Press Release

New Life to Downtown Buildings (Sears, Lerner & Zodiag)

 

February 2, 2011 – The Downtown Development Authority/Downtown Shreveport Development Corporation are proud to announce that three downtown buildings–the former Sears and Lerner Stores and the Zodiag Building in the 600 block of Texas Street — have a new owner with plans to put the historic structures back into commerce. The DDA/DSDC worked to connect the partners in the projects. DDA/DSDC appreciates the efforts of the former owners of the buildings and welcome the new owner and his plans to invest in our downtown historic inventory. New Orleans developer Roland von Kurnatowski, owner of the famed Tipitina’s Club and the Tipitina’s Foundation, is the new owner of these three buildings and will be starting work on the exteriors of the buildings soon.

Information on the Sears/Fiebelman’s Building- 624 Texas

  • The Sears building was constructed in 1923.
  • It was designed by architect Samuel G. Weiner.
  • Feibelman’s opened in 1925 as one of the largest retail stores in the city.
  • It was the first store in town to have escalators and also the first to offer its own credit card!
  • In 1930, Feibelman’s was acquired by Sears, which stayed there until moving to local malls in the early 1960s.
  • It became a Lo-Mart Grocery store and then closed for good.
  • The building has been vacant for at least 25 years.
  • The Sears building is 80,000 square feet and includes six floors and a basement.
  • The Sears building has three elevators and an escalator, none of which currently work.

Information on the Two Adjacent Buildings (both with address 620 Texas)

  • The two-story building with the two urns on the front is the Zodiag Building.
  • This building was constructed by Herman Zodiag, an Austrian immigrant.
  • Mr. Zodiag was very instrumental in starting the electrified streetcar business in Shreveport.
  • The store originally opened as a dry goods shop, and it was the premier ladies’ dress and millinery shop in the 1920s. It later became a Lerner’s Shop.
  • This building is believed to have been constructed as early as 1900.
  • The three-story building next door (with the collapsed roof) was once a Furman’s (1920s) and then a Franklin’s (1950s).
  • At one point, this building also housed CC Hardman’s which is still downtown @712 Texas Street.

About the Plans for the Buildings 

  • Work will begin soon on rehabilitating the facades of all three buildings. Work on the 3-story middle building will likely start first.
  • Initial plans for the Sears building are for retail on the lower floors, and market-rate apartments above.
  • Plans are being formulated for the two adjacent buildings.
  • Plans include not only stabilizing the façade on the thee-story collapsed-roof building, but rebuilding the entire structure.
  • DDA/DSDC will assist the developer in identifying potential uses/users for the buildings.

*** Historical Information courtesy of historian Lane Callaway