Oakwood Center

Oakwood Center is a regional shopping mall in Terrytown, Louisiana, on the West Bank of the Mississippi River in the New Orleans metropolitan area. Although its physical location is in Terrytown, its mailing address is associated with nearby Gretna, and the property serves shoppers from across the West Bank and surrounding New Orleans communities. The center opened in 1966 as Oakwood Mall, benefiting from the development and improved access that followed the opening of the Crescent City Connection across the Mississippi River. The property has historically operated as a conventional enclosed shopping center anchored by department stores and large-format retailers. Its anchor history has included D. H. Holmes, Dillard's, Mervyn's, Sears, JCPenney, and Dick's Sporting Goods. Local usage and some signage have continued to use the former Oakwood Mall name, although Oakwood Center is the principal contemporary identity. The tenant mix has also included national specialty retailers, restaurants, financial services, and a food pavilion. Oakwood Center suffered extensive damage during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. On August 31, the mall was heavily looted and set on fire, while flooding and related water damage affected much of the property. Nearly 80 percent of the stores reportedly sustained fire or water damage. The principal shopping areas were closed for demolition, reconstruction, and renovation. Several tenants, including Sears, Dillard's, Dollar Tree, Foot Locker, and the Bank of Louisiana, reopened before the full center returned to operation. The renovated mall substantially reopened on October 19, 2007, although the former Mervyn's wing did not immediately return to service. Forever 21 and Shoe Dept. Encore later occupied space associated with the former Marshalls and related redevelopment. In 2013, plans were confirmed to remove the Mervyn's wing and redevelop the area for Dick's Sporting Goods. The rebuilt and remodeled center was described as having more than 360,000 square feet of floor space, over 80 specialty shops, three sit-down restaurants, and a food pavilion of approximately 20,000 square feet. Sears remained one of the mall's major anchors until its closure in March 2017, following a national store-reduction announcement made in January of that year. The former Sears location subsequently became a vacant anchor space. The center's identified major anchors include Dick's Sporting Goods, Dillard's, JCPenney, Old Navy, and Shoe Dept. Encore, with the former Sears building remaining vacant according to the referenced material. Oakwood Center's positioning is therefore that of a community-serving regional mall combining department stores, sporting goods, apparel, footwear, restaurants, and specialty retail rather than a standalone consumer-goods brand.

Oakwood Center began operation in 1966 under the name Oakwood Mall. Its development reflected the rapid expansion of the West Bank of the Mississippi River after the opening of the Crescent City Connection, which improved transportation links between the West Bank and the rest of the New Orleans area. The mall was established as a conventional enclosed regional shopping destination, combining department-store anchors with smaller specialty shops. Over time, the center's anchor portfolio changed as department-store businesses opened, relocated, or left the market. D. H. Holmes was among the former anchors. Its location was converted to a Dillard's store in 1989, with Dillard's subsequently moving into a new building in 1991. A Marshalls store later occupied the former D. H. Holmes space. The property also gained Mervyn's and Sears as major anchors, alongside other national and regional retailers. Oakwood Center's most disruptive event occurred after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. On August 31, the property was heavily looted and set on fire. The mall also experienced substantial water damage, and nearly 80 percent of its stores were reported to have suffered fire or water-related damage. The principal retail areas were closed while damaged portions were demolished and the property underwent an extensive rebuilding and renovation program. Some businesses returned before the entire center reopened. Sears and Dillard's resumed operations, as did Dollar Tree, Foot Locker, and the Bank of Louisiana. Oakwood Center completed its main reopening on October 19, 2007, though the Mervyn's wing did not reopen as part of that initial restoration. The post-Katrina configuration included more than 360,000 square feet of retail space, over 80 specialty shops, three sit-down restaurants, and a food pavilion of approximately 20,000 square feet. The center continued to adjust its tenant and anchor strategy after reconstruction. Forever 21 and Shoe Dept. Encore replaced Marshalls in the relevant retail area. In 2013, the redevelopment of the unused Mervyn's wing was confirmed, with demolition planned to make way for an approximately 82,000-square-foot Dick's Sporting Goods store. This change shifted part of the mall's anchor profile toward sporting goods and active-lifestyle retail. Sears later became another major vacancy. On January 5, 2017, Sears announced a nationwide program involving the closure of 104 stores, including its Oakwood Center location. The store closed in March 2017, leaving its large anchor building vacant. The center's identified major operating anchors include Dick's Sporting Goods, Dillard's, and JCPenney, with Old Navy and Shoe Dept. Encore also identified among the current retailers in the referenced material. Oakwood Center remains a regional retail property whose identity is tied to department stores, specialty shopping, food service, and its role in the commercial life of the New Orleans West Bank.

• 2017

  Sears location closed

  [1]Oakwood Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The Sears anchor closed in March after being included in the retailer's nationwide closure program.

• 2013

  Dick's Sporting Goods redevelopment announced

  [1]Oakwood Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The former Mervyn's wing was slated for demolition and replacement by a Dick's Sporting Goods store.

• 2007

  Post-Katrina reopening

  [1]Oakwood Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The rebuilt center completely reopened on October 19, 2007, except for the former Mervyn's wing.

• 2005

  Hurricane Katrina damage and closure

  [1]Oakwood Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Looting, fire, and water damage severely affected Oakwood Center, forcing a major reconstruction and temporary closure.

• 1991

  Dillard's moved to a new building

  [1]Oakwood Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Dillard's moved from the converted former D. H. Holmes space into a new building at the center.

• 1989

  D. H. Holmes location converted to Dillard's

  [1]Oakwood Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A former D. H. Holmes anchor location was converted to a Dillard's store.

• 1966

  Oakwood Mall opened

  [1]Oakwood Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The shopping center opened in Terrytown as Oakwood Mall, following increased West Bank development after the Crescent City Connection opened.

A regional enclosed shopping center serving the West Bank of the Mississippi River and the wider New Orleans metropolitan area, with department-store anchors, national specialty retailers, restaurants, and family-oriented shopping amenities.

• Shopping mall · 1966

  Regional shopping center

  Oakwood Center provides enclosed regional-mall space for department stores, national specialty retailers, restaurants, and services. The post-renovation property was described as containing more than 360,000 square feet of floor space, over 80 specialty shops, three sit-down restaurants, and a food pavilion of approximately 20,000 square feet.

• Anchor retailer · 2013

  Dick's Sporting Goods

  Dick's Sporting Goods became the principal replacement for the former Mervyn's wing following a redevelopment decision confirmed in 2013. The referenced material identifies the Oakwood Center store as approximately 82,000 square feet.

• Department store

  Dillard's

  Dillard's is one of Oakwood Center's major department-store anchors. The chain operated at the property following the replacement of a former D. H. Holmes location and returned before the center's complete post-Katrina reopening.

• Department store

  JCPenney

  JCPenney is identified among Oakwood Center's major current anchors. Its store provides broad department-store merchandise within the mall's regional retail mix.

• Apparel retailer

  Old Navy

  Old Navy is identified among the center's current major retailers, contributing family apparel and accessories to Oakwood Center's tenant mix.

• Footwear retailer

  Shoe Dept. Encore

  Shoe Dept. Encore is identified as a current Oakwood Center retailer and occupies space associated with the mall's post-reconstruction specialty-retail evolution.

• 2017

  Sears anchor closureOther

  Background

  Sears announced a nationwide plan to close 104 stores as part of a broader reduction in its store portfolio.

  Action taken

  The Sears store at Oakwood Center closed in March 2017.

  Aftermath

  The closure left a vacant anchor location at the shopping center.

  Source

• 2013

  Redevelop the former Mervyn's wing for Dick's Sporting GoodsStrategy

  Background

  The Mervyn's wing had not reopened after the Hurricane Katrina reconstruction, leaving a substantial portion of the property underused.

  Action taken

  The center confirmed plans to demolish the wing and create space for an approximately 82,000-square-foot Dick's Sporting Goods store.

  Aftermath

  The decision repositioned part of Oakwood Center toward sporting-goods and active-lifestyle retail.

  Source

• 2017

  Sears announced for closure at Oakwood Center[1]Oakwood Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy

  Sears was included in the retailer's nationwide store-closure plan announced on January 5, 2017. The Oakwood Center location closed in March 2017.

• 2013

  Mervyn's wing redevelopment was confirmed[1]Oakwood Centeren.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Plans were confirmed to demolish the former Mervyn's wing and redevelop the site for a Dick's Sporting Goods store.

• 2007

  Oakwood Center fully reopened after reconstruction[1]Oakwood Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The renovated shopping center completely reopened on October 19, 2007, apart from the former Mervyn's wing, which remained outside the initial reopening.

• 2005

  Oakwood Center suffered extensive damage after Hurricane Katrina[1]Oakwood Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The mall was heavily looted and set on fire on August 31, 2005, after Hurricane Katrina. Fire and water damage affected nearly 80 percent of the stores, prompting closure, demolition, and reconstruction of the main shopping areas.

1. 1Oakwood Centeren.wikipedia.org