Beyond Vacant Stores: Unlocking the Louisiana Boardwalk’s Hidden Potential
Every week, it seems like another store is closing at the Louisiana Boardwalk. A couple of months ago it was Hooters. More recently, it was Joe's Crab Shack and Sweet Caroline's. Nike and several others shut down in the last couple years.
So, what can be done to change things at the Boardwalk in Bossier?
Dark Clouds Over the Boardwalk Might be Parting
It seems it might be dark days for the once bright jewel Bossier City side on the Red River. There have been recent closings including Joe’s Crab Shack and Sweet Caroline’s Dueling Piano Bar. And though there are a lot of vacant stores in the property, it just might the darkest hour before the dawn.
There is still a lot of potential packed into the once thriving shopping and dining destination.
Mayor Chandler's Fight for the Future
Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler told KEEL News on Thursday morning, he’s not giving up on the property. “That property is so valuable, when you first come to Bossier, that’s what you see.”
Mayor Chandler explained the city doesn’t own the Boardwalk, but rather owns the parking garage and the streets. The Boardwalk is owned by Todd Routh of Routh Properties LLC, who purchased the property in 2022.
The mayor told KEEL News he and his staff have met with Boardwalk General Manager Jeremy Slaughter as well as John O’Shaughnessy of the management firm the Commercial Retail Group, but Chandler says, “We don’t want to meet with them anymore, we want to talk with the owner and that’s what we’re trying to demand a meeting so we can find out his goals and his ideas for the Boardwalk.”
Glimmers of Hope on the Horizon
The mayor is still hopeful someone will take the reigns and take advantage of the unlimited opportunities that exist for the property. He pointed out there are some exciting success stories that have already shown massive growth for that part of Bossier City.
The new golf complex Chasing Aces is set to unveil their new $19 million property offering a state of the art driving range, a putting and batting complex, and even a 9 hole course. Chandler also pointed out the success of the Eastbank District, just a couple blocks away from the Boardwalk property. “There’s always something going on down in Eastbank, they always have something down in that common area, the Bossier Arts Council that has stuff down there, BeauJax has stuff down there, and Flying Heart had “Kegs & Corks” down there and they had a record number of people there.”
READ MORE: Bossier's Chasing Aces: Grand Opening Date & First Look Pics
When asked about new opportunities that might be on the horizon, Chandler replied: “There are some ideas for the Boardwalk... I have not heard exactly from this guy that I could say exactly what he wants to put down there, I believe I could, but I hate to say something I wasn’t supposed to say. But there is something big that could really brighten the Boardwalk up.” Chandler said even Gayle Benson (owner of the New Orleans Saints) came and looked at the property at one point. “I wish she would’ve gotten it! But I would love for her to come back again.”
So don’t give up on the Louisiana Boardwalk just yet, because Bossier City Mayor Chandler and his team haven’t.
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Gallery Credit: Maps.Google.com