According to the Baton Rouge Advocate, Blue Zoo will open a location in the Mall of Louisiana next spring, in either April or May. The attraction will cover
about 16,000 square feet on the first floor of the mall, near Dillard's. The
Mall of Louisiana hopes that the aquarium will bring potential shoppers to the
mall at a time when traditional retailers are struggling with competition from
online outlets, especially with the coronavirus.
Other
shopping malls owned by Brookfield Properties have also opened similar-sized Blue
Zoo aquariums.
The aquarium
lets children and adults touch and feed stingrays, birds, and lizards. Guests
can also see unique aquatic creatures, such as sharks, clownfish, seahorses,
jellyfish, octopus, and starfish. According to the founder and CEO of Blue Zoo,
Wes Haws, "The company opens their aquariums in malls because the industry is
going through a transition, away from strictly being a retail hub. People are
looking for experiences instead of buying things." Before the Coronavirus
pandemic hit, the aquarium was on track to get 180,000 paid visitors during its
first year.
The Blue Zoo
is more than an aquarium. Their mission is to educate and inspire in a fun,
hands-on environment. There are water play tables, predators, a saltwater
center, interactive play, and even a pirate ship. When recovering from a freak
accident many years ago, Wes Haws spent his time learning about sea life and therefore
acquiring his love for sea creatures and their environment. Wes wants to pass
his appreciation for aquatic life on to others, as well as inspire and educate
the future generations about the importance of marine conservation.
The Mall of
Louisiana in Baton Rogue is excited to come together as a community again after
the coronavirus pandemic. The mall is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 11
a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, from noon - 6 p.m. To ensure the safety of all
guests, the mall will have hand-sanitizing stations, touch-free interactions,
frequent cleanings, and a new filtered air system that captures airborne
viruses. The mall is also offering curbside pickup and Spot Holder, which
allows you to reserve a time to shop.
