KENNER, La. — There's a boom of economic development in Kenner.
Since being elected as Mayor for the City of Kenner two years ago, Ben Zahn says he has cut 65 ribbons and opened 500 occupational licenses.
"I think it's out eagerness that we're pushing. Me, this office and each and every councilperson along with the chief is making this happen," Zahn said.
Kenner even has a new committee expected to elevate the recent economic success.
You can see the boom right on the Interstate 10 frontage road. There's a brand new CarMax that opened in 2019. And Ronnie Lamarque is beefing up his facilities next door. He's built brand new buildings and is adding onto the Ford dealership. A ribbon cutting for his Lincoln dealership is expected this summer.
"What's happening in that area right there, I mean, we're not becoming the car dealership of the state, but we also have another car dealership that's going by the Kenner Market Center on West Esplanade, which will be a Dodge Chrysler dealership," Zahn said.
The mayor says he would like to use the old Esplanade Mall, possibly the old Macy's building, to consolidate government in one spot. He says it's far from becoming a reality, but they are working on it.
"City Hall is in like 15 different spots. It's a nightmare," Zahn said. "So if we put it all under one roof, it consolidates government in central Kenner, not North Kenner, not South Kenner. At the same time it gives people easy access to it and hopefully spur some economic development in the mall."
They're also looking at moving the Barbre Gymnastics program from south Kenner into the former Old Navy site.
The old Kenner cinema will be resurrected as a megachurch. Zahn says that the new church will put money back into the economy through local restaurants and gas stations.
"They might go see a movie at the new movie center down the street, which is doing really good," Zahn said. "They'll probably do some things in the City of Kenner, because those people live in Kenner."
Zahn said he used to fequently hear the complaint about the lack of restaurants available on West Esplanade. Now, El Paso and Salad Station are coming and Redfish Pizza just opened.
"So I'm not hearing anymore from people, 'We don't have anything to do on the weekends in the City of Kenner. We have to go outside of Kenner,'" Zahn said. "I think you have a lot to do in the City of Kenner."
As you get closer to Laketown, there's a brand new business complex with a Planet Fitness, Planet Smoothie, a salon, a restaurant and other bays available to be rented. And down the street, Zahn anticipates a Treasure Chest Casino moving in because Louisiana's riverboat casinos are now allowed to operate on land.
"Atlantis Corporation has stepped in also," Zahn said. "They would like to do some type of condo, boardwalk, shopping development. Not to hinder the Treasure Chest in any way. They would like to work with them and us to do two separate things."
Kenner's convention center, the Pontchartrain Center, draws a lot of local events, but the mayor wants to expand that to outside tournaments.
"You see more of overnight stays. Our hotel/motel sales tax will go up because of that," Zahn said. "Again, they'll come and use our shops, our gas stations, things like that."
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WWL-TV reporter Leslie Spoon can be reached at lspoon@wwltv.com;