I don’t know about anyone else, but if I was relocating to a new city one of my first questions about getting around would be “where can I buy ____?” Part of getting acclimated is finding out where to shop in your new community and the West Bank has plenty of choices within a short drive of both military bases or wherever else your relocation might land you.

Shopping Mall

Oakwood Center in Terrytown is the only true mall on the West Bank. With department stores Dillard’s, JC Penney’s and Sears as anchors, the mall is still filling spaces left after the extended closure and renovations from hurricane damage. Some of the stores that have returned are Old Navy, Victoria’s Secret and Forever 21. I’m still waiting for someone to figure out that there is a lot of disposable income on the West Bank - until then, if you want a Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn or William-Sonoma, you’ll need to take a 15-20 minute ride to Lakeside Mall in Metairie.

Discount Shopping

Who doesn’t love a good bargain? In addition to Target (on Manhattan Blvd. in Harvey) there are multiple WalMart locations, a Sam’s Club on Manhattan and a KMart on Belle Chasse Highway. If you enjoy the thrill of the hunt, check out Burlington, Marshall’s, Ross (all on Manhattan) and TJ Maxx on Lapalco Blvd.

Home Improvement Stores

Once you’ve settled into your new West Bank home, you’ll more than likely be making a few changes. Whether it’s painting a room or renovating the entire space, it’s handy to have Lowe’s on Manhattan and 2 Home Depot locations on both the Westbank Expressway (Gretna) and Lapalco Blvd. (Harvey, LA) Of course, if you just need a few small items, look for your neighborhood hardware stores, since they are still alive and well and usually offer the best advice and customer service around.

Home Decorating

Nothing is more satisfying than putting those final touches on a room with the perfect accessories. West Bank choices range from Bed, Bath & Beyond to Pier 1 to World Market, all located on the corner of Manhattan and the Westbank Expressway in Harvey. Then there are the boutique shops that feature decorative items with a local twist. One of my favorites is Frames Inc in Algiers, because they manage to pack a huge number of unique items into a cozy, welcoming shop.

What are you waiting for? Let’s go shopping!

For information about military or other relocations to or from the West Bank of New Orleans, please contact the West Bank Living Team. It would be our pleasure to assist you with all of your real estate needs and help you sell your home or find the perfect West Bank Home for Sale.  Need to sell your home in another state first?  Let us know...we have a network of agent partners across the country that can help!