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Top Five Acadiana Business Stories of 2025 with Adam Daigle, Business Editor of Acadiana Advocate

Top Five Acadiana Business Stories of 2025 with Adam Daigle, Business Editor of Acadiana Advocate

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 In this episode, Adam Daigle, Business Editor of The Acadiana Advocate, returns to break down Lafayette and Acadiana’s top five business stories of 2025. With years of experience tracking economic trends, major developments, and the people shaping our community, Adam offers an inside look at what’s driving growth—and what challenges remain. From the long-awaited arrival of Trader Joe’s to manufacturing growth, real estate trends, and the future of North Lafayette, this conversation is packed with insight. A Post-Covid Economy: Stabilizing but Still Shifting Adam notes that Acadiana has mostly returned to pre-pandemic normalcy, but some sectors continue to adjust: Restaurants: Sales are outpacing inflation overall, but performance is uneven. High-traffic corridors like Kaliste Saloom are thriving, while many locally-owned restaurants still struggle with tight margins, rising costs, and increased competition.Retail: Still strong—people are spending, and parish retail sales continue to grow.Manufacturing: One of the region’s most promising economic bright spots. Well-paying jobs, steady growth, and diversification beyond oil and gas continue to strengthen the sector. Manufacturing Momentum—Even After Setbacks While Acadiana added thousands of manufacturing jobs since 2020, the closure of SafeSource Direct was a painful blow. The PPE manufacturer, built during the pandemic, couldn’t compete with ultra-low-cost Chinese imports. The result: 700 local jobs lost, many held by women and graduates of drug court programs. Even so, Adam emphasizes that manufacturing remains a major growth engine. Companies continue to diversify away from oil and gas, and Louisiana’s industrial corridor—from I-49 to Hwy 90—remains active and expanding. Real Estate & Housing Trends Adam continues to follow Lafayette’s housing market closely: Higher-end homes that once sat on the market are now moving again.Sales volume is rising month-to-month.Rental demand remains extremely high, driven by population growth and a historic low in first-time homebuyers (just 21% nationally, with the average of a first-time homebuyer being 40 years of age nationally).Lafayette continues to see brisk apartment construction to meet demand. The market is tight—but not dangerously overbuilt. Adam Daigle’s Top Five Business Stories of 2025 1. Trader Joe’s Is (Finally) Coming to Lafayette The biggest story of the year: Trader Joe’s is officially in the works for the corner of Bluebird Drive and Camellia Blvd. in Lafayette. Because the company is notoriously secretive, even the appearance of a permit created excitement. The land deal is expected to be finalized soon, with construction likely leading to an opening in late 2026 or early 2027. Fun fact: Lafayette will become one of only three cities in the U. S. that have both a Buc-ee’s and a Trader Joe’s. 2. Northgate Mall Sold to Local Investor Jacoby Landry North Lafayette’s aging Northgate Mall has new life ahead. Entrepreneur Jacoby Landry purchased the property with a long-term vision for transforming the site—not simply filling it with retail, but creating a mixed-use redevelopment with potential for office, residential, and community uses. Jacoby is rebranding Northgate Mall as “The Hub,” inspired by Lafayette’s nickname, Hub City, and the I-10/I-49 cloverleaf, which will be reflected in its new logo. The redevelopment will focus on mixed-use commerce, green spaces, and lighting to ensure safety and create a welcoming atmosphere. Years of deferred maintenance mean slow, steady work ahead, but the project is finally backed by a local owner committed to revitalization. The first major opening recently announced is Xtreme Health Club, a full-service fitness facility taking over the former Planet Fitness space. Owned and operated by Jacoby Landry’s sister, Rachel McCorvey, the facility will feature a nutritionist, weight management services, Botox, IV drips, sauna, hot tub, salt room, cold plunge, a health bar, and two indoor pickleball courts. Pilates and boxing fitness will also be offered, bringing Red’s Health Club-like amenities to North Lafayette on a smaller, community-focused scale. It’s expected to open in early 2026. 3. Buc-ee’s Delayed… Again The massive travel center planned for I-10 in Broussard is still happening, but Buc-ee’s has pushed back construction. The company is re-evaluating store designs nationwide, impacting multiple projects—not just Lafayette’s. New projected opening: 2028. Even with delays, the development will be a major economic catalyst, generating hundreds of jobs and significant sales-tax revenue. 4. SafeSource Direct Closure One of the biggest economic losses of the year was the shutdown of SafeSource Direct’s facilities in Broussard and Lafayette Parish. Global PPE competition, especially from China, made U.S. glove manufacturing unsustainable. Key impacts: 700 local jobs lostLoss of a major employer of ...
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