Louisiana Boardwalk

Louisiana Boardwalk, also known as Louisiana Boardwalk Outlets, is an open-air shopping and entertainment complex in Bossier City, Louisiana. The development is positioned along the Red River corridor between Horseshoe Bossier City and Margaritaville Resort Casino, placing it within a broader leisure and gaming district that attracts both local residents and visitors to the Shreveport-Bossier area. The complex opened in May 2005 and was developed as a large-scale destination combining outlet retail, conventional stores, restaurants, and entertainment. Its reported footprint is approximately 500,000 square feet, making it one of Louisiana’s larger outlet-oriented retail centers. Rather than functioning solely as a collection of discount stores, the property was designed as a pedestrian-oriented destination with restaurants, cinemas, and family entertainment intended to lengthen visitor stays. At various points, the tenant mix has included national apparel and specialty retailers, Bass Pro Shops, Banana Republic, Justice, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Haggar outlet stores, and Regal Cinemas. The center has also featured restaurants such as Hooters, Joe’s Crab Shack, Fuddruckers, Sushiko, Saltgrass Steakhouse, and IHOP. An IMAX component and broadcasting facilities associated with Cumulus Broadcasting further broadened the property’s entertainment and media profile. Later reported openings included Under Armour, Rocket Fizz, Express, Pepper Palace, and Dollar Tree, although tenant occupancy has changed over time. A distinctive customer proposition has been Louisiana’s sales-tax refund program, which the complex has promoted for eligible purchases. The reported arrangement provided refunds in cash for purchases up to $500 and by check for amounts above $500, subject to applicable rules and procedures. This feature supported the center’s appeal to visitors from outside Louisiana and complemented its outlet-shopping positioning. In March 2008, the property introduced a youth curfew under which visitors younger than 16 could not remain at the center after 8 p.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. The policy reflected an effort to manage evening operations and the behavior of younger visitors in a mixed retail and entertainment environment. The center faced substantial pressure after the COVID-19 crisis. Reported customer attendance fell significantly, and a number of stores subsequently closed. By May 2023, many tenant spaces were reported to be vacant or no longer operating, with Nike identified as a particularly notable departure. The available reference material does not establish that the property itself has permanently closed, and its current tenant roster, ownership, financial performance, and operating status require verification. Louisiana Boardwalk therefore remains best characterized as a regional retail destination with a historically broad tenant base and a weakened post-pandemic occupancy position.

Louisiana Boardwalk was conceived as a large open-air retail and entertainment destination in Bossier City, Louisiana. Its location between Horseshoe Bossier City and Margaritaville Resort Casino placed the project within a concentrated hospitality, gaming, and tourism corridor near the Red River. Contemporary reporting described the development as part of a competitive expansion of shopping opportunities in the Bossier City area. The complex opened in May 2005. With an estimated 500,000 square feet of space, it combined outlet retail, restaurants, cinema, and family entertainment rather than relying on a single merchandise category. The original and early tenant roster included nationally recognized apparel and specialty retailers, Bass Pro Shops, Banana Republic, Justice, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Haggar outlets, and Regal Cinemas. Cumulus Broadcasting studios were also associated with the property. More than fifty stores, restaurants, and entertainment operations were reported, and the site included an IMAX offering. Louisiana Boardwalk’s business model depended on destination traffic as well as ordinary local shopping. Its restaurants included national and regional casual-dining concepts such as Hooters, Joe’s Crab Shack, Fuddruckers, Sushiko, Saltgrass Steakhouse, and IHOP. The property also promoted a sales-tax refund service for eligible purchases, offering cash refunds for purchases up to $500 and checks for larger qualifying amounts. This helped frame the center as a visitor-oriented retail destination, particularly for shoppers traveling from outside Louisiana. The property adjusted its operating policies as its evening entertainment role developed. On March 30, 2008, it introduced a curfew preventing people under 16 from remaining after 8 p.m. without a parent or guardian. The measure was a site-management rule rather than a product or corporate strategy change, and it reflected the operational challenges of managing a large mixed-use retail property with restaurants and evening entertainment. Over time, the tenant roster changed. Later reported additions included Under Armour, Rocket Fizz, Express, Pepper Palace, and Dollar Tree. As with most shopping centers, individual tenant openings and closures did not necessarily represent changes to the identity of the Louisiana Boardwalk brand, but they affected the center’s perceived variety and destination appeal. The property encountered more difficult conditions after the COVID-19 crisis. Available reference material states that visitor attendance dropped significantly and that stores began closing. By May 2023, many tenants were reported to have left, with Nike singled out as a notable closure. The supplied sources do not provide verified current ownership, revenue, occupancy, or a definitive closure date for the overall complex. Accordingly, the property’s long-term operating condition and present tenant mix remain areas for review.

• 2023

  Tenant departures are reported after the pandemic

  [1]Louisiana Boardwalken.wikipedia.org

  Reference material reported reduced attendance and numerous store closures by May 2023, including the departure of Nike.

• 2008

  Youth evening curfew takes effect

  [1]Louisiana Boardwalken.wikipedia.org

  The property began restricting unaccompanied visitors under 16 from remaining after 8 p.m.

• 2005

  Louisiana Boardwalk opens

  [1]Louisiana Boardwalken.wikipedia.org

  The approximately 500,000-square-foot open-air retail and entertainment complex opened in Bossier City in May, combining outlet stores, restaurants, cinema, and family-oriented attractions.

A regional open-air outlet and entertainment destination serving local shoppers, tourists, and visitors to the Bossier City casino and resort district.

• Apparel and specialty retail · 2005

  Outlet retail

  The center’s core offering has been a collection of outlet and value-oriented stores spanning apparel, footwear, sporting goods, toys, gifts, and specialty merchandise. Reported tenants over time included Banana Republic, Justice, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Haggar, Bass Pro Shops, Under Armour, Express, Pepper Palace, Rocket Fizz, Dollar Tree, and Nike.

• Restaurants · 2005

  Dining

  Louisiana Boardwalk has offered a broad restaurant mix designed to complement shopping and encourage visitors to spend extended periods at the property. Reported concepts have included Hooters, Joe’s Crab Shack, Fuddruckers, Sushiko, Saltgrass Steakhouse, and IHOP, though the current roster may differ.

• Entertainment · 2005

  Cinema and IMAX entertainment

  Cinema entertainment, including a reported Regal Cinemas and IMAX presence, formed part of the complex’s destination-oriented proposition. These facilities helped distinguish the property from a conventional outlet strip by adding an evening and leisure component.

• 2008

  Introduce an evening youth curfewStrategy

  Background

  As a large retail, dining, and entertainment destination, the property operated into the evening and needed rules governing younger visitors.

  Action taken

  Starting March 30, 2008, visitors under 16 were not permitted to remain after 8 p.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

  Aftermath

  The curfew became part of the property’s operating policy. The available sources do not quantify its effect on attendance, sales, or tenant performance.

  Source

• 2023

  Post-pandemic attendance decline contributes to tenant closures[1]Louisiana Boardwalken.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Reference material reported that customer attendance declined substantially after the COVID-19 crisis and that many stores had closed by May 2023, including Nike.

• 2008

  Louisiana Boardwalk introduces an evening curfew for younger visitors[1]Louisiana Boardwalken.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  Beginning March 30, Louisiana Boardwalk restricted unaccompanied visitors under 16 from remaining at the property after 8 p.m.

• 2005

  Louisiana Boardwalk opens as a major retail and entertainment complex[1]Louisiana Boardwalken.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Louisiana Boardwalk development opened in May 2005 in Bossier City with outlet stores, restaurants, entertainment facilities, and more than fifty retail and dining tenants reported across the complex.

1. 1Louisiana Boardwalken.wikipedia.org