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"
