The revolutionary idea of community officially opened Thursday

The idea of community has been re-imagined with the grand opening of Villagio Main Street Thursday.

Villagio, located at 5200 East Texas St. in Bossier City, is a living complex comprised of apartments, restaurants, stores, a lake front, central boulevard, and plaza area. An east and west square contains 239 apartments and near the lake is an area that will be developed into town homes available for purchase.

Villaggio Main Street — the Italian themed town center's retail district in the multi-use Villaggio development  — opened with 14 retail and service stores during a ribbon cutting ceremony.

John Good, Villagio developer, wanted to do something different and raise the bar when it came to apartment living.

"I wanted to bring the local flavor. There are people who have had a dream for years and I wanted to give them the ability to open a store in a place that is unparalleled and to live in a place they can be proud to call home," said Good.

The stores that opened their doors Thursday included: Buttercups Cupcakes, Pretty Cosmetics/Pretty Medical Spa/Pretty Creations/Runway Hair Salon, Dorato Tanning Salon, Soumas Creole Heritage Cottage, Chez Rivage Boutique, Chez Rivage Paperie, Boutique di Bambini, French Natural Soaps, Peaux Pouri Gifts, South Bossier Cleaners, Le Bambini Academy

Other stores slated to open in the next few months are Esther’s Heavenly Sweet Things, Pisa Pizza Kitchen, The Cutlet House, Ethnos Coffee Shop, Stoney’s Pub, Casa Lara Mexican Restaurant, Bayou Ink, Subway, i-Zone Computing Center & Internet Café, LeFevre Flowers & Frame Shop.

The opening of Villagio has been fraught with false starts and delays due to weather.

"It got to the point where we felt like we needed to get these stores open so they could start generating income and our sense of satisfaction comes from them. John Good has developed such a personal relationship with them that it's not about Villagio, it's about them," said Kyle Rodriguez, public relations for Villagio.

The opening has been pushed back eight times, eventually lead to an opening being scheduled for every week in October, only to be cancelled.

"In over 30 years, I have never dealt with a situation like this," said Rodriguez. "They're open, they seem to be very happy and I think there's a sense of relief."

Kim Wood, owner of Buttercups Cupcakes, has picked up national fame for Hollywood stars choosing her delicious cupcakes while shooting movies in the area. The sweets were originally sold at Cush's in Shreveport and she chose Villagio to expand her brand far enough away to avoid interfering with her original business.

"When I saw this development I thought it was awesome. I have a lot of faith in it. I think it will be a great place for people to spend the day, come out, shop and eat," said Wood.

She is excited to be a part of the stores in Villagio and think it will expand her business greatly.

"I think the idea of having people who live here and come to shop here will be great for business. I've had kids tell me they're going to come by and get cupcakes every day after school," said Wood.

Faith Good, daughter of John Good and owner of Pretty Cosmetics and partner to the Pretty Cosmetics/Pretty Medical Spa/Pretty Creations/Runway Hair Salon group of stores at Villagio, was patient for her store to open.

"I say good things come to those who wait, so I definitely wanted to wait to make sure everything was right. I think the anticipation from everyone made it even better," she said.

From her point of view, residents are excited about "being able to really live where they're residing."
"I think they're more excited about not having to go far to have good food and good shopping," said Faith Good.

The store was designed with the idea to have a one-stop-shop for women to shop in the boutique while waiting on an appointment, start with skin care, get make up and get their hair done.

"I think with Bossier being a tourist town that will help and a lot of the shops are local, so I think Shreveport and Bossier will support that," said Good.

Not only unique for the concept, Villagio is singular in its design.

Behind the living and commercial area lies a six acre lake with a sandy beach area for swimming and location for paddle boat rentals that will be coming soon. There will also be a two-story lake house complete with fitness center and offices on first floor and a 5,000 sq. ft. reception hall on the second floor.

One -, two- and three-bedroom apartments are available with thee-, six- or 12-month leases. One bedroom rent ranges from $795 to $1,195 per month for one bedroom. Two-bedroom ranges from $995 to $1,325 and three bedroom is $1,295 to $1,350.

Special construction features include several balconies, a layer of concrete between floors to help reduce noise and a closed walkway for second floor residents that will take them from the apartment building to the lake.

State Rep. Jane Smith says a debt of gratitude is owed to Good and other developers for their ability to see through visionary projects that promote Bossier City.

"When you drive up and down this highway and see the things going on at Villagio, it's amazing. God has blessed us and John Good," said Smith.

Mayor Lorenz Walker called Good a visionary, planner, conceptualizer and facilitator.

"You can't do the projects John has done easily. John not only has the patience, but the tenacity, organizational management skills and business skills to make it happen. This community is extremely fortunate to have John Good as a member of it,"  said Walker.

Good thanked the city for giving him a chance to do projects like Stone Bridge, the Louisiana Boardwalk and Villagio.

"Bossier City is a small city that has big ideas and fortunately I have been able to participate in those dreams," he said.

Good said he signed the loan for Villagio in 2007 and is amazed that he was able to see the project through the tough economic times.

"Considering what's happened since that time, not only is it a miracle in my mind that we're here to open this, we're here to open with over half the apartments rented and three-quarters of the retail spaces filled. I think it's a great accomplishment and that's indicative of Bossier City," said Good.

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