Demolition of the former Clearview Mall in Metairie could begin as soon as February, as developers of the Clearview City Center finalize plans to build nearly 230,000-square-feet of new retail and entertainment offerings in its place.
Before the wrecking balls roll in, however, Zea Rotisserie & Bar — a longtime tenant of the former shopping mall — needs to move out.
Construction began Monday on a new building for the eatery in the Clearview City Center parking lot. Developers said it should be completed by February 2026, allowing Zea to relocate and demolition to begin.
Heavy equipment is seen as construction gets underway on a new building for Zea Rotisserie & Bar in the Clearview City Center parking lot in Metairie on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (Staff photo by Brett Duke, The Times-Picayune)
It’s the latest phase in the $100 million effort, first announced in 2019, to redevelop the 35-acre shopping center at the busy corner of Veterans and Clearview Parkway into a mixed-use, commercial hub.
That effort got a big boost in 2023, when Ochsner — a new anchor tenant — cut the ribbon on a $115 million, three-story medical complex on property once occupied by Sears. Later that year, Target finished its own $8 million renovation.
The redevelopment has also seen the addition of several smaller retailers. Regions Bank opened a branch in the parking lot in 2021. And last year, the Drew Brees-backed burger joint, Small Sliders, opened a restaurant at the intersection of Veterans and Clearview.
In April, the residential component of the project, The Metro at Clearview, a $55 million, 270-unit luxury apartment complex, welcomed its first tenants.
Once Zea relocates, demolition of the former Clearview Mall — as well as the former Bed, Bath & Beyond building — will begin “as quickly as possible,” according to John Snow, a spokesperson on the project.
Developers have yet to announce any new tenants for the next phase of redevelopment, though Snow said “our next major tenant there will be an exciting entertainment concept that will be a major draw for the area.”
Renderings on the project’s website show an open-air, retail corridor where the former Clearview Mall is located, with new retail space and walkways connecting shoppers to Target, the AMC theater and Ochsner medical complex.
‘Modern dining experience’
Zea moved into the shopping center more than two decades ago, as part of a $35 million expansion announced in 1999 that also included the addition of the Clearview Palace movie theater.
The new Zea will feature a new design focused on a “more upscale, modern dining experience,” with the rotisserie centrally located in the dining room, a larger bar area, and a 1,000-square-foot patio area equipped for outdoor dining and entertainment, among other additions and upgrades, according to a press release from the developers.
“The redesigned restaurant aligns perfectly with our long-term vision for Clearview City Center – to provide a unique, elevated experience for all throughout our parish and region,” Thomas Richards, whose family has owned the Clearview Mall since it opened in 1969, said in the release.
Zea, which is operated by Taste Buds Management, will remain open at its current location until the new building is ready.
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