New Iberia and Iberia Parish got a much-needed shot in its retail arm this past week.

Months of rampant speculation came to an end this past week as news officially broke that the old K-Mart location on Admiral Doyle here in town would finally have a new tenant — or in this case new tenants. Rouses Markets and Hobby Lobby will be moving into the old retail giant’s building, remodeled of course, which has been empty since K-Mart closed its doors in December 2016.  

The reaction to the news has been overwhelming positive — ecstatic, even — with local leaders and residents being overjoyed about having two national chains choosing New Iberia. 

Hobby Lobby, which has more than 800 locations across the U.S., specializes in arts and crafts and home decor items. Rouses Supermarket, meanwhile, has its roots in South Louisiana and has expanded to Mississippi and Alabama with now more than 50 stores.

The economic impact having both here in New Iberia is significant. 

Both stores will give a boost to the economy with the number of jobs they will provide for the city and parish, not to mention local residents will no longer have to travel to other cities to shop at those chains’ locations there — which in the past means those cities and parishes got that much-needed tax revenue.

For example, there are two Rouses in Lafayette (on Bertrand Drive and Johnston Street) and another in Youngsville, while Hobby Lobby has one location in Lafayette (Johnston Street). 

So when local residents picked up their groceries or Christmas ornaments at those stores they were in fact helping the economy of that city and parish — not New Iberia.

There is no doubt that having Rouses and Hobby Lobby set up shop here is positive news for the city and parish but it should not be treated as the proverbial victory lap.

Having those stores here does not mean the work is over, far from it, as New Iberia and Iberia Parish are far from being back from the economic brink.

The side of town where Lewis and St. Peter streets are needs massive help. The old Winn-Dixie remains dormant, and soon its neighbor Rite-Aid will follow suit. That essentially means doom for the small retail stores left in that shopping center, not to mention the economic hit Popeyes Fried Chicken and Sonic will experience with the reduced amount of traffic flow in that part of town with the closures.

Not to mention, how much will impact will having yet another grocery store here make? New Iberia has seen its population decline steadily for the past five-plus years — and now sits under 30,000. Are there enough people in the city and parish to ensure the numerous grocery stores here (Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, Super-1, Bi-Lo, Fremin’s, Daspit, to name a few) still succeed? It is rational to state the money that will be spent at Rouses will be taken out of the tills at those other stores — some of which are locally owned and not chains.

So while the arrival of Rouses and Hobby Lobby is great news for retail growth in New Iberia and should be celebrated but the race is far from over.

RAYMOND PARTSCH III

MANAGING EDITOR