Last week’s announcement of Louisiana Grandstand’s arrival at The Boardwalk marked
an exciting milestone for the riverfront, and the energy surrounding it has been felt across the entire property.
Now, Boardwalk leadership is sharing a fuller picture of the investment, strategy, and vision driving the
property’s broader transformation.
“We are looking at the Boardwalk through a much larger lens,” said John O’Shaughnessy, Principal at
Commercial Retail Group. “This isn’t about one improvement or one announcement. It’s about making
thoughtful, intentional investments that build on one another and create a stronger destination over time.
Every improvement, every new partner and every new experience contribute to where we want The
Boardwalk to be five years from now.”
Over the past two years, The Boardwalk has seen more than $13.5 million in tenant investment. That includes
a $5 million, 50-room expansion of the Courtyard Marriott, and a $3.5 million transformation of 39,000 square
feet into The Picklr and The Brine. The Picklr, a national pickleball franchise, opened its Boardwalk location
with a membership drive that exceeded every internal projection, and the facility now serves hundreds of
active members across 11 courts.
“We chose The Boardwalk because we wanted to be part of the revitalization here,” said Chris Phillips, Co-
Owner and Developer of The Picklr at the Boardwalk. “That’s played out faster than we expected. Our
membership drive exceeded every expectation we had going in.” Next month, The Picklr will open The Brine,
led by Chef Gabriel Balderas, notably the first culinary concept built inside a Picklr franchise anywhere in the
country, and Chef Balderas’ first Bossier City concept.
The Simple Church and Event Center represents another $5 million investment on the property, drawing
nearly 2,500 people to weekly services and hosting close to 5,000 guests through The Event Center over the
past twelve months alone. “This space stays busy, and it’s been so fun to watch it grow,” said Amber
McDonald, The Event Center’s Director.
Beyond tenant investment, The Boardwalk itself has committed more than $3.5 million in realized and
projected property investment, spanning new roadside LED signage, digital wayfinding screens, outdoor
common area upgrades, landscaping, updated property branding, increased security staffing, and a dedicated
tenant recruiting and positioning/marketing strategy.
The Boardwalk’s new “Find Your Fun” identity includes an expanding set of experience categories: Find Your
Flavor, Find Your Style, Find Your Pace, Find Your Rhythm, Find Your Scene, Find Your Craft, and more, each
representing a different way for people to engage with the property.
Retail remains foundational to The Boardwalk’s identity, rooted in its history as one of the region’s most
prominent outlet destinations. Tenant recruiting efforts are also intentionally expanding beyond retail, with
active focus on dining, wellness, entertainment, and experience-driven retail concepts designed to round out
the property into a fuller destination. The goal is a property with something for everyone, any day of the
week: weekday lunch spots and after-work wellness options, weekend entertainment and family outings, and
evenings out and quiet mornings alike.
“The recruited tenant mix is not random,” said Abigail Simmons with KSM Marketing Agency, the Marketing
Agent of Record for The Boardwalk. “Every prospective tenant is being vetted to help create a more complete
and fulfilling destination.”
The Boardwalk has operated under new ownership since 2022, and this effort looks nothing like previous
attempts to revitalize the property. It’s a different team, a different strategy, and a different vision, backed by
a real wave of investment from both tenants and property ownership. As momentum builds throughout the
mile-long corridor surrounding the property, The Boardwalk is positioning itself to remain relevant to the
community and visitors alike for years to come. That shift has also brought a renewed, competitive approach
to leasing, aimed at attracting a wider, more curated mix of tenants to the property going forward.
“The decline of this property didn’t happen overnight, and it wasn’t the result of one decision or one moment
in time. A number of circumstances, over a period of years, led to the state the property was in when we came
in a year ago to build strategy and vision,” said Abigail Simmons. “Therefore, the revitalization won’t happen
overnight either. We’re asking the community to be partners with us in this next chapter, supporting the 30
tenants (23 retail and 7 office), who have stayed with the property. They’re the foundation we’re building
from, and their continued success matters just as much as any new name joining the property.”
Many of those changes are already visible: the new website, roadside LED signage, property-wide
improvements, and active tenant recruiting efforts are already underway. As new tenants begin building out
their spaces on the property, that construction itself will serve as ongoing, visible proof of progress along with
continued improvements and additions on the property.
The Boardwalk sits at the heart of a rapidly evolving riverfront corridor, stretching from Live Casino down to
Chasing Aces, with significant investment and activity taking shape at every point along the way. As that
corridor continues to grow, The Boardwalk is investing strategically to ensure visitors have every reason to
make it part of their riverfront experience.
“The progress is underway, momentum is building, and there is more to come,” ownership said.
For leasing information, contact General Manager Jeremy Slaughter at [email protected] or visit
louisianaboardwalk.com.