Harborwalk Village Now Welcomes Tourists & Residents

The pace of HarborWalk seems to be more of a run. A month ago, visitors to the construction zone at the foot of Marler Bridge and in the shadow of Emerald Grande would walk through piles of sand under hulking structures with no facades. A half-built lighthouse that will be a trademark of the new Harry T’s restaurant would cast a shadow on construction crews working furiously below.

One month later, the walkway is paved in an elegant brick pattern, the lighthouse is complete and crews are putting the finishing touches on the exteriors of buildings that will be home to New Orleans institutions like Camellia Grill, Pat O’Briens and Commander’s Palace.

Legendary Inc., the parent company behind HarborWalk Village, has long pointed to June 1 as the grand opening of a development with a goal of nothing less than the transformation of the harbor.

As June 1 approached, the company, which is one of the city’s largest employers, joined with the Harbor Association and national sponsors to kick off SummerFest, a season-long celebration of the harbor.

Construction crews were working “around the clock” in the run-up to Sunday’s festivities, when hundreds gathered on the docks to hear a gospel choir and talk to artists working their craft on the harbor. Company officials called the day’s events “a momentous occasion.”

Meanwhile, the first of many retail stores is set to open today in Building D. Del Sol is a beach retailer that specializes in “fun in the sun with color-changing apparel.”

Co-owner Ken Knox and his son Brian will run the store. “The contractor did a great job,” Ken said amid the stacks of shirts. “Now, we just need power.”

Tis the Season is set to open this week and will offer shoppers Christmas and other holiday hoopla year round. SugarLand, a candy store, is also set to open this week. Luksus!, a European men’s and women’s clothier, will open soon after.

It’s all part of HarborWalk’s strategy of rolling out new attractions in dribs and drabs as they woo residents and tourists to the Harbor with new restaurants, retail, fireworks, art and music.

“Things will be going on-line like a steady drumbeat all summer long,” said Craig McIntyre, the executive vice president of development.

The first restaurant to open will be the Water Grill. The Water Grill, which could open in late June, will offer “a hip, coastal restaurant specializing in prime steaks, chops, and seafood as well as a bar scene featuring specialty cocktails and martinis,” a release states. The restaurant will be the first of its kinds for developer Restaurants-America, which is also the parent company of Bluepoint at Destin Commons.

Pat O’ Briens, maker of the iconic Hurricane mixed drink, could open in early July. Commander’s and the new Harry T’s could be up and running by mid-July.
McIntyre said most of the construction work should be done by mid-summer.

“I guess the challenge like anything else is keeping the crews’ workflow focused on the effort before us,” he said. “We have put in a lot of late nights.”

Published on Wednesday, June 4, 2008