The Northgate Mall, Lafayette's first and oldest shopping mall, is officially up for sale. According to a report from Adam Daigle at The Acadiana Advocate, the 250,000-square-foot property, located on a 20.8-acre site, is listed for $3.75 million and has been on the market for about two months.
The mall, which opened in 1969, remains home to several minority-owned start-up businesses but has faced challenges in recent years, including the loss of anchor tenants and aging infrastructure. Current owners, Imad "Eddie" Hamdan and Ziad "Z" Mousa, purchased the property in 2015 but are now seeking a buyer to potentially redevelop the site. Future possibilities range from warehouse use to entertainment, medical facilities, or even complete redevelopment into prime land.
Local opinions on the mall's future vary widely. Some residents see the site as a chance for innovative projects like affordable housing, a homeless shelter, or, as one person joked, even a mega car wash. Others recalled fond memories of Northgate Mall's heyday. Naomi Jones shared, "The Northgate Mall used to be poppin'. My cousin and I would go there every weekend."
Meanwhile, others suggest demolishing the property to make way for new development. With the mall's location inside an economic development district and along the future I-49 corridor, redevelopment could be a significant boost for north Lafayette.
For a detailed look at the mall's history, redevelopment potential, and ongoing discussions about its future, check out Adam Daigle's full report on The Acadiana Advocate's website here.