10Best New Orleans malls for brand name retail therapy
LAST UPDATED BY Beth D'Addono
April 18, 2019
When it comes to shopping, New Orleans is most known for its specialty boutiques, galleries and artisan nooks. That doesn't mean the city doesn't have a respectable collection of shopping malls and store conglomerates.
Most malls could be anywhere, lacking a sense of place or connection to the community. In New Orleans, besides being home to A-list retailers, our collections of shops deliver riverfront views, local art and cultural relevance.
Heading just a few miles outside the city, you can find traditional malls; the kinds with anchor department stores, food courts and movie theaters. Each has its own perks, which you can read about below.
Shopping is an important part of any New Orleans trip. Going store to store, block to block is one way to do it. Other times, you want to be completely immersed inside a store that is filled with other stores, something most of us call a mall.
For international visitors, shopping in New Orleans is a real deal, not only delivering a wide array of treasures at a favorable exchange rate but tax-free shopping at well known retail stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and H&M and hundreds of smaller specialty stores. Just show your passport or current ID, and collect your refund at the airport before you fly home.
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The French Market is a six-block-long bustling, open-air shopping center that can hold as many as 220 vendors on a busy day. You can shop for local art, t-shirts and hats and all things Mardi Gras while enjoying New Orleans street music and the aroma of fresh gumbo and jambalaya from the food stalls. The market has a ton of history, having existed on the same piece of land for more than 200 years. Some of the best items to find here are the drooping ladies hats to help keep the sun out, graphic print coasters and great shawls/sarongs. While there is certainly plenty of kitsch on hand - genuine gator head anybody? - the market does have authentic goods and decent prices. There are free walking tours on weekdays, special events ongoing, and a farmers' market Wednesdays (Oct.-June) and Saturdays.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: While not a mall, the French Market is a shopping mecca for ticky tacky souvenirs along with local hand-crafted goods.
Beth's expert tip: This can be a great place to pick up an authentic Mardi Gras mask.
Read more about French Market →
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Photo courtesy of Oakwood Center
The Oakwood Shopping Center is in Gretna, a quick drive over the Crescent City Connection, the bridge that takes you to the West Bank of the Mississippi. It's not as big as some of the other malls on this list, but that can be a blessing in disguise. The Oakwood Mall has plenty of parking and fewer crowds, making the shopping experience breezier. The big department stores here are Dillard's, Sears and JCPenney. Oakwood caters to footwear lovers, and they don't disappoint, with shoe stores like ALDO, Finish Line, Footlocker, Journeys and Footaction. For the ladies, stores like Forever 21 and New York & Company are popular. The food court has some desirable options to keep your hunger at bay, such as Chic-Fil-A and Cafe Du Monde.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: Oakwood Center has a great balance of shops for men, women and kiddos.
Beth's expert tip: Oakwood Center is usually less crowded than any other place on this list.
Read more about Oakwood Center →
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Metairie
Metairie
Photo courtesy of Clearview Mall
Clearview Mall is in Metairie, a 20-minute drive from the French Quarter depending on traffic. A traditional mall that has undergone some major renovations, Clearview boasts an extra large Target (with cart escalator), Sears and Bed Bath & Beyond. The interior is always bustling, but the walkways are spacious enough to fit your entourage and bags of purchased goods. The movie theater is a big draw here, with tons of screens showing the hottest new releases. Kids will love the trampoline with bungee cord hook-up, a welcome distraction for a weary tag-a-long shopper. Coffee from New Orleans' local fave PJ's Coffee makes a fragrant gift.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: Clearview Mall has Target and Bed Bath & Beyond as anchor stores.
Beth's expert tip: Check out the locally owned Zea Rotisserie and Grill when you're feeling peckish.
Read more about Clearview Mall →
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Metairie
Metairie
Visitors seeking the best malls in Greater New Orleans must only venture slightly north of the city to find Lakeside Shopping Center. This expansive retail hub is one of the area's most popular malls with more than 120 well-known stores including M.A.C., Dillard's, Lane Bryant, Gap, Old Navy and Eddie Bauer, as well as boutiques such as Ann Taylor Loft and Talbot's. Lakeside Shopping Center offers seemingly endless shopping opportunities for men and women (and enough distractions for kids). When the credit card needs a rest, Lakeside shoppers spill out onto Veterans Boulevard, where just about every restaurant imaginable awaits including a swanky Fleming's Steakhouse.Parking is always available and free.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: Lakeside Shopping Center is the traditional mall with an impressive collection of stores for women
Beth's expert tip: Park in the parking garage for both shade and direct access to the stores.
Read more about Lakeside Shopping Center →
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Elmwood isn't an enclosed mall, but a sprawling outdoor collection of department stores, boutiques, big box retailers and more. Some of the big names holding court are Best Buy, Big Lots, World Market, Old Navy, Ulta and Marshall's. As you drive from place to place, there are tons of national and regionally based food places for you to grab a quick bite. Check out Theo's Pizza for delicious pies and friendly service. If you're with the kids, you can promise them that after shopping is over, you will take them to see a movie, with theaters within this shopping district's radius. Elmwood Center is about 20 minutes from the hustle and bustle of downtown New Orleans. Best way to navigate is by GPS on your phone.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: Elmwood Center is designed like a small town of large retailers, smaller niche shops and foodie faves.
Beth's expert tip: Expect a mazelike experience as you navigate since this sprawling mall seems to go on forever.
Read more about Elmwood Center →
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Kenner
Kenner
An easy drive from downtown New Orleans, this shopping mall in Kenner is not far from the airport. Esplanade offers a mix of popular anchor and specialty stores that makes for a great day of shopping. The mall offers two stories of boutiques, department stores and fast food, including national brands like Dillard's, Express, Target and Macy's as well as smaller stores like Lady Footlocker, Bayou Riders and the famed stop for coffee and beignets, Cafe Du Monde. With more than 80 shops and eateries, the Esplanade delivers plenty of bang for your shopping buck. More good news: there is always plenty of free parking.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: The Esplanade is a stylish shopping destination with an A-list of stores.
Beth's expert tip: The mall's Penguin Ice Skating is the only ice rink open year round in New Orleans - great for kiddos and getting out of the heat.
Read more about The Esplanade Mall →
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French Quarter
French Quarter
The Shops at Jax Brewery are located in an architecturally striking 19th-century former beer brewing facility - opened in 1891, the Brewery was the largest independent brewery in the south. The property has four floors of shops, cafes and boutiques, with the top floor offering some pretty spectacular views of the city. A few of the shops offer child and adult-themed screen print items of local witticisms and attractions that are sure to be a hit. Home Team Sportswear is a great place to pick up New Orleans Saints memorabilia and there are a handful of fun jewelry shops, some made by local artisans. Chico's is one of the popular big name stores. Lazy River Southern Fare & Spirits is a family-friendly dining option with local specialties like po-boys and gumbo.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: The Shops at Jax Brewery are a trendy collection of boutiques, restaurants and galleries inside a historic brewery. How cool is that?
Beth's expert tip: The airy Jax Brewery interior is worth checking out, as it's a nice change of pace from the traditional interior designs of modern shopping centers.
Read more about Shops at Jax Brewery →
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CBD
CBD
A premier destination in New Orleans, this upscale shopping mall's wide spectrum of boutiques, specialty shops and high-end brand chains offers something for everyone. Browse top-shelf retailers like Saks 5th Ave, Brooks Brothers, Tiffany and Ann Taylor. There are more than 30 retailers spread over three floors, national biggies along with local jewelry artist Mignon fa*get and New Orleans Knots for hand-painted ties and scarves. Canal Place also entertains with an upmarket movie theater, complete with reserved seating, in-theater dining and super comfy recliner seats. The Shops are located near the Mississippi River end of Canal Street, close to the Aquarium and Harrah's.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: The Shops at Canal Place is a shopping destination that includes big names like Saks and Tiffany along with a plethora of national brands.
Beth's expert tip: As always, Anthropologie is a must-shop.
Read more about The Shops at Canal Place →
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Photo courtesy of The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk
The $70 million redo of the circa 1984 Riverwalk Mall opened in the spring of 2014, the first Outlet Collection in any downtown in America. The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk is gorgeous, airy, filled with natural light and river views, something the cavelike original center sorely lacked. Situated in the heart of downtown, the new Riverwalk is next door to the Convention Center and close to the Cruise Terminal and the French Quarter. For city-dwelling New Orleanians, the siren call of discount parking and mouthwatering brands like Neiman Marcus Last Call (the first in the state), Kenneth Cole, Coach, Nordstrom Rack and Forever 21 is irresistible.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk is a convenient place for conventioneers, cruise passengers and CBD hotel dwellers to pick up new duds and accessories.
Beth's expert tip: Discount parking is available at three Hilton Hotel properties: a surface lot, the garage sometimes known as the World Trade Center garage next to the Hilton Riverside and the main Hilton Riverside garage near Girod Street and Convention Center Boulevard.
Read more about The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk →
Meet Beth D'Addono
Beth D'Addono is a food and travel writer obsessed with flavor, exploring cultures, street music and the city of New Orleans.
Beth writes about New Orleans and other destinations for outlets...More About Beth
