Baton Rouge Developbits

[Antrell Williams]

Do y'all think we'll ever get an Ikea?? I not really sure what they're location criteria is but they seem to be popular and we seem to be getting quite a few chains over New Orleans, so..

New Orleans will get one. There's two universities here, 3 large ones in New Orleans, and loads of young professionals and hipsters moving to New Orleans. It will come.

[cajun]

New Orleans will get one. There's two universities here, 3 large ones in New Orleans, and loads of young professionals and hipsters moving to New Orleans. It will come.

Memphis, St Louis, and Nashville don't have one despite being a larger draw. BR and NOLA would have to be in the same market for it to work.

You think hipsters shop at IKEA? What kind of hipsters do you know?

Edited October 16, 2012 by cajun

[Antrell Williams]

New Orleans an Mobile were already on the map for IKEA. Hipsters/young professionals, what's the difference? lol (JK)

[steve3n8]

Two specialty boutiques move to Highland Place

Highland Place, the upscale shopping center on Highland Road near Perkins Road, has two new tenants—and they are both locally owned, specialty boutiques. Elle Apparel & Accessories, which caters to tweens and juniors with fashionable yet affordable dresses and apparel, opened earlier this week in a 1,038-square-foot space. Lukka, which will sell high-end women's shoes, clothing and accessories, is opening next month in a nearby 1,400-square-foot space. "The entrepreneurial spirit is still very much alive and well," says Mark Hebert, of Kurz & Hebert Commercial Real Estate, who inked the deals. "That area is particularly attractive because within a five-mile radius of that area you have the highest household income in the state." That demographic is, in part, what attracted Elle's owners, friends Debi Grymes and Laura Maestri, to the site. Grymes previously owned The Little House in Towne Center, which has been closed several years, while Maestri owned The Enchanted Closet on Lee Drive, which ceased doing business earlier this year. "This has been a dream of ours. It's something we've always wanted to do," says Grymes. "We think people will come to this location. We hope they will." —Stephanie Riegel

Businessreport.com

[steve3n8]

JuJu's Boutique to move into old Bellue's location on Jefferson

The void left in the Pearson's Travel World Luggage shopping center, on Jefferson Highway, by the departure of Bellue's in July will be filled in February with the opening of JuJu's Boutique, says JuJu's owner Sherri Duplantis. Jerry Pearson, owner of the shopping center, says he is renovating the 2,300-square-foot space that had been home to the Cajun delicatessen for the past seven years and could have it ready by Thanksgiving. But Duplantis, who opened her first JuJu's in Houma in October 2007, says she prefers to wait until Feb. 1 to open her first Baton Rouge location. She says it's more about waiting for the short winter season to pass and getting beyond the deep discounts shoppers expect after the holidays. "I just thought it would be better to start off with the spring merchandise instead of winter," says Duplantis. JuJu's also has a four-year-old location in Lafayette and on Thursday is opening a new location in Mandeville. Duplantis says she is a shopper of Towne Center and feels JuJu's will be a good fit in Baton Rouge at the nearby Pearson's Travel World Luggage center. Pearson agrees. "I feel very comfortable that JuJu's customer base will shop with us," Pearson says. Duplantis says JuJu's is a one-stop women's boutique with shoes, clothing and accessories, which makes customer service a high priority. "We try to be your stylist when you come in," Duplantis says. The store doesn't have a website, Duplantis says, but can be found on Facebook here. —Adam Pearson

Businessreport.com

[dan326]

I went in the new bookstore and while the actaul book portion is a little bigger, what they really expanded was the LSU paraphenalia section(most of the first floor).

[steve3n8]

City-parish signs agreement to buy former Woman's Hospital site for $10M

The city-parish has signed an agreement to purchase the former Woman's Hospital campus at Airline Highway and Goodwood Boulevard for $10 million, city-parish and hospital officials announced this afternoon. If and when the deal is finalized, the facility will be renovated into a new Public Safety Complex that will also serve as a new headquarters for the Baton Rouge Police Department. The sale of the 24-acre campus would include the hospital building, medical office building, support services building, materials management building, parking garage and all surface parking. In a statement, Mayor Kip Holden says the deal for the property, which had been listed for $19 million, is almost too good to pass up. "Preliminary estimates are that it could cost as much to convert the hospital to office space that can be used by the police department," Holden says, noting the facility would not house any prisoners. "But even if we spend a total of $20 million, that's a fraction of the cost of constructing a new headquarters facility." The existing police headquarters on Mayflower Street was constructed as a school in the 1930s, the city-parish says, and it was supposed to serve as a temporary headquarters when the Police Department moved there in 1989. The purchase proposal will be introduced on the Metro Council agenda Wednesday and will be taken up for consideration in January.

Businessreport.com

[Antrell Williams]

Thank God EKL did not move in.

[cajun]

Thank God EKL did not move in.

They got a great deal with OLOL partnership.

[Antrell Williams]

They got a great deal with OLOL partnership.

Can you elaborate or post a link?

[cajun]

Can you elaborate or post a link?

You know about LSU's partnership with OLOL to move services from EKl to OLOL. Think there is a thread about it.

Quadruple the number of residencies, a massive new ER, and a level 1 trauma center. The costs sharing saved the state and OLOL establishes itself as a training hospital and the entire region benefits from an better emergency center.

The old Woman's location wasn't setup for an ER. LSU would have had to build a very expensive hospital from the ground up to replace EKL had they not partnered with OLOL.

This move also pushed Tulane to obtain a similar deal at BR General Mid City, though much smaller in scope. Medical students will be able to complete their final two years of school and their residency in Baton Rouge if they want.

Edited December 8, 2012 by cajun

[Antrell Williams]

You know about LSU's partnership with OLOL to move services from EKl to OLOL. Think there is a thread about it.

Quadruple the number of residencies, a massive new ER, and a level 1 trauma center. The costs sharing saved the state and OLOL establishes itself as a training hospital and the entire region benefits from an better emergency center.

The old Woman's location wasn't setup for an ER. LSU would have had to build a very expensive hospital from the ground up to replace EKL had they not partnered with OLOL.

This move also pushed Tulane to obtain a similar deal at BR General Mid City, though much smaller in scope. Medical students will be able to complete their final two years of school and their residency in Baton Rouge if they want.

Now I remember. How do you think the prisoner care will be ironed out? I do remember hearing that it wasn't a part of the deal with the Lake.

[cajun]

Prisoner care is at another, more secure, facility.

I thought it would be at what is now the LSU clinic on Perkins road not far from Essen. I am probably wrong on that.

[LAWdesigns]

so much for this senerio.

 

Demolition ->Earl Long ->Baton Rouge General -> Woman's ->New Woman's

[itsjustme3]

New Orleans will get one. There's two universities here, 3 large ones in New Orleans, and loads of young professionals and hipsters moving to New Orleans. It will come.

lol. "Hipsters" don't shop at Ikea.

[Antrell Williams]

lol. "Hipsters" don't shop at Ikea.

My definition of hipsters includes people other than flannel wearers and coffee brewers.

[cajun]

Yuppies =/= hipsters, IMO, though there could be some overlap.

Obviously your own experience will vary.

I actually see hipsters as living out just another trend even though they hate it when you point that out. With that in mind, I could easily throw them in under a broad "yuppie" umbrella.

Edited December 19, 2012 by cajun

[Antrell Williams]

Yuppies =/= hipsters, IMO.

Obviously your own experience will vary.

Yeah I don't really have that detailed of a distinction.

[steve3n8]

Former Siegen Blockbuster site bought for golf center

As anyone who regularly hits the links will tell you, Baton Rouge has a lot of golf courses but not many golf retail outlets. That's why Lafayette businessman Benny Hopson is moving into the market with a new golf store that will not only sell apparel and clubs but also feature a game simulator and launch monitor. The store, Capital Golf, will be located at 8556 Siegen Lane in the building that formerly housed Blockbuster Video. Hopson acquired the property today for $1.1 million from Cedar Lake Inc. Drew Pearson of Waters & Pettit Commercial Real Estate represented Hopson, while Mark Hebert of Kurz & Hebert Commercial Real Estate represented Cedar Lake. "Lafayette has three major golf stores," says Hopson, whose son Lance Hopson is a Class A golf pro and will help run the local store. "Here, you have at least twice as many golfers as Lafayette but only two real golf stores, so we think there is a lot of opportunity." Hopson plans to do extensive renovations to the 6,500-square-foot store, which he hopes will be ready to open by early March. —Stephanie Riegel

Businessreport.com

 

 

 

Church of Scientology buys restaurant building on Airline

The Church of Scientology Mission of Baton Rouge has purchased a vacant restaurant building at 9716 Airline Hwy. "We need bigger facilities to accommodate our activities, and we like the architecture of that building," says Dexter Manuel, a spokesman for the local church, which closed the property deal with First-Citizens Bank & Trust Co. of North Carolina on Jan. 2. The sales price was $550,000, and Michelle Ruston was the broker. Built in 1980, the 13,000-square-foot building was originally Jack Sabin's restaurant. It later became the China Garden restaurant, and has also been home to other Chinese restaurants since, Ruston says. It has been vacant for about two years. "We're intending it to look better and be more functional than it was originally," Manuel says. "It's going to retain its Southern charm, but it's going to look better." The church could take up to a year renovating the building before moving in, Manuel says. It will be double the size of the church's current location at 9432 Common St. Manuel says the church has been based in Baton Rouge since 1984. —Adam Pearson

Businessreport.com

 

 

 

Sandwich shop planned for former Loft 3H space

By the time the St. Patrick's Day Parade rolls in mid-March, a new sandwich shop hopes to be open for business along the parade route, in the former retail space of Loft 3H in the Perkins Road overpass area. "I like that area; I think it has a good vibe," says Josh Priola, who, along with his wife, Melissa Priola, is planning to bring Street Breads to the Capital Region. The Priolas moved to Baton Rouge recently to expand with a second store, and possibly a third, after opening the original Street Breads two years ago in Lake Charles. "We're not a bakery; we're a sandwich shop," says Priola, noting that there will be 15 sandwiches on the menu, as well as quesadillas, salads and desserts. Street Breads will also have a limited wine list and selection of locally made beers. While the sandwiches are "culinary-minded," Priola says, the linchpin of Street Breads' menu is the artisan breads it uses from around the country, shipped partially baked and devoid of preservatives that often come in bread. "Really what I'm trying to source is: What is the best bread available on the market?" Priola says. While the retail space will require slight renovations, Priola says the bulk of the work in the building will require installing new kitchen equipment. Priola says he plans to open March 16, the day that the 27th annual "Wearin' of the Green" St. Patrick's Day parade rolls. "We've got a catering rig. I'm hoping at the very least we can set it up out there," Priola says. —Adam Pearson

Businessreport.com

[jefften10]

Former Siegen Blockbuster site bought for golf center

As anyone who regularly hits the links will tell you, Baton Rouge has a lot of golf courses but not many golf retail outlets. That's why Lafayette businessman Benny Hopson is moving into the market with a new golf store that will not only sell apparel and clubs but also feature a game simulator and launch monitor. The store, Capital Golf, will be located at 8556 Siegen Lane in the building that formerly housed Blockbuster Video. Hopson acquired the property today for $1.1 million from Cedar Lake Inc. Drew Pearson of Waters & Pettit Commercial Real Estate represented Hopson, while Mark Hebert of Kurz & Hebert Commercial Real Estate represented Cedar Lake. "Lafayette has three major golf stores," says Hopson, whose son Lance Hopson is a Class A golf pro and will help run the local store. "Here, you have at least twice as many golfers as Lafayette but only two real golf stores, so we think there is a lot of opportunity." Hopson plans to do extensive renovations to the 6,500-square-foot store, which he hopes will be ready to open by early March. —Stephanie Riegel

Businessreport.com

 

 

 

Church of Scientology buys restaurant building on Airline

The Church of Scientology Mission of Baton Rouge has purchased a vacant restaurant building at 9716 Airline Hwy. "We need bigger facilities to accommodate our activities, and we like the architecture of that building," says Dexter Manuel, a spokesman for the local church, which closed the property deal with First-Citizens Bank & Trust Co. of North Carolina on Jan. 2. The sales price was $550,000, and Michelle Ruston was the broker. Built in 1980, the 13,000-square-foot building was originally Jack Sabin's restaurant. It later became the China Garden restaurant, and has also been home to other Chinese restaurants since, Ruston says. It has been vacant for about two years. "We're intending it to look better and be more functional than it was originally," Manuel says. "It's going to retain its Southern charm, but it's going to look better." The church could take up to a year renovating the building before moving in, Manuel says. It will be double the size of the church's current location at 9432 Common St. Manuel says the church has been based in Baton Rouge since 1984. —Adam Pearson

Businessreport.com

 

 

 

Sandwich shop planned for former Loft 3H space

By the time the St. Patrick's Day Parade rolls in mid-March, a new sandwich shop hopes to be open for business along the parade route, in the former retail space of Loft 3H in the Perkins Road overpass area. "I like that area; I think it has a good vibe," says Josh Priola, who, along with his wife, Melissa Priola, is planning to bring Street Breads to the Capital Region. The Priolas moved to Baton Rouge recently to expand with a second store, and possibly a third, after opening the original Street Breads two years ago in Lake Charles. "We're not a bakery; we're a sandwich shop," says Priola, noting that there will be 15 sandwiches on the menu, as well as quesadillas, salads and desserts. Street Breads will also have a limited wine list and selection of locally made beers. While the sandwiches are "culinary-minded," Priola says, the linchpin of Street Breads' menu is the artisan breads it uses from around the country, shipped partially baked and devoid of preservatives that often come in bread. "Really what I'm trying to source is: What is the best bread available on the market?" Priola says. While the retail space will require slight renovations, Priola says the bulk of the work in the building will require installing new kitchen equipment. Priola says he plans to open March 16, the day that the 27th annual "Wearin' of the Green" St. Patrick's Day parade rolls. "We've got a catering rig. I'm hoping at the very least we can set it up out there," Priola says. —Adam Pearson

Businessreport.com

Interesting that they want to compete with Jimmy Johns, Magpie and Frankies. Best of luck to them, but phew, not sure about that spot.

[buckett5425]

Street Breads and Jimmy Johns are on two different levels. Feel free to compare their reviews on Urbanspoon. http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/191/1574202/restaurant/Street-Breads-Lake-Charles

 

http://streetbreads.com/

 

Street Breads has a cool vibe and the Perkins Road Overpass area is perfect for them, they will add a lot to that corridor. I know the owner and have eaten at the one in Lake Charles several times, they will do very well. 

[MykD]

I've heard about this place. Much higher end than JJ's. Jimmy John's is filling the fast/simple/quality niche while they seem to be more focused on putting a gourmet/high end spin on a deli concept. I don;t know if they have plans to go national and franchise their concept, but if they do, this is the place to prove it's merit.

[steve3n8]

Lobdell land bought for new charter school

A Minnesota-based developer has purchased a 52,000-square-foot office building on Lobdell Avenue for $1.3 million, and has plans to turn it into a charter school. Ryan Companies US Inc. purchased the building at 1900 N. Lobdell Ave. on Monday and will renovate the building for Charter Schools USA, which plans to house a new school on the 6-acre campus, says Steve Legendre of Beau Box Commercial Real Estate, who represented Ryan in the deal. Jonathan Starns of Donnie Jarreau Real Estate represented the seller, Educational Management Services. The previous tenants at the property, which include Baton Rouge College, have been relocated, Legendre says. Charter Schools USA is taking applications for students in grades K-6 and plans to open the Baton Rouge Charter Academy at Mid City in August, according to the group's website. The site says the school will teach kindergarten through sixth-grade students during the 2013-14 school year, with seventh- and eighth-grade classes to be added "in subsequent years." Charter Schools USA says it manages 48 schools across the country. The group has a rendering of the Baton Rouge school that you can check out here. —April Castro

Read more from Business Report here: http://businessreport.com/section/daily-reportAM#ixzz2OHfYQitP

[jefften10]

http://www.wafb.com/story/21811858/cortana-mall-sold-for-6-million

 

Interesting

[dan326]

" News alert: Cortana Mall sold

By April Castro

Published Mar 27, 2013 at 5:00 pm (Updated Mar 27, 2013)

Cortana Mall has been purchased for $6 million by a

group of investors who say they want to "bring it back

to life." The group, Cortana Mall

LA, was organized in Louisiana

last month. The group's parent company, Nevada-based Moonbeam

Equities, has purchased at least seven other underperforming shopping

centers around the country over the past year, says Sandra O'Clock, who

handles acquisitions and transitions for Moonbeam. She says the group

views the acquisition as a long-term investment. "We're going to do

whatever we need to do to turn the project around," O'Clock says. The sale

was finalized Monday and O'Clock says the group has not yet developed

plans. But, she says, the mall could see new tenants and a renovation.

"We're still evaluating the project,” she says. “We need to get to know the

community a little better.” The Woodmont Company will manage the mall,

she says." businessreport.com

So I know this doesn't mean anything yet, but I think if we keep being hopeful the universal mechanisms will keep turning in its favor.