Louisiana Through My Lens - C&C Mercantile in Shreveport


This past Wednesday I spent a good amount of time exploring a section of abandoned buildings along Texas Avenue in downtown Shreveport. One of the buildings that caught my attention when I had driven through the area a week prior was a blue building with an old car inside. Since the buildings that surrounded it were all but abandoned I assumed that this structure was as well. I made it a point to search out this particular location simply because I thought it would be interesting to photograph an old building with a classic car inside.

What I failed to notice when I drove by the first time was that C&C Mercantile wasn't an old abandoned store at all, but a flourishing antique store and art studio. It's actually the kind of place that my wife and I used to visit when we lived back in Southern California. It's a establishment where you can find everything from a stuffed bobcat to pink samurai armor and even a pop art portrait of Hugh Hefner. Someplace that is truly unique to Louisiana and honestly quite refreshing.

C&C Mercantile has actually occupied this location on Texas Avenue for forty years and while business around them have closed their doors one by one they have remained steadfast. A true diamond on the rough streets of Shreveport. The business started out simply as a shop that sold and repaired chandeliers and lighting fixtures. C&C still is, but now it is more of a creative community than just a simple store/repair shop.

It should be noted that C&C often hosts music, food and art festivals in their parking lot. These events are very popular and draw patrons from out of state. 

If Texas Avenue is ever to have a second life C&C Mercantile will certainly be at the center of it. 


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