NewQuest Ready to Debut New Retail, Dining Experience in Northern Louisiana
November 9, 2016
SHREVEPORT, La. – NewQuest Properties will unveil the 203,868-sf Camp Forbing Marketplace in mid-November, signaling a new beginning for a cherished site in northern Louisiana.
The lifestyle center is situated on 47 acres of a former campground developed in the late 1930s by the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) – a site rich in memories for generations of former campers and part of a middle- to upper-class neighborhood that’s been a retail desert, until now. The NewQuest project is anchored by a 123,531-sf Kroger Marketplace, opening Nov. 18, and an under-construction Y complex with a 44,000-sf center for its program and several athletic fields.
“I believe the community has gotten to know us and can see we’ve taken the lifestyle center concept to the next level just for them,” says Ashley Strickland, an associate with Houston-based NewQuest. “The Camp Forbing site will remain a destination for the community. Our new Marketplace is a highly walk-able design with lighted sidewalks, boardwalk, gazebo and pond, all within a leisurely stroll of the Y’s new complex.”
The NewQuest project was designed by Seeberger Architecture of Houston, with Michigan-based Wieland Davco as the general contractor. Bob Conwell, a NewQuest vice president, and Strickland are leasing the project, situated at the intersection of Ellerbe and Flournoy-Lucas roads in southeast Shreveport.
Silver Star Grille, a new concept for a Shreveport favorite, has just expanded its lease to 5,014 sf from 4,550 sf to match the anticipated dining demand when it opens later this month. Also coming on line will be Thrifty Liquor, a regional chain that’s leased 4,500 sf for its ninth location in Shreveport; Pita Pit, setting up in 1,420 sf; and Sports Clips in 1,400 sf.
In addition, Conwell and Strickland have letters of intent in hand or are negotiating leases to fill another 30,389 sf of the class A retail and restaurant space.
Camp Forbing Marketplace is NewQuest’s first venture into Louisiana and Shreveport’s first
Planned Unit Development. “This design is the result of substantial collaboration with city officials and community leaders,” Conwell says.
The Y’s 67-acre tract opened up camping opportunities to its members when it opened. Through the years, it became a destination for generations of Louisianans and a natural attraction residential development.
As rooftops rose, so did demand for close-in retail in the Southern Trace neighborhood, a country club enclave absent of a major grocery or nearby places to shop and dine. The submarket’s demographics tell the story: $115,339 average annual household income within a one-mile trade area of NewQuest’s Camp Forbing Marketplace.
“This area needed retail, but it also required us, as a developer, to be mindful of the memories. We’ve created a family-friendly venue for our tenants and our neighbor, the Y,” Strickland says. “Outdoor restaurant seating on the boardwalk is just one of several tweaks we’ve made to the lifestyle center concept to enhance the overall experience.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Ashley Strickland, 281-477-4378
Bob Conwell, 281-477-4324
