Hammond Square

Hammond Square is a shopping center in Hammond, Louisiana, United States. It originated in 1977 as Hammond Square Mall, an enclosed regional shopping mall developed by Sizeler Realty. The original center was anchored by D. H. Holmes and Sears, with JCPenney joining in 1979. D. H. Holmes was later absorbed into Dillard's in 1989, establishing one of the center's continuing anchor relationships. At its peak, the enclosed mall contained more than 75 stores and approximately 540,000 square feet of retail space. Like many traditional enclosed malls, it later experienced a period of decline. Stirling Properties acquired the property in 2007 and pursued a substantial redevelopment rather than attempting to preserve the existing enclosed format. Most of the mall closed on March 31, 2007, while Dillard's, Sears, and Rite Aid remained open during the transition. The redevelopment replaced much of the enclosed mall with an open-air lifestyle and shopping center. Plans included a new JCPenney location, Target, and smaller retail and service tenants. The renovated property was completed in 2009 and celebrated its grand opening from October 1 through October 4 of that year. The center adopted the shorter Hammond Square name as part of the repositioning. Retailers associated with the renovated center included Best Buy, TJ Maxx, and Books-A-Million, in addition to its major department-store and general-merchandise anchors. Hammond Square's principal business is the operation and leasing of a multi-tenant shopping center serving Hammond and the surrounding area. Its positioning shifted from a conventional enclosed mall to an accessible open-air retail destination combining department stores, a mass merchant, specialty retailers, and convenience-oriented services. Public reference material identifies the center as an active shopping destination, but does not establish a separate corporate ownership structure, current tenant roster, current management company, financial performance, or dedicated corporate website.

Hammond Square began as Hammond Square Mall in 1977. Sizeler Realty developed the enclosed mall in Hammond, Louisiana, with D. H. Holmes and Sears as its original anchor stores. JCPenney was added two years later, in 1979. The center grew into a substantial regional retail property, reaching a peak configuration of more than 75 stores and approximately 540,000 square feet of retail space. The mall's anchor lineup changed over time. D. H. Holmes was sold to Dillard's in 1989, and Dillard's became one of the property's continuing department-store anchors. The center subsequently entered a period of decline, reflecting broader changes affecting older enclosed malls and the competitive retail environment. In 2007, Stirling Properties acquired the mall and announced a major redevelopment. The project called for the existing enclosed format to be largely dismantled and replaced by an outdoor shopping center. Most of the enclosed mall shut on March 31, 2007, although Dillard's, Sears, and Rite Aid continued operating during the redevelopment period. The plans included a new JCPenney store, Target, and a collection of smaller retailers. Construction and renovation were completed in October 2009. Stirling Properties marked the opening of the redesigned property with a four-day celebration held from October 1 through October 4. The center was renamed Hammond Square, dropping the word “Mall” and signaling its transition to an open-air lifestyle and retail center. The new tenant mix included Best Buy, TJ Maxx, and Books-A-Million alongside the major anchors. The redevelopment was subsequently recognized by several industry and business organizations. Hammond Square received the Greater Hammond Chamber of Commerce Link Award in 2009. In 2010, it was associated with a United States Design and Development Award, South Central Construction Magazine's Mall of the Year, and an Award of Merit from McGraw Hill Construction. These recognitions focused on the project's design, construction, and redevelopment achievement. Available reference material does not provide reliable details about later ownership changes, current management, present tenant occupancy, revenue, or financial results.

• 2010

  Redevelopment receives industry awards

  [1]Hammond Squareen.wikipedia.org

  The project is associated with design, construction, and retail-development recognitions, including Mall of the Year from South Central Construction Magazine and an Award of Merit from McGraw Hill Construction.

• 2009

  Hammond Square opens in its redeveloped format

  [1]Hammond Squareen.wikipedia.org

  The outdoor retail center is completed and holds a grand-opening celebration from October 1 through October 4 under the shortened Hammond Square name.

• 2009

  Greater Hammond Chamber of Commerce recognition

  [1]Hammond Squareen.wikipedia.org

  The redeveloped center receives the Greater Hammond Chamber of Commerce Link Award.

• 2007

  Stirling Properties acquires the mall and begins redevelopment

  [1]Hammond Squareen.wikipedia.org

  Stirling Properties purchases the declining enclosed mall and announces plans to convert it into an open-air shopping center.

• 2007

  Most of the enclosed mall closes

  [1]Hammond Squareen.wikipedia.org

  The majority of the mall closes on March 31 to make way for demolition and reconstruction, while Dillard's, Sears, and Rite Aid remain open.

• 1989

  D. H. Holmes becomes part of Dillard's

  [1]Hammond Squareen.wikipedia.org

  The D. H. Holmes anchor is sold to Dillard's, changing the identity of one of the mall's original anchor locations.

• 1979

  JCPenney joins the mall

  [1]Hammond Squareen.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney is added as another major department-store anchor.

• 1977

  Hammond Square Mall opens

  [1]Hammond Squareen.wikipedia.org

  Sizeler Realty develops the enclosed Hammond Square Mall in Hammond, Louisiana, with D. H. Holmes and Sears as the original anchor stores.

A community-serving open-air shopping center that replaced a declining enclosed mall with a broader mix of department stores, mass retail, specialty shops, and services.

• Anchor retail · 1977

  Department-store retail

  Hammond Square's anchor strategy has included department stores such as D. H. Holmes, Dillard's, Sears, and JCPenney. These stores provide broad assortments including apparel, footwear, home goods, beauty products, and general merchandise, and have historically supplied the center with destination retail traffic.

• Shopping-center retail · 2009

  Mass and specialty retail

  The redeveloped open-air center was planned around a broader tenant mix that included Target, Best Buy, TJ Maxx, and Books-A-Million. Together, these formats cover general merchandise, electronics, off-price apparel and home goods, and books and media.

• Services · 1977

  Retail and convenience services

  In addition to large retailers, the property has accommodated smaller stores and service-oriented tenants. Rite Aid was among the businesses that remained open during the redevelopment, illustrating the center's role as a convenient local retail destination as well as a department-store complex.

• 2007

  Conversion from enclosed mall to open-air shopping centerStrategy

  Background

  After a period of decline, the enclosed mall required a new operating and physical model to restore its retail appeal.

  Action taken

  Stirling Properties acquired the property, closed most of the enclosed mall, demolished substantial portions, and developed an outdoor center with new anchor and specialty-retail space.

  Aftermath

  The redeveloped center opened in October 2009 under the Hammond Square name and was later recognized by business, design, and construction organizations.

  Source

1. 1Hammond Squareen.wikipedia.org