The Esplanade

The Esplanade, also known as Esplanade Mall, was a suburban shopping mall in Kenner, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans in the United States. It opened in October 1985 and was developed by Cadillac Fairview. Over its lifetime the property changed hands several times, passing through the ownership of The Mills Corporation, Simon Property Group, Pacific Retail Capital Partners, and Kohan Retail Investment Group. Its anchor lineup evolved considerably, beginning with D. H. Holmes, Leon Godchaux, and Mervyn's, and later including Macy's, Dillard's, Target, and a Regal Cinemas multiplex. The mall was damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and closed temporarily, and it faced repeated anchor turnover and financial difficulties in the 2010s. It closed permanently after Hurricane Ida in 2021, and parts of the property were taken over by Jefferson Parish due to unpaid taxes. The mall's interior was featured in the first season of the Fox horror comedy Scream Queens.

The Esplanade was built and opened on October 9, 1985, in Kenner, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. Its original owners were Cadillac Fairview, and its original anchors were D. H. Holmes, Leon Godchaux, and Mervyn's. A Macy's was added in 1986, the first Macy's in Louisiana. Dillard's acquired the former D. H. Holmes anchor in 1989, and Dillard's Men took over the former Leon Godchaux space in 1992. In 2003, The Mills Corporation acquired the mall and planned to add new retail including two new anchors, Target and Bass Pro Shops, and a new movie theater, but the plan fell through as a result of financial difficulties. The mall closed in August 2005 after sustaining damage from Hurricane Katrina, reopening by October 2005. In 2006, Macy's closed its store in the Esplanade, but reopened in October 2008. Mervyn's closed in 2006 and the former Mervyn's anchor sat vacant until 2010. In July 2010, it was announced that the former Mervyn's anchor would be demolished. Since then, a 138,000 sq ft (12,800 m2) Target was built in its place, officially opening July 24, 2011. In late 2011, Dillard's Men's Store closed, and in February 2012, the other Dillard's location was converted into a clearance center, closing off the second floor of the store and blocking the second floor mall entrance to Dillard's. In March 2016, 3.6.5 By Image opened in the former Dillard's Men space. Macy's closed again in 2017 as part of a nationwide downsizing. Simon Property Group acquired the mall when it acquired The Mills Corporation in 2007, and owned it from mid-2007 until mid-September 2016, when Pacific Retail Capital Partners took over as a new owner. Pacific Retail Capital Partners owned the mall from September 2016 until June 2018, when Kohan Retail Investment Group bought it. Kohan Retail Investment Group owned the mall from June 2018 until August 2021, when it was used by the Kenner City Government as a temporary City Hall in the wake of Hurricane Ida. On October 5, 2020, Cineworld announced it would close all Regal, Cineworld, Picturehouse Cinemas, and Grand Cinemas locations in the US, UK, and Ireland temporarily. As of 2021, the mall owed various back taxes totaling $320,000. While investigating the back taxes, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana found that taxes had been missed on the empty Macy's in 1992, totaling an additional $480,000 owed. Parts of the mall went to tax sale but went unsold, and were taken over by Jefferson Parish. The Esplanade closed again due to Hurricane Ida in late 2021 and has permanently closed.

• 2021

  The mall is used by the Kenner City Government as a temporary City Hall after Hurricane Ida; it closes permanently in late 2021. Parts of the mall are taken over by Jefferson Parish due to unpaid taxes.

• 2020

  On October 5, 2020, Cineworld announces temporary closure of all Regal, Cineworld, Picturehouse Cinemas, and Grand Cinemas locations in the US, UK, and Ireland.

• 2018

  Kohan Retail Investment Group buys the mall in June 2018.

• 2017

  Macy's closes again as part of a nationwide downsizing.

• 2016

  3.6.5 By Image opens in the former Dillard's Men space in March 2016; Pacific Retail Capital Partners takes over as owner in mid-September 2016.

• 2012

  In February 2012, the remaining Dillard's is converted into a clearance center.

• 2011

  A 138,000 sq ft Target opens on July 24, 2011, in the former Mervyn's space; Dillard's Men's Store closes in late 2011.

• 2010

  It is announced in July 2010 that the former Mervyn's anchor will be demolished.

• 2008

  Macy's reopens in October 2008.

• 2007

  Simon Property Group acquires the mall through its acquisition of The Mills Corporation.

• 2006

  Macy's closes its store; Mervyn's closes, leaving its anchor vacant until 2010.

• 2005

  The mall closes in August 2005 after Hurricane Katrina damage and reopens by October 2005.

• 2003

  The Mills Corporation acquires the mall and plans new anchors Target and Bass Pro Shops plus a movie theater; the plan falls through due to financial difficulties.

• 1992

  Dillard's Men takes over the former Leon Godchaux space.

• 1989

  Dillard's acquires the former D. H. Holmes anchor.

• 1986

  A Macy's is added, the first Macy's in Louisiana.

• 1985

  The Esplanade opens on October 9, 1985, developed by Cadillac Fairview, with anchors D. H. Holmes, Leon Godchaux, and Mervyn's.

Suburban regional shopping mall serving the New Orleans metropolitan area.

• Dillard's Clearance Center

• Target

• Regal Grand Esplanade & GPX

• 3.6.5+ by image

• D. H. Holmes

• Leon Godchaux

• Dillard's Men

• Macy's

• Mervyn's

1. 1The Esplanade (Kenner, Louisiana) - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Esplanade (Kenner, Louisiana) - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Official websiteshoptheesplanade.com