Downtown Buildings Purchased
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
Two formerly vacant storefront buildings in the central downtown area were recently purchased from the non-profit Opelousas Downtown Main Street, according to a member of the Opelousas Downtown Development District.
Sarah Branton told ODD members during a recent meeting that the previously donated buildings are located across from the St. Landry Parish Courthouse and their acquisitions could eventually help provide another step in the downtown revitalization process.
The announcement of the purchase follows the loss of two other downtown businesses — Arpeggio’s and The Blackpot Bookstore at the end of 2025.
In October of 2024, Main Street announced that it had received four donated properties from HHW St. Landry Properties and Haas Herschel Interest LLC.
The statement from Main Street regarding the properties indicated that three buildings across from the Courthouse and another on East Landry Street, had been donated to Main Street by the two corporations.
Three buildings near the courthouse and the other several blocks away between Landry and Vine streets,the Main Street statement said, are located inside the Opelousas National Historic District, qualifying them for potential state and federal tax credits.
Branton said Opelousas Main Street has also applied for microbusiness grant funding through the Louisiana and National Main Street organizations.
