagle Outfitters, Express, Kirkland's and Sam Goody Music. A (35,000 square foot) Marshalls set up shop in the Upper Level.
A 2-level (125,000 square foot) J.C. Penney would be added northwest of Maison Blanche and open in the fall of 1997. This plan was eventually abandoned. With the acquisition of Mercantile Stores by Dillard's, in 1998, the Maison Blanche at OAKWOOD CENTER was shuttered. J.C. Penney leased the vacant building and opened for business on February 18, 1999.
Chicago's General Growth Properties acquired the holdings of the Rouse Company in November 2004. As a result, the shopping hub was added to the GGP portfolio. Housing 124 stores and services, OAKWOOD CENTER had become one of the most upscale shopping venues in the Crescent City.
Unfortunately, the shopping center was devastated as a result of Hurricane Katrina, in August 2005. The structure was not damaged so much by the storm and flooding but was looted and set on fire in the aftermath. Eighty percent of the stores were damaged by smoke and water.
One third of the mall was demolished, with 95 million dollars spent on its reconstruction. Sears became the first store to re-open, in early 2006, with Dillard's returning in late 2006 and Penney's in late 2007. Mervyn's did not re-open. A mall-wide re-grand re-opening was held on October 19, 2007.
The mall's West Wing, vacant and closed to the public since 2005, was finally rebuilt in 2012. New stores, such as Rue 21, Ulta Beauty and Dress Barn, opened, along with a relocated Old Navy. Three of these stores had exterior entrances, which formed a small Streetscape on the mall's southwest facade.
Mervyn's, which had been sitting empty since being closed by Hurricane Katrina, was renovated. It re-opened, as a Dick's Sporting Goods, on October 13, 2013. Sears shuttered their OAKWOOD CENTER store on March 26, 2017.
Brookfield Property Partners, based in Hamilton, Bermuda, acquired a share of General Growth Properties in 2016. In August 2018, Brookfield established 100 percent ownership of the corporation. Hence, OAKWOOD CENTER became part of the Brookfield retail center portfolio.
Sources:
The Times- Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana)
http://southernretail.blogspot.com
http://www.therousecompany.com (Website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
www.ggp.com / General Growth Properties (Website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
www.ggp.com / General Growth Properties (Website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
https://www.brookfieldproperties.com / Brookfield Properties
https://www.oakwoodcenter.com
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://movie-theatre.org / Mike Rivest
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://movie-theatre.org / Mike Rivest
"Oakwood Center" and "Mercantile Stores: articles on Wikipedia
Central Louisiana's Alexandria Mall
The city of Alexandria, Louisiana was named after Alexandria, Eqypt, which was named for its founder, Alexander the Great. The original mall included a statue of the venerated Greek king, which was depicted in the mall logo.
Graphic from Broadhead & Associates
J.C. Penney anchored the original shopping hub with a 132,000 square foot location. At the time, the store included a freestanding -14,000 square foot- Penney's Auto Center. The ALEXANDRIA MALL Penney's was (and is) the largest store in the complex.
The city of Alexandria, Louisiana was named after Alexandria, Eqypt, which was named for its founder, Alexander the Great. The original mall included a statue of the venerated Greek king, which was depicted in the mall logo.
Graphic from Broadhead & Associates
J.C. Penney anchored the original shopping hub with a 132,000 square foot location. At the time, the store included a freestanding -14,000 square foot- Penney's Auto Center. The ALEXANDRIA MALL Penney's was (and is) the largest store in the complex.
In its original incarnation, ALEXANDRIA MALL spanned approximately 565,700 leasable square feet and contained fifty-five stores and services. Parking was provided for 2,400 autos. The fully-enclosed complex was officially dedicated in August 1973.
ALEXANDRIA MALL TENANTS 1973:
J.C. PENNEY (with Snack Bar, Beauty Salon and freestanding Auto Center) / SEARS (with Coffee House and attached Auto Center) / BEALLS / WEISS-GOLDRING / WELLAN'S / ABC Kiddie Shops / Alexandria Mall Cinema I & II / Baker's Shoes / Breslers 33 Flavors ice cream / Caplan's Men's Store / El Chico Restaurant / GNC / Gallenkamp Shoes / Gordon's Jewelers / Guarantee Bank & Trust Company / Gus Caplan / Hardy Shoes / J. Howard, Limited men's wear / J. Wilson Catalog Showroom (outparcel) / Jarman Shoes / K & B Drug / Karmelkorn / Kinney Shoes / Land of Oz video arcade / Lerner Shops ladies' wear / Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio / Morrow's Nut House / Motherhood Maternity / Musicland records / Newsom Music Center / Orange Bowl snack bar / Pearle Optical / Peoples Shoes / Piccadilly Cafeteria / Rapides Bank & Trust Company / Shipley Do-nut & Pattie Cake Shops / Spencer Gifts / Sweeney & Company Jewelers / The Brittany restaurant / The Castle / The Hanger apparel / The Shoe Salon / Waldenbooks / Wicks 'N Sticks
A southeastern expansion (in light gray) was completed in 1986. The project added over 300,000 square feet of selling space. ALEXANDRIA MALL now encompassed around 869,700 leasable square feet and housed 100 stores. An expanded parking area now accommodated 5,000 autos.
Arkansas' Dillard's chain anchored the Southeast Wing expansion along with California's Mervyn's.
Photo from https://www.dillards.com
The Limited was a Southeast Wing tenant for several years. The store was shuttered in January 2017.
Photo from www.ggp.com / General Growth Properties
American Eagle Outfitters operates a store in the connecting corridor between the original mall and Southeast Wing.
Photo from www.ggp.com / General Growth Properties
Kirkland's, a home decor store, opened an ALEXANDRIA MALL location in October 2015. It assumed space previously occupied by Piccadilly Cafeteria (a charter mall tenant).
Photo from www.kirklands.com
Conn's HomePlus, a furniture and appliance emporium, opened in February 2016. Conn's was installed in space originally leased as a Wellan's junior department store. Over the ensuing years, Stein Mart, Sam Goody and a Slinkee's Family Fun Center also operated out of the store space. The Conn's store went dark in October 2024.
Photo from https://www.conns.com
In 2020, the mall's northwest anchor is vacant, as Sears pulled up stakes in September 2018. A Stage store (originally Bealls and then Beall-Ladymon) shut down in early 2019. Since the time of this site plan, the mall has also lost Bed, Bath & Beyond and Burlington (September 2024).
ALEXANDRIA MALL
Memorial and Masonic Drives
Alexandria, Louisiana
Located near the geographic center of the state, ALEXANDRIA MALL was developed by Meridian, Mississippi-based Broadhead & Associates. The fully-enclosed shopping hub was situated on a 105-acre site, located 1.5 miles southwest of downtown Alexandria. Ground was broken for the project in March 1972.
Encompassing approximately 565,700 leasable square feet, the mall was entirely a single-level structure. It was anchored by a 1-level (80,000 square foot) Sears and 1-level (131,800 square foot) J.C. Penney. Three Bayou State retailers served as junior anchors; a (60,000 square foot), Alexandria-based Weiss-Goldring, (32,000 square foot), Alexandria-based Wellan's and (18,500 square foot), Shreveport-based Bealls ["belz"].
The mall was officially dedicated, with thirty stores, on August 1, 1973. Sears and J.C. Penney opened at this time. When fully-leased, ALEXANDRIA MALL housed fifty-five retail spaces. Charter tenants included Peoples Shoes, Newsom Music Center, J. Howard Limited men's wear, Lerner Shops, Gordon's Jewelers, Musicland, K & B Drug and a Piccadilly Cafeteria.
Memorial and Masonic Drives
Alexandria, Louisiana
Located near the geographic center of the state, ALEXANDRIA MALL was developed by Meridian, Mississippi-based Broadhead & Associates. The fully-enclosed shopping hub was situated on a 105-acre site, located 1.5 miles southwest of downtown Alexandria. Ground was broken for the project in March 1972.
Encompassing approximately 565,700 leasable square feet, the mall was entirely a single-level structure. It was anchored by a 1-level (80,000 square foot) Sears and 1-level (131,800 square foot) J.C. Penney. Three Bayou State retailers served as junior anchors; a (60,000 square foot), Alexandria-based Weiss-Goldring, (32,000 square foot), Alexandria-based Wellan's and (18,500 square foot), Shreveport-based Bealls ["belz"].
The mall was officially dedicated, with thirty stores, on August 1, 1973. Sears and J.C. Penney opened at this time. When fully-leased, ALEXANDRIA MALL housed fifty-five retail spaces. Charter tenants included Peoples Shoes, Newsom Music Center, J. Howard Limited men's wear, Lerner Shops, Gordon's Jewelers, Musicland, K & B Drug and a Piccadilly Cafeteria.
A (59,400 square foot), Baton Rouge-based H.J. Wilson Catalog Showroom was a northeast outparcel. The General Cinema Corporation Alexandria Mall Cinema I & II (an in-mall venue) showed its first features December 25, 1973.
Two major shopping hubs were located in close proximity to ALEXANDRIA MALL. MACARTHUR VILLAGE {.7 mile northwest, in Alexandria} had opened for business in November 1957. SOUTHGATE MALL {.5 mile west, also in Alexandria} held its grand opening in August 1972.
A major expansion of ALEXANDRIA MALL got underway in May 1985. This project added 328,000 square feet in a single-level Southeast Wing. The addition was officially dedicated August 13, 1986. A 1-level (102,000 square foot), Little Rock-based Dillard's and 19-unit The Market Place Food Court opened at this time. A 1-level (63,000 square foot), Hayward, California-based Mervyn's was dedicated on October 17 of the same year.
The freestanding General Cinema Corporation Alexandria 6 megaplex replaced the in-mall twin cinema, which had been shuttered and demolished as part of the expansion of the shopping complex. The Alexandria 6 was located on a pad southeast of the mall proper and showed its first features on September 19, 1986.
As part of the renovation, the existing structure was refurbished with new skylights and flooring. With all modifications completed, ALEXANDRIA MALL encompassed approximately 869,700 leasable square feet and housed 100 stores and services.
The Wellan's store was shuttered on July 25, 1989. It was expanded into adjacent area and retenanted by a (38,000 square foot), Jacksonville, Florida-based Stein Mart and (12,000 square foot) Sam Goody. Stein Mart opened for business in October 1995. Bealls had been rebranded as Beall-Ladymon in the mid-1980s. In April 1995, the store morphed into a Houston-based Stage.
Mervyn's closed in February 2006. Soon after, Weiss-Goldring, a 1973 charter tenant, moved to a substantially downsized store, in a portion of the old J.C. Penney Auto Center. In mid-2006, the mall was given a interior face lift. This was followed by the opening of a new Burlington Coat Factory, in the vacant Mervyn's, in March 2007.
J.C. Penney took a major hit from Hurricane Gustav in September 2008 and was closed for repairs for several months. The refurbished store resumed business in July 2009. It was joined by new tenants The Children's Place, Buckle, McAlister's Deli and a Slinkee's Family Fun Center (in a vacated Stein Mart space). The old Weiss-Goldring spot was retenanted by Bed, Bath & Beyond.
Two major shopping hubs were located in close proximity to ALEXANDRIA MALL. MACARTHUR VILLAGE {.7 mile northwest, in Alexandria} had opened for business in November 1957. SOUTHGATE MALL {.5 mile west, also in Alexandria} held its grand opening in August 1972.
A major expansion of ALEXANDRIA MALL got underway in May 1985. This project added 328,000 square feet in a single-level Southeast Wing. The addition was officially dedicated August 13, 1986. A 1-level (102,000 square foot), Little Rock-based Dillard's and 19-unit The Market Place Food Court opened at this time. A 1-level (63,000 square foot), Hayward, California-based Mervyn's was dedicated on October 17 of the same year.
The freestanding General Cinema Corporation Alexandria 6 megaplex replaced the in-mall twin cinema, which had been shuttered and demolished as part of the expansion of the shopping complex. The Alexandria 6 was located on a pad southeast of the mall proper and showed its first features on September 19, 1986.
As part of the renovation, the existing structure was refurbished with new skylights and flooring. With all modifications completed, ALEXANDRIA MALL encompassed approximately 869,700 leasable square feet and housed 100 stores and services.
The Wellan's store was shuttered on July 25, 1989. It was expanded into adjacent area and retenanted by a (38,000 square foot), Jacksonville, Florida-based Stein Mart and (12,000 square foot) Sam Goody. Stein Mart opened for business in October 1995. Bealls had been rebranded as Beall-Ladymon in the mid-1980s. In April 1995, the store morphed into a Houston-based Stage.
Mervyn's closed in February 2006. Soon after, Weiss-Goldring, a 1973 charter tenant, moved to a substantially downsized store, in a portion of the old J.C. Penney Auto Center. In mid-2006, the mall was given a interior face lift. This was followed by the opening of a new Burlington Coat Factory, in the vacant Mervyn's, in March 2007.
J.C. Penney took a major hit from Hurricane Gustav in September 2008 and was closed for repairs for several months. The refurbished store resumed business in July 2009. It was joined by new tenants The Children's Place, Buckle, McAlister's Deli and a Slinkee's Family Fun Center (in a vacated Stein Mart space). The old Weiss-Goldring spot was retenanted by Bed, Bath & Beyond.
In the mid-2020s, ALEXANDRIA MALL is owned by the New York City-based Radiant Partners, Limited Liability Company and managed by Chicago's Jones Lang LaSalle. Among the shopping center's forty-four stores and services are Ulta Beauty, The Shoe Department, It's Fashion Metro, Michaels and Hibbett sports.
Sources:
The Alexandria Daily Town Talk
http://www.alexandria-louisiana.com / "Alexandria Retrospective"
http://www.ggp.com / General Growth Properties (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://www.alexandriamall.com
"Alexandria Mall" and "Dillard's articles on Wikipedia
Sources:
The Alexandria Daily Town Talk
http://www.alexandria-louisiana.com / "Alexandria Retrospective"
http://www.ggp.com / General Growth Properties (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://www.alexandriamall.com
"Alexandria Mall" and "Dillard's articles on Wikipedia
Baton Rouge's Cortana Mall
One of five original "anchor boxes" at CORTANA MALL, this store opened, as a Dillard's, in September 1976. It became a Birmingham-based Parisian in December 1998, Jackson-based McRae's in September 1999 and Houston-based Foley's in March 2001. The store operated under a Macy's nameplate between September 2006 and March 2016.
Dedicated in November 1960, the BON MARCHE REGIONAL CENTER was originally an open-air, strip-type complex. It was the first major shopping center in -or around- the Capital City.
Graphic from Commercial Properties Development Corporation
Photo from http://boncarrecenter.com
The 75 million dollar CORTANA MALL opened as the Pelican State's largest shopping complex. At the time of this 1978 depiction, the mammoth mall spanned approximately 1,386,300 leasable square feet and housed over 100 stores and services. Free parking was provided for 8,000 autos.
One of the mall's five entrances; this one connected into the Southeast (Sears) Wing. Looming in the distance is the northeast anchor of the complex, which operated under several nameplates over the years.
Photo from "Jamie"
Exterior signage promoting CORTANA MALL.
Photo from "Jamie"
A late '90s aerial view of the CORTANA complex, looking toward the southeast. Mervyn's is on the left, with Service Merchandise at front center.
Photo from www.mjwomack.com / Milton J. Womack, Incorporated
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