2025 South Louisiana Retail Market: Transaction Summary
A comprehensive analysis of retail property sales across South Louisiana, powered by ELIFIN’s proprietary transaction database.
ELIFIN is Louisiana’s #1 commercial real estate brokerage by number of sales. With specialized agents operating from offices in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Lafayette, ELIFIN tracks every commercial property transaction across South Louisiana through a proprietary database of 59,000+ commercial properties and 41,000+ property owner contacts. This report presents a complete summary of retail real estate sales activity across the state’s three major metro markets in 2025.
South Louisiana’s retail sector posted a landmark year in 2025. Dollar volume more than doubled — climbing from $303.3 million in 2024 to $611.2 million — while transaction count rose from 296 to 365. Several large-scale acquisitions in the Baton Rouge corridor, including an $81 million lifestyle center sale and a multi-property auto dealership portfolio that exceeded $109 million, drove much of the volume surge. But the growth extended well beyond headline deals: every major metro saw increases in both the number of transactions and total volume, signaling broad-based demand for retail properties across the region.
2025 Retail Market at a Glance
The median retail sale in 2025 closed at $677,500, while the average reached $1.76 million — a gap that reflects the outsized influence of a handful of eight-figure transactions at the top of the market. The median price per square foot of $150 provides a more grounded benchmark for typical retail buildings changing hands across the region. In total, nearly 4.0 million square feet of retail space transacted during the year.
Quarterly Breakdown
Transaction activity accelerated throughout the year, with each quarter outpacing the last in both deal count and volume.
| Quarter | Transactions | Dollar Volume | Avg. Sale Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | 74 | $82.6M | $1.16M |
| Q2 2025 | 90 | $96.7M | $1.11M |
| Q3 2025 | 95 | $180.1M | $2.02M |
| Q4 2025 | 106 | $251.8M | $2.56M |
Q4 accounted for 41% of the year’s total dollar volume on just 29% of transactions, driven primarily by a cluster of high-value closings along the Airline Highway corridor in Baton Rouge and Prairieville. Q3 also saw a significant jump thanks to the $81 million lifestyle center acquisition. Even setting aside these mega-deals, Q3 and Q4 sustained noticeably higher baseline activity, consistent with a market that gained momentum as the year progressed.
Performance by Metro Market
| Market | Transactions | Dollar Volume | Median Price | Median $/SF | YoY Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge Metro | 127 | $335.4M | $950,000 | $179/SF | +233% |
| New Orleans Metro | 162 | $162.9M | $507,500 | $144/SF | +4% |
| Lafayette | 76 | $112.9M | $700,000 | $133/SF | +145% |
Baton Rouge Metro (East Baton Rouge and Ascension Parishes) recorded 127 retail sales totaling $335.4 million in 2025 — a dramatic increase from $100.8 million in 2024. The surge was concentrated in large transactions: the $81 million lifestyle center sale at 7529 Corporate Boulevard and the multi-property All Star auto dealership portfolio along Airline Highway accounted for a significant share. The median sale price of $950,000 and median price per square foot of $179 were the highest among the three metros, reflecting the corridor’s mix of established retail centers and high-traffic freestanding properties.
New Orleans Metro (Orleans and Jefferson Parishes) led all markets by transaction count with 162 retail sales, generating $162.9 million in total volume. The metro’s volume grew modestly at 4% year-over-year, but the transaction count increased from 146 to 162 — an 11% rise that signals continued absorption of retail inventory. The median sale price of $507,500 and median price per square foot of $144 reflect the market’s high proportion of smaller neighborhood retail properties. Jefferson Parish contributed 79 of those transactions, with Metairie’s Veterans Memorial Boulevard and Kenner corridors seeing particularly active deal flow.
Lafayette posted 76 retail sales totaling $112.9 million, more than doubling its 2024 volume of $46.1 million. Much of that growth came from the $25 million Dave & Buster’s acquisition on Spring Farm Road and the $8.2 million Centre Sarcelle strip center sale in Youngsville. Lafayette’s transaction count also jumped from 59 to 76, a 29% increase that extended across price points and retail subtypes. ELIFIN has tracked comprehensive transaction data in Lafayette Parish since 2023, and the 2025 results represent a notable acceleration in market activity.
Building Size Distribution
The bulk of retail transaction activity — over 55% of all sales — involved buildings under 5,000 square feet, consistent with South Louisiana’s retail landscape of freestanding restaurants, convenience stores, and neighborhood service buildings. Larger properties above 25,000 square feet accounted for 31 transactions, including several significant strip centers, neighborhood centers, and the year’s marquee lifestyle center deal.
Price Range Distribution
| Price Range | Transactions | Dollar Volume | % of Total Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $250,000 | 50 | $8.1M | 13.7% |
| $250,000 – $500,000 | 68 | $25.1M | 18.6% |
| $500,000 – $1,000,000 | 82 | $58.8M | 22.5% |
| $1,000,000 – $2,500,000 | 58 | $95.1M | 15.9% |
| $2,500,000 – $5,000,000 | 26 | $91.9M | 7.1% |
| $5,000,000 – $10,000,000 | 8 | $55.5M | 2.2% |
| $10,000,000+ | 8 | $192.3M | 2.2% |
Over half of all retail sales occurred below $1 million, consistent with the region’s landscape of smaller freestanding properties. The eight transactions above $10 million accounted for 31% of total dollar volume, underscoring the outsized role that institutional-grade deals played in 2025’s market totals.
Retail Subtype Breakdown
Freestanding retail properties were the dominant subtype in 2025, accounting for 122 transactions and $264.2 million in volume. This category includes single-tenant buildings, restaurants, convenience stores, auto-related retail, and similar properties — the backbone of the South Louisiana retail market. Strip centers (16 sales, $51.9 million), neighborhood centers (11 sales, $25.7 million), and lifestyle centers (2 sales, $84.9 million) made up the multi-tenant segment. The two lifestyle center transactions alone — the $81 million Corporate Boulevard sale in Baton Rouge and a $3.85 million sale on Metairie Road — accounted for nearly 14% of total annual volume.
Highlighted Transactions
The largest retail transaction in South Louisiana in 2025 and one of the largest commercial sales of any type. This lifestyle center along Corporate Boulevard traded at approximately $197 per square foot when G&I XI TC at Cedar Lodge LLC acquired the property from TCCL 1 McMillan Eagle Partners LP.
The highest price-per-square-foot retail sale above $10 million in the state. EPRT Tennessee Properties LLC acquired this Dave & Buster’s location from the operator, reflecting the national trend of sale-leaseback transactions for experiential retail assets in growing markets like Lafayette.
Part of a broader portfolio of auto dealership properties along Airline Highway that changed hands in late 2025. Real Estate Holdco LLC acquired multiple All Star Dealership sites totaling over $84 million on the corridor alone, making it one of the most significant retail portfolio transactions in the Baton Rouge market’s recent history.
A multi-tenant strip center in one of Lafayette’s fastest-growing suburban submarkets. Metairie Youngsville LLC acquired the property from Coolbrz I LLC at $246 per square foot, reflecting investor confidence in Youngsville’s expanding retail trade area.
2025 Retail Transaction Map
Baton Rouge Metro
New Orleans Metro
Lafayette
Year-Over-Year Comparison: 2024 vs. 2025
| Metric | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Transactions | 296 | 365 | +23.3% |
| Total Dollar Volume | $303.3M | $611.2M | +101.5% |
| Baton Rouge Metro Volume | $100.8M | $335.4M | +232.8% |
| New Orleans Metro Volume | $156.5M | $162.9M | +4.1% |
| Lafayette Volume | $46.1M | $112.9M | +144.8% |
Every metro market posted year-over-year gains. Baton Rouge’s 233% volume jump was heavily influenced by the lifestyle center and auto dealership portfolio closings — without those transactions, the metro’s volume would have still grown meaningfully on the strength of 36 additional transactions compared to 2024. New Orleans maintained steady activity with modest volume growth, while Lafayette’s volume nearly tripled as larger institutional buyers targeted the Acadiana market alongside continued local investor demand.
ELIFIN’s Retail Market Expertise
ELIFIN’s proprietary Block system assigns every commercial property in South Louisiana to a geographic block managed by a specialized agent. This means every retail building, strip center, and freestanding property in the state has a dedicated ELIFIN professional who knows the property, understands the local trade area, and maintains relationships with the ownership. When a retail property trades — whether it’s a $200,000 convenience store or an $81 million lifestyle center — ELIFIN’s database captures the transaction.
That depth of coverage is what makes this report possible. ELIFIN has tracked every commercial sale in East Baton Rouge Parish since 2015 and in Orleans Parish since 2017, giving us a decade of retail transaction data to identify pricing trends, track investor activity, and benchmark property values with precision that no other brokerage in the state can match.
For retail property owners considering a sale, ELIFIN’s database of 41,000+ property owner contacts and 5.4 million logged CRM activities means your property reaches the right buyers — not just a listing on a website, but targeted outreach to investors and operators who are actively acquiring retail assets in your specific market.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many retail properties sold in Louisiana in 2025?
ELIFIN’s database recorded 365 retail property sales across South Louisiana in 2025, generating $611.2 million in total dollar volume. This represents a 23% increase in transactions and a 101% increase in volume compared to 2024.
What was the average price of a retail building in South Louisiana in 2025?
The average retail sale price in 2025 was $1.76 million, while the median was $677,500. The median price per square foot was $150. These figures are based on disclosed-price transactions tracked in ELIFIN’s proprietary database across Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Lafayette markets.
Which South Louisiana market had the most retail sales in 2025?
The New Orleans Metro (Orleans and Jefferson Parishes) led in transaction count with 162 retail sales. However, the Baton Rouge Metro led in dollar volume at $335.4 million, driven by several high-value transactions including an $81 million lifestyle center and a multi-property auto dealership portfolio.
What types of retail properties sell most often in Louisiana?
Freestanding retail buildings — including restaurants, convenience stores, banks, and single-tenant properties — were the most traded subtype in 2025, accounting for 122 sales and $264.2 million in volume. Strip centers and neighborhood centers also saw steady activity, particularly in suburban growth corridors.
Is now a good time to sell a retail property in Louisiana?
2025’s data shows strong buyer demand across all price points and metro markets, with both transaction count and dollar volume increasing significantly over 2024. Retail properties in high-traffic corridors and growing suburban markets like Ascension Parish and Youngsville are attracting particular interest. For a data-driven valuation of your retail property, contact ELIFIN for a complimentary market analysis.
Thinking About Selling a Retail Property?
ELIFIN’s specialized agents and proprietary database deliver targeted buyer outreach that generic brokerages can’t match. Whether you own a freestanding building, strip center, or neighborhood retail center — we know your market, your property, and the buyers looking for it.