By Deon Roberts, Online Editor
Last week, the New Orleans metro area learned that Best Buy plans to open a store in the former Circuit City on Veterans Boulevard, which, according to MapQuest, is 2.7 miles from another Best Buy on Veterans.
Once the new Best Buy opens, Jefferson Parish will have four Best Buy stores. Meanwhile, Orleans Parish doesn’t even have one.
What’s going on?•
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: Best Buy, Jefferson Parish, Metairie, New Orleans, Veterans Memorial Boulevard
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16 responses so far ↓
RetailGuy // Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 1:30 pm |
Theft. Employee theft is uncontrollable in some stores. A major apparel chain which I won’t name recently fired all their local managers, and replaced them with all out of state managers. The chain was losing ridiculous amounts of money a month, certain doors lost $70,000 in a one month due to rampant employee theft.
The sad thing is that they lost faith in their New Orleans managment. They more or less blacklisted them.
Being a New Orleanian this was extremely embarrassing.
Patrick // Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 3:50 pm |
I can’t imagine why — we are always so open to new development here (see http://www.neworleanscitybusiness.com/viewStory.cfm?recID=31050)
Michael // Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 5:31 pm |
I don’t want another big name brand store here. I like that we have very few national chains in the city. That can all stay out in JP. That way we can get to it if we need to but we don’t have to look at it.
ardecila // Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 5:51 pm |
What options are there? I’m trying to think of suitable spaces. Best Buy obviously won’t go into areas that are too impoverished. They also don’t build their own stores. Developers seek them out if they have space available or plan to build some.
Much of the big-box space in New Orleans East is still in crappy shape. There are long-term plans to renovate and repair those shopping centers, but none have panned out so far. However, if they go forward on the redevelopment of Lake Forest Plaza, expect to see Best Buy or something similar there.
c. trent // Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 6:09 pm |
special thanks can go to the so called “neighborhood associations” who rant, cry and complain everytime a developer pitches something in new orleans. Carrollton Shopping Center: prime example. The Mid City development: another prime example. Neither of these neighborhoods want big box stores, no wal marts, no supercenters, nothing. We reap what we sow here in New Orleans!
Sad thing is most of these groups are self serving and hardly represent the majority either in their neighborhood, or the city!
Patrick // Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 6:12 pm |
Ask yourself: if you don’t want to look at stores in your neighborhood, are you willing to be last on the list when streets are paved? I hate the fact that so much of my sales tax money goes to support another parish’s streets, schools, and police.
The Saint // Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 6:49 pm |
If you wanna be “chocolate” sometimes the price is such.
Troy Jowers // Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 9:24 pm |
I’m with Patrick…Orleans dollars need to stay in Orleans…badly!
warylene // Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 10:02 pm |
New Orleans really needs to clean up the place, what is the mayor doing, just sitting on his butt and letting JP get everything. I know they are worried about flooding, but you can’t live your life wondering what If,
James // Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 11:09 pm |
It’s a simple business decision.
The numbers support another store in that area b/c of traffic patterns and location (see “radius”). It also doesn’t hurt to walk into a ready-made space that will need few modifications AND enter into a commercial lease with likely very favorable terms!
WellRead // Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 9:35 am |
Let’s see….Big Box Store…..Full of very desirable electronics….City where crime is always 10x the national average…..Employee theft among the worst in the nation……Police department radically underfunded and undermanned….D.A.’s office criticized for PUTTING people in jail…..Multi-Year case loads…..Local preservation societies with more power than God…..Most open spaces still blighted….Mayor who wants to keep this status quo going forward and fights real development at every turn….City council still convinced of “white conspiracy” to keep New Orleans Down….
Nope. I have no idea why Best Buy doesn’t want to do business in the Big Easy.
No Idea at All…
WR
RfrancisR // Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 10:38 am |
WellRead // Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 9:35 am | Reply
Let’s see….Big Box Store…..Full of very desirable electronics….City where crime is always 10x the national average…..Employee theft among the worst in the nation……Police department radically underfunded and undermanned….
++++++++++++++++++++
Yes, crime is high in New Orleans. But most of the studies on New Orleans crime data is based on population estimates that are below the Census estimates.
In reality, other than homicide, New Orleans crime rate (based on Census estimates of population) isn’t any worse than any major city. In fact, in some areas we are at or below the national average.
For example, in 2007, the FBI calculated New Orleans crime rate based on a population estimate that was 69,000 residents below the census bureau estimates for our population.
Homicide, rightly, gets all the attention, but it actually distorts the perception of crime in the city. When the FBI uses population estimates that are nearly 70,000 people too low, then naturally, New Orleans crime rate, as reported by the FBI will be especially high. Recalculate any similar sized city’s crime rate by deducting 69,000 from their population, and see what you get. It won’t be pretty.
Jackie // Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 11:02 am |
WellRead hit it on the nose. It has to do with crime and is why I go to Baton Rouge to shop. It’s a shame but even the malls in JP are filled with young people who look like thugs. I wouldn’t open a business here. If the mayor and police chief would clean up the city it would make a big difference in who would be willing to do business here. It’s time to stop being complacent with the stats RfrancisR. Let’s move ahead and make this a city we’re proud to live in.
Carlos // Sunday, August 30, 2009 at 6:40 pm |
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/despite_drop_in_crime_new_orle.html
you need to look at this article. even if you use the highest population estimate of the city we are still the most murderous city by far.
Trying to pull a blanket over the problem does not get rid of it. this city is being trashed, and Preservationist and special interest organizations which frown on progress, in my opinion are doing even more harm then the crack dealers. they all have money and nice houses and can afford to chase off every big box store that can offer employment to the every day joe. Maybe if we offered more job opportunities our crime problem would begin to be solved.
Dave // Monday, September 21, 2009 at 10:22 am |
There was a CIRCUIT CITY off Bullard before Katrina. The store was very clean and had a very professional group of ppl working there.
I tried to patronize that store so as to spend my money in Orleans Parish.
Hasn’t Best Buy looked into options around Jefferson and Tchopitoulas in that strip mall? Good demographics, plus with all the college students who love to buy electronics.
electronic shopping // Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 11:48 pm |
Its been pleasure for me to read this post. I really like this.