Industry News
Around town
"We are thrilled that we are finally realizing the vision and objective that Mayor Moon Landrieu, creator of the DDD, and one of our first chairs, Joe Canizaro, had 40 years ago. This is evident in the kudos from our stakeholders and the over $6 billion in investment in Downtown today. "
Kurt Weigle, president and CEO of the Downtown Development District – created by
the Louisiana Legislature in 1974 as the nation’s first assessment-based business improvement district (BID). The DDD celebrates 40 years this year.
Downtown New Orleans – At A Glance
• Received $6 billion in investment since 2005
• Received $800 million in real estate development assisted by
LA Historic Tax Credit, one of the DDD’s hallmark initiatives
• 43 national retailers were added in the last 12 months, including
Neiman Marcus, Tiffany & Co., and The Art of Shaving
• 142,764 people are Downtown on an average weekday
• The area features 176 restaurants and 32 sidewalk cafes
• Almost 20% of “Vacant and Underutilized Properties” were
either redeveloped or under development in the last year
• There are 5,100 residents in the Downtown core and 40,000 in the Greater Downtown area
• Downtown features 3,571 residential units, with 2,000 units in the pipeline
• Existing units are at 98% residential occupancy
• Rents are rising past $2.00 per square foot
– Source: Downtown Development District
Port of New Orleans Hits Cruise Milestone
For the first time in its history, the Port of New Orleans cruise terminals handled more than 1 million cruise passengers in one year. In 2014, embarkations and disembarkations totaled 1,014,325, an increase of more than 2.6 percent over 2013, and a fourth straight record year for the Port.
“This is a great milestone for the Port of New Orleans,” says Port President and CEO Gary LaGrange. “The total represents a 180-percent increase in cruise passengers since 2001 – the year the Port began in earnest marketing itself as a premier cruise destination.”
According to Cruise Lines International Association, direct industry expenditures in Louisiana totaled $406 million, supported 8,129 jobs and accounted for $323 million in total income last year alone.
Allegiant Air Expands to New Orleans
Beginning Feb. 4, Allegiant Air, a Las Vegas-based, all-jet passenger airline, will begin offering nonstop service to and from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Indianapolis, Columbus and Orlando Sanford International Airport.
According to airline spokesperson Justin Ralenkotter, the introduction of service was specifically timed to capitalize on Mardi Gras.
In 2014, Aviation Week magazine ranked Allegiant its “Top-Performing Airline in North America” for the third consecutive year.
The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk Going Strong
From its grand opening in May 2014 through the end of the year, The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk welcomed more than 2.5 million visitors. The mall is now officially 100 percent committed with retailers.
Basic Demographic Info of Riverwalk Shoppers
• 58% of shoppers at The Riverwalk live in the New Orleans area (locals).
• 84% of non-local shoppers are from the U.S.
• More than 65% of all shoppers are women.
Retailer-specific Stats (at 6 months):
• Coach has had to remodel its store to accommodate demand.
• Smoothie King has served more than 33,562 smoothies.
• CROCS – more than 15,000 pairs of shoes sold
• Fat Tuesday – more than 53,000 frozen daiquiris sold
• Relax Center – 2,468 massages sold
• Sunglass Hut – 4,836 sunglasses sold
• Tommy Bahama – sold 13,676 Hawaiian-style shirts (both men’s and women’s) and 2,722 pieces of swimwear.
Famous Footwear
• 19,157 customers
• 23,319 pairs of shoes sold
• 38,877 accessories sold
Recent Openings
New Orleans Creole Cookery Opens in French Quarter
On Jan. 12, New Orleans Creole Cookery opened at 510 Toulouse St. The restaurant was created by A.J. Tusa, whose father opened the original Messina’s restaurant on the corner of Chartres and Iberville streets in 1945.
The restaurant features a white-tablecloth, fine-dining space called “Toulouse Lautrec,” as well as an oyster bar, courtyard, and bar with a full menu of handcrafted cocktails that includes “The Ghost Trilogy,” – a drink with three shots named in honor of the building’s resident ghosts.
New Orleans Creole Cookery is open daily from 11:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.
ZukaBaby Parenting Boutique Expands to Metairie
ZukaBaby, a natural-parenting boutique located in Uptown New Orleans since 2009, opened its second location at 3248 Severn Ave., in Metairie with a baby shower-themed grand opening Saturday, Jan. 24.
During the day of the opening, a portion of the sales from both ZukaBaby locations were donated to the Greater New Orleans Breastfeeding Awareness Coalition (GNOBAC), which promotes awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding in the lives of mothers, children and families, and promotes breastfeeding as the standard for optimal infant health and development.
In addition to ongoing natural-parenting classes and a cloth diaper exchange, the store’s new Metairie location features its own new addition – the “Nola Nesting Nursing Lounge” – a space that co-functions as a baby shower and private event venue.
