UPDATE: Movie Theater to Furniture Store

So just how much does it cost to turn a movie theater into a furniture store? Evidently, about $1.2 million. A few days ago, Bassett furniture got a building permit in that amount as work begins to convert the former Carmike Theater at the Mall of Acadiana into a furniture outlet.

The movie theater closed earlier this year. Bassett Furniture is currently located across Johnston in the former Target building. No word on how long the work will take.

UPDATE: Candy Craze Opens

The Mall of Acadiana is back in the candy business. Candy Craze opened Friday according to the mall's Marketing Specialist, Brian Lutz. Evidently lots of people missed the old candy store, which was in the food court. "This addition has been highly requested by ourguests as well as our mall employees,” Lutz tells me.

Candy Craze is located next to the Gap, and is joined by new mall tenants Yankee Candle Company and Sephora.

Kirkland's Leaves Mall, Moves Across Johnston

Home accessory store Kirkland's is leaving the Mall of Acadiana, but the retailer isn't leaving Lafayette. The store is moving across Johnston Street into a building next to Applebee's (I believe this was formerly a Fashion Warehouse or something similar? If you know leave a comment below). Workers cleaning the windows and assembling the shelves at the new location told me it should be open in about a week.

Mall of Acadiana Marketing Director Brian Lutz tells me that Kirkland's wanted more space, but there were no larger slots open. Lutz says the mall has already leased the Kirkland's space, but the deal has not been finalized so he can't release the name of the new tenant.

Lutz tells me there are many indicators coming out of the mall that show shoppers in Acadiana continue to hit the stores - despite national trends. You can read more about that in my column that will debut in tomorrow's issue of The Independent.

Sweet New Mall Tenant

A store selling only candy will once again be a tenant at the Mall of Acadiana. The mall applied for a $30,000 permit to retro-fit space next to The Gap for Candy Craze. Above is a picture of a typical outlet from Candy Craze's website. The Missouri-based chain sells bulk candy in malls throughout the South.

I know there was a candy store in the mall near the food court for years, but according to the mall's store directory - it must have closed.