The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk facts for kids
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| Location | Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA |
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| Opening date | May 22, 2014 |
| Developer | Howard Hughes Corporation |
| Owner | Howard Hughes Corporation |
| No. of stores and services | 75 |
| Total retail floor area | 250,000 sf |
| No. of floors | 3 |
| Website | http://www.riverwalkneworleans.com |
The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk is a popular shopping center in New Orleans, Louisiana. It used to be called Riverwalk Marketplace until 2014. This mall is special because it's an outlet mall, which means stores often sell items at lower prices.
You can find it right along the Mississippi River waterfront. It stretches from the start of Canal Street all the way to the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. It's even connected to the nearby Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel.
Contents
The Riverwalk's Story
How the Riverwalk Began
In the early 1980s, big ships started using large containers to move goods. This made some of the older docks along the river less useful. So, two old wharves (docks) were taken down.
This land was then used for the 1984 World's Fair. After the fair ended, the area was turned into the "Riverwalk." It was designed to be a fancy shopping mall. It aimed to attract both people living in New Orleans and tourists visiting the city.
A Ship Accident at the Mall
On December 14, 1996, something unusual happened. A large cargo ship called the MV Bright Field accidentally crashed into the mall. Luckily, no one died in the accident. About 66 people were injured, and fifteen shops were damaged.
The ship itself had about $1.8 million in damage. The mall, including the pier, shops, and hotel, had about $15 million in damage. The ship stayed stuck at the mall until January 6, 1997. During that time, many tourists came to see the unusual sight. Today, a special plaque marks the spot where the ship hit the Riverwalk.
Rebuilding After Hurricane Katrina
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused a lot of damage in New Orleans. The Riverwalk mall was hit hard by strong winds and other problems. It had to close for a few months.
The mall reopened in early December 2005. This was just in time for Christmas shopping. People hoped it would help the area start to recover. At first, only a few shops could open. But slowly, more and more businesses returned over the next few years. Eventually, the mall was almost completely full again.
Becoming an Outlet Center
In 2014, the mall closed for a short time. It was undergoing big changes and renovations. When it reopened in late spring 2014, it had a new name: The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk.
This made it the first outlet center located right in the downtown area of a city in the United States. Now, you can find popular stores like a Coach, Inc. outlet and a Neiman-Marcus Last Call Studio outlet there.
Images for kids
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Julia Street entrance to the Riverwalk in June 2007
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River side in June 1997 shows damage caused by Bright Field collision
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American Queen docked at the Riverwalk in 2015
