New Orleans Centre

New Orleans Centre was a downtown shopping mall in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It opened in 1988 with Lord & Taylor and Macy's as its two principal anchor stores. The three-story complex was designed around a large central concourse covered by a prominent glass skylight, and it included space for approximately 150 stores, although only about 50 retailers were present at opening. At its peak, the mall had roughly 100 stores, but it never achieved full occupancy and encountered financial and leasing difficulties soon after opening. The center's location near the Louisiana Superdome—later known as the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and now Caesars Superdome—gave it a potential connection to downtown tourism, sports, conventions, and major events. Its food court and restaurants included venues oriented toward the stadium, while the mall's internal circulation and skylit architecture were intended to create a substantial indoor retail environment. In practice, the property struggled to maintain a sufficiently strong tenant mix. Lord & Taylor closed in the early 2000s, and the closure also resulted in the loss of the mall's Poydras Street entrance associated with that anchor. By the mid-2000s, underused space had been repurposed for media production. Tribune Broadcasting leased much of the nearly vacant third floor in 2005 for studios used by WGNO, New Orleans' ABC-affiliated television station. This adaptive use illustrated the center's ongoing vacancy problems but temporarily gave the upper levels a non-retail function. The television operation later moved to the Galleria building in Metairie. Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans Centre in 2005. The mall did not reopen after the disaster, ending its life as an operating shopping center. Its abandoned interior was subsequently used as a filming location for The Final Destination, including a shopping sequence involving collapsing escalators. The mall's skylights also provided views of nearby downtown buildings, including the structure later known as Benson Tower. In 2009, the mall-and-tower complex was purchased by Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints. The property was then partially demolished and redeveloped. The former mall site became associated with Champions Square, a sports-oriented outdoor venue featuring New Orleans Saints and Louisiana sports murals and hosting event-related activity. Part of the former Macy's building was adapted into a VIP area. New Orleans Centre therefore shifted from an unsuccessful retail development into a component of a sports and entertainment complex.

New Orleans Centre was developed as a major downtown retail project and opened in 1988. Its principal anchors were Lord & Taylor and Macy's, and the building was planned to accommodate about 150 stores. Only around 50 stores opened with the center, and the tenant count later reached approximately 100 at its high point. The property had three stories, a large glass skylight above the central concourse, and a food court and restaurants oriented toward the Louisiana Superdome. Its location was intended to benefit from nearby sports, convention, tourism, and downtown activity. The mall did not achieve stable full occupancy. Its performance weakened soon after opening, and the center's retail proposition became increasingly difficult to sustain. Lord & Taylor closed during the early 2000s, eliminating one of the original anchors and closing the Poydras Street entrance connected with that store. Vacancy became especially visible on the third floor. In 2005, Tribune Broadcasting leased much of that underused level to create studios for WGNO, New Orleans' ABC affiliate. This use provided an important non-retail tenant but did not restore the mall's broader retail business. WGNO later moved to the Galleria building in Metairie. Hurricane Katrina flooded the mall in 2005. Unlike some damaged New Orleans commercial properties, New Orleans Centre never reopened after the storm. The vacant building subsequently attracted attention as a film location. The Final Destination used the interior for a shopping scene involving escalators, and views through the building's skylights showed nearby downtown architecture. In 2009, Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints, purchased the mall-and-tower complex. The property was quoted at approximately 400,000 square feet at the time. A portion of the mall was demolished and the site was incorporated into the redevelopment known as Champions Square. The new use emphasized sports events and New Orleans Saints-related activity rather than conventional shopping. The former Macy's structure was partly adapted as a VIP area, while the former mall area gained Saints and Louisiana sports murals. New Orleans Centre consequently ended as a defunct shopping mall but continued to influence the downtown site through its integration into a sports and entertainment complex.

• 2009

  Complex is purchased by Tom Benson

  [1]New Orleans Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The mall-and-tower complex is acquired by New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson and subsequently enters partial demolition and redevelopment.

• 2005

  Third floor is adapted for WGNO studios

  [1]New Orleans Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Tribune Broadcasting leases substantially vacant third-floor space to the city's ABC-affiliated station, WGNO.

• 2005

  Hurricane Katrina floods the mall

  [1]New Orleans Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The property is flooded during Hurricane Katrina and does not reopen as a shopping center.

• 1988

  New Orleans Centre opens

  [1]New Orleans Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The downtown mall opens with Lord & Taylor and Macy's as anchor stores, space for approximately 150 stores, and about 50 retailers at launch.

A downtown, stadium-adjacent shopping center intended to combine department stores, specialty retail, dining, and visitor-oriented activity near the Louisiana Superdome.

• Retail property · 1988

  Shopping mall retail

  New Orleans Centre provided enclosed, multi-level retail space for department stores and specialty shops. The development was planned for roughly 150 stores, opened with about 50, and reached approximately 100 at its peak. Its retail mix was anchored initially by Lord & Taylor and Macy's, but persistent vacancy limited the center's commercial performance.

• Food service · 1988

  Food court and stadium-facing restaurants

  The mall included a large food court and several restaurants positioned to face the Louisiana Superdome. These facilities complemented the center's intended role as a downtown destination serving shoppers, sports spectators, visitors, and nearby workers.

• Sports and entertainment property

  Event and sports venue redevelopment

  After the mall closed and the complex changed ownership, part of the former site was redeveloped into Champions Square. The later use focused on sports events, Saints-related activity, Louisiana sports murals, and hospitality space rather than conventional mall retail.

• 2009

  Acquisition of the mall-and-tower complexM&A

  Background

  New Orleans Centre had remained closed since Hurricane Katrina and was no longer operating as a retail mall.

  Action taken

  Tom Benson purchased the complex and moved the property toward partial demolition and sports-oriented redevelopment.

  Aftermath

  The former mall site became associated with Champions Square, while part of the former Macy's building was converted into a VIP area.

  Source

• 2005

  Repurpose vacant third-floor space for television productionStrategy

  Background

  The mall had substantial unused space on its third floor as its retail business struggled with vacancy.

  Action taken

  Tribune Broadcasting leased the space for studios used by WGNO.

  Aftermath

  WGNO later moved to the Galleria building in Metairie, and the mall itself did not reopen after Hurricane Katrina.

  Source

1. 1New Orleans Centreen.wikipedia.org