A&P in Louisiana outside New Orleans
Posted: 15 Sep 2012 23:12
Prior to A&P's recent (2007) departure from New Orleans, they operated stores throughout the state of Louisiana. I know this is going to kind of spill past 1980, but I'm trying to figure out the pattern.
In the 1970's for sure, A&P was all over the entire state. There were several stores in Shreveport, Lafayette, Alexandria and other places. I know Shreveport for sure, because there are still several Centennial stores left standing in both Shreveport and Bossier City that are now other things (Shreveport's Mansfield Road store is now a Big Lots, but was expanded before A&P left based on the interior elements remaining). Alexandria also had at least two stores prior to this as well.
I know that during the 1970's the company had a massive meltdown that caused them to pretty much abandon everything west of the Mississippi and major parts of the midwest. What I don't know is this: when did they leave areas of Louisiana outside of New Orleans.
I have this much info: As late as 1995, the company operated stores in Natchitoches, Winnfield, Alexandria and Hodge (which is between Winnfield and Ruston). All of these stores were small, basic supermarkets. Winnfield and Hodge didn't even have delis. But when did they get rid of stores in Shreveport and Lafayette? There is still a Centennial standing in a shopping center on Cameron St. in Lafayette that also had, until earlier this year, an Eckerd/CVS store that did a healthy business even without the supermarket. I also know that the A&P store had been closed for many, many years, because when I moved here in 2000, the store had been cut in half and had recently had a Dollar General move out of it, which had, from my understanding, been there for some time. There was also a Centennial in Lafayette's Oil Center that is now a massive doctor's office which has been remodeled extensively and is barely recognizable. The center that it was in at one time had a Woolworth or a Morgan and Lindsey, and several smaller stores, but has been a medical 'shopping' center for over 20 years now. And New Iberia also had a Centennial, which was expanded before A&P's departure, and may still have the original A&P decor package.
Any information would be helpful. I know that A&P largely left Baton Rouge by 1999 save for two stores, both of which closed in the mid 2000's. And only three stores were still branded A&P at the 2007 departure. All of the stores I named above were still A&P when they were closed, so they left much earlier.
Part of my question here is that to get to Alexandria and points north, you have to pass through Lafayette. And if they didn't have stores in Lafayette, why skip over an area to serve old stores?
In the 1970's for sure, A&P was all over the entire state. There were several stores in Shreveport, Lafayette, Alexandria and other places. I know Shreveport for sure, because there are still several Centennial stores left standing in both Shreveport and Bossier City that are now other things (Shreveport's Mansfield Road store is now a Big Lots, but was expanded before A&P left based on the interior elements remaining). Alexandria also had at least two stores prior to this as well.
I know that during the 1970's the company had a massive meltdown that caused them to pretty much abandon everything west of the Mississippi and major parts of the midwest. What I don't know is this: when did they leave areas of Louisiana outside of New Orleans.
I have this much info: As late as 1995, the company operated stores in Natchitoches, Winnfield, Alexandria and Hodge (which is between Winnfield and Ruston). All of these stores were small, basic supermarkets. Winnfield and Hodge didn't even have delis. But when did they get rid of stores in Shreveport and Lafayette? There is still a Centennial standing in a shopping center on Cameron St. in Lafayette that also had, until earlier this year, an Eckerd/CVS store that did a healthy business even without the supermarket. I also know that the A&P store had been closed for many, many years, because when I moved here in 2000, the store had been cut in half and had recently had a Dollar General move out of it, which had, from my understanding, been there for some time. There was also a Centennial in Lafayette's Oil Center that is now a massive doctor's office which has been remodeled extensively and is barely recognizable. The center that it was in at one time had a Woolworth or a Morgan and Lindsey, and several smaller stores, but has been a medical 'shopping' center for over 20 years now. And New Iberia also had a Centennial, which was expanded before A&P's departure, and may still have the original A&P decor package.
Any information would be helpful. I know that A&P largely left Baton Rouge by 1999 save for two stores, both of which closed in the mid 2000's. And only three stores were still branded A&P at the 2007 departure. All of the stores I named above were still A&P when they were closed, so they left much earlier.
Part of my question here is that to get to Alexandria and points north, you have to pass through Lafayette. And if they didn't have stores in Lafayette, why skip over an area to serve old stores?