COVINGTON, La. — Gulf States Real Estate and Construction Services is nearing completion of the redevelopment of the former Rouses Market next to Home Depot at 50 Park Place Drive in Covington. The project includes converting the 58,000-square-foot building into two family-friendly businesses.
Goldfish Swim School, which provides swim lessons in a play-based environment, will open mid-March. Urban Air Adventure Park, which provides a “safe place for the whole family to jump, soar, race, climb, ride and play,” will open in early April.
“Several years ago at one of our annual Gulf States strategic planning meetings, we identified many community needs lacking on the Northshore,” said Mike Saucier, president of Gulf States Real Estate Services. “With the knowledge gained at the Entertainment Experience Evolution conference and our expertise in local real estate trends, we worked hard to secure a location for Urban Air. The Goldfish Swim School venue was ‘lagniappe,’ as the same group owns the two separate franchises. We are thrilled to see this finally a reality for the many families and businesses that will enjoy this new community asset.”
“The project experienced many challenges, including rising construction costs and interest rates which are challenges most developers face in today’s economy. However, working closely with Saucier and his team, we were able to bring the project to fruition,” said Joe Goodly, who co-owns the franchise for the two businesses with his wife Rachelle Nurse.
Approval for these two new tenants had to be obtained from anchor tenant Home Depot, which also had to approve changing the shopping center’s name from Tammany Oaks to Park Place. The name change will be exhibited on the newly renovated pylon sign at Highway 190.
