Blanchard's New Businesses: What To Expect Soon

Blanchard Mayor Jim Galambos told KEEL News on Wednesday several new pads are moving from plans to opening day. A full-service restaurant site has been purchased and annexed near AutoZone in front of the Walmart property.

An AT&T store next to Dollar Tree is built, and the Take 5 Oil Change beside O’Reilly Auto Parts should open before Thanksgiving. RaceTrac has finished buying land across from Love’s, and the site is inside Blanchard limits after annexation.

Sales Tax and Blanchard Police Staffing

Gas itself does not carry local sales tax, but in-store purchases do. Love’s generates close to $5,000 a month in sales tax revenue that Blanchard dedicates to its police department.

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The department now has nine officers, seven full time, plus a full-time chief. Galambos notes that growth helps keep the police budget more self-sufficient, reducing reliance on property taxes.

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Housing and Neighborhood Retail

Builders are staying active despite rates. DSLD Homes continues to build and sell in Blanchard Lake Estates on Wasson Road, with the mayor signing roughly six house plats every three or four months. E&L Development is finishing work behind Northwood High and planning more infrastructure, plus a new small retail strip, with timing influenced by interest rates.

Outdoor Recreation Drawing Visitors

Blanchard’s 1 North Adventure Trails mountain bike park on Highway 1 is opening in phases. The plan calls for a 500-car parking lot and about 22 miles of trails. Riders are already coming from as far as Houston, New Orleans, and Mobile.

Data Center Buzz

Regional chatter about a data center includes Blanchard. Galambos says he signed an NDA, jokingly a “keep your big mouth shut agreement,” and expects broader announcements toward the end of the year.

He points to Delhi’s Meta project as an example of near-term impact, with daily construction jobs and full RV parks and hotels that lift local spending on groceries and restaurants. Sites would likely sit on the outskirts where larger tracts exist, similar to areas west and north of Shreveport.