tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128242208621340701.post881546889471562318..comments2024-03-10T20:24:55.088-05:00Comments on Observations from the Urban Prairie: Dead Malls of Louisiana: Mall at CortanaUrban Prairie Schoonerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967392855201215594noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128242208621340701.post-19812400810736267452009-05-22T17:39:13.825-05:002009-05-22T17:39:13.825-05:00I believe you have summed things up quite well. I...I believe you have summed things up quite well. I grew up in BR and left the area in 1985 only to return to residing here again in Nov. 2008. With family still living here, I have come several times a year since our 1985 move. Cortana was a bustling place at one time. To me it is very sad to see the mall die. The Piccadilly being one of my favorite places years ago, has lost all flavor to it's food and in the same way the mall has lost it's tasty appeal. What can be done to turn things around? Would a police substation there help the "fear" of shopping in that area? I know the Walmart is scary at night. What about brighter lights outside? What about a huge indoor playground like they have up north? <br /><br />Surely, there are options out there and I have lots of ideas. I think the people living here cannot see the forrest for the trees, meaning they feel trapped in the present without a view for a future. <br /><br />I would love to see this space and this area revitalized. You have the Broadmore area, the Hundred Oaks area .... You have Our Lady of Mercy students and many other schools. That could be your target audience. <br /><br />Thanks for the ear ....Ally's Advicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468936279550277415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128242208621340701.post-37192129336051859712009-05-22T17:38:55.563-05:002009-05-22T17:38:55.563-05:00I believe you have summed things up quite well. I...I believe you have summed things up quite well. I grew up in BR and left the area in 1985 only to return to residing here again in Nov. 2008. With family still living here, I have come several times a year since our 1985 move. Cortana was a bustling place at one time. To me it is very sad to see the mall die. The Piccadilly being one of my favorite places years ago, has lost all flavor to it's food and in the same way the mall has lost it's tasty appeal. What can be done to turn things around? Would a police substation there help the "fear" of shopping in that area? I know the Walmart is scary at night. What about brighter lights outside? What about a huge indoor playground like they have up north? <br /><br />Surely, there are options out there and I have lots of ideas. I think the people living here cannot see the forrest for the trees, meaning they feel trapped in the present without a view for a future. <br /><br />I would love to see this space and this area revitalized. You have the Broadmore area, the Hundred Oaks area .... You have Our Lady of Mercy students and many other schools. That could be your target audience. <br /><br />Thanks for the ear ....Ally's Advicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468936279550277415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128242208621340701.post-59415637970105243322009-04-02T21:46:00.000-05:002009-04-02T21:46:00.000-05:00I currently work at the Mall of Cortana and have n...I currently work at the Mall of Cortana and have noticed a few more vacancies since my arrival in December 2008. The Build-A-Bear Workshop clone is gone, Steve and Barry's closed, the bookstore had its clearance sale before closing shop, EB Games left, and other stores have lowered the gate for the last time. It is remarkable to watch to mall die around me, though my office will be one of the last to close. Over by Sears, where I work, is the "government" section. Post Office, Recruiting offices, Constables office, and a place for the mall walking elderly. Besides Sears, Gamestop is the only national chain in the entire wing. Picadilly and Ruby Tuesday is still there, as is Chick-Fil-A and three of the anchors (Macys, Sears, JC Penneys). Slowly but surely, though, the mall is dying, especially when compared to the Mall of Louisiana across town. As for Bon Marche, the mall Cortana killed, it is not recognizable as a former mall any longer. As a new resident of Baton Rouge, I have little idea where it was and, though I know Cox Communications is there, I have not found the property.Willnoreply@blogger.com