Bossier City Faces Mall Meltdown: Is the Pierre Bossier Mall Dying?

Bossier City Faces Mall Meltdown: Is the Pierre Bossier Mall Dying?

Bossier City, Louisiana is seeing something quite unsettling at the Pierre Bossier Mall, and it’s not just the flickering lights. If you haven’t visited the mall in a while, you might be in for a bit of a shock; many stores have closed up shop, and the overall vibe feels much more like an abandoned ghost town than the bustling retail hub it used to be.

Gone but Not Forgotten

In just the last few months, familiar names like Lids, Footlocker, Zumiez, Hot Topic, J&W Music, and Nail Works have all left the premises. The scene is pretty telling—KTBS recently counted around 32 empty store spaces in the mall! The food court is starting to resemble a popular restaurant closing their doors at 9 p.m.; almost everyone has cleared out except for one dessert shop. Just last month, the Asian restaurant shut its doors, following a string of closures including Subway and a pizza shop. The pulse of the mall is surely fading.

Regular Patrons Speak Up

One person who has seen it all is Dennis McCoy, a regular mall-goer and walker. He didn’t hold back when sharing his thoughts, saying, “It is, it is dying.” It’s a perspective backed by more than just anecdotes; the mall’s ceiling has gaping holes adorned with water stains from leaks that have gone unfixed for far too long. When it rains, buckets are hastily placed around the mall to catch the steady drips, making it look more like a warehouse than a fun shopping destination.

Long-Time Employees Feel the Impact

Then there’s Ryan Solice, the manager of Hot Topic, who has been part of the mall for close to two decades. As he packed up merchandise, he spoke candidly about the struggles faced by the mall. “Over the years, no AC, that’s been about a four-year struggle. We have roof leaks, a lot,” he lamented. The undeniable decline in foot traffic has affected business; Ryan shared that on weekends, they once raked in around $4,000 or $5,000, but now they’re just hoping for about $1,500. That’s a significant drop, to say the least.

Manager’s Frustration

Ryan isn’t alone in his frustrations. Many store managers are grappling with declining sales, leading to discussions about rent hikes. McCoy pointed out, “They are going up on the rent,” and shop managers echoed that sentiment, hoping for more reasonable rates in light of dwindling traffic.

The Big Picture: Who’s to Blame?

A lot is riding on the property’s owner, Mehran Kohansieh, known as Mike Kohan in business circles. He has amassed a portfolio of nearly 50 malls across the country, including the Mall St. Vincent in Shreveport, which has faced similar issues. Described by some critics as a “mall scavenger,” his acquisition of these once-thriving properties raises eyebrows. Local sources paint a grim picture of his management style, often likening it to that of a slum lord—think unpaid taxes, negative press from lawsuits, and serious maintenance issues.

The Future Remains Uncertain

As more stores shut down and others express doubts about the longevity of the mall, one has to wonder if anything will save the Pierre Bossier Mall from its current tailspin. Ryan Solice stated, “I don’t think there is much of one for this mall honestly.” It’s a sad sentiment, but one shared by many locals who remember the mall in its prime.

With the rise in online shopping, traditional malls are facing fierce competition, and it’s taking a toll. Properties drop in value rapidly, resulting in opportunistic purchases that don’t necessarily seek to rehabilitate the space but rather capitalize on it for investment reasons. The outlook for malls in Bossier and Shreveport indeed seems dim, with many run under chaotic conditions, further driving away potential shoppers.

Conclusion

As the Pierre Bossier Mall continues to empty out, one can’t help but feel a wave of nostalgia mixed with concern. For those who have fond memories of the mall, it’s a bittersweet reality to witness its decline. Only time will tell if this once-thriving destination can find a way to reinvent itself and breathe new life into the shopping experience.