"Oakwood Mall" opened in 1966, taking advantage of the increased development on the West Bank following the opening of the Crescent City Connection.[2] One of the former anchor stores was D. H. Holmes. It was replaced by a Dillard's store in 1992, and then by Marshalls.
Oakwood Center fell victim to significant damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The mall was heavily looted and set on fire on August 31, 2005. Nearly 80% of the stores experienced fire or water damage.[3] The main shopping area was closed during demolition and construction. Two department stores, Sears and Dillard's, along with Dollar Tree, Foot Locker, and the Bank of Louisiana reopened before the entire mall reopened. Oakwood Center completely reopened on October 19, 2007, except for the Mervyns wing.
In 2013, it was confirmed that the Mervyn's wing would be torn down for Dick's Sporting Goods.[4]
After renovations, the center includes three sit-down restaurants; over 360,000 square feet (33,000 m2) of floor space boasting over 80 specialty shops (regional and national retailers); and a 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m2) food pavilion.
On January 5, 2017, it was announced that Sears would be closing as part of a plan to close 104 stores nationwide. The store closed in March 2017.[5]
