Downtown

Downtown West Monroe, commonly known as Antique Alley, is bustling with boutiques and antique shops. A wide variety of shops can be found offering everything from the latest fashions, investment antiques, original works of art, and fine gifts. 

Located on the banks of the Ouachita River, the downtown core has thrived over the years as a result of a group of dedicated merchants, property owners, and community volunteers committed to preserving the historic character of West Monroe. 

For information on the many downtown community events and projects, follow the Downtown West Monroe Facebook and Instagram pages.

Historic Districts

In 2019, a portion of Downtown West Monroe’s Cotton Port Historic District was named as a National Register Historic District by the National Park Service. This designation means property owners within the district are eligible for both federal and state historic building rehabilitation tax credits. 

Main Street Program

The Cotton Port Historic District was designated as a Louisiana Main Street district in 2020 by Louisiana Main Street. The first Louisiana community to receive this designation since 2014, West Monroe was also the first city to successfully complete the series of Lagniappe Community benchmarks required to receive this designation. The Main Street program provides a roadmap to spur community-driven, comprehensive downtown revitalization and sustainability.

In 2023, Downtown West Monroe became a Nationally Accredited Main Street Program. 

Alley Park

Alley Park is an open-air public gathering space located on the corner of Trenton and Natchitoches Street. A variety of community events and activities are hosted in the Park including family-friendly events and concerts.

Ouachita Live

Ouachita Live is a free outdoor concert series held in Downtown West Monroe’s Alley Park that takes place the last Friday of the month from March through October. The series was founded to increase public accessibility to live music, to attract people to the downtown historic district, and to enhance quality of life by leveraging public gathering spaces. This concert series draws spectators of all ages and backgrounds who live in the community and surrounding areas. 

Holidays

From walkthrough lighted displays and wagon rides to fireworks and a parade, Downtown West Monroe is a holiday wonderland. Experience the magic of the season with us by following the Downtown West Monroe Facebook page to mark your calendars for all the wonderful celebrations we have during the season.

Downtown Streetscape Master Plan

In July 2019, the City of West Monroe received a $99,000 USDA Rural Business Development Grant to create a redevelopment streetscape master plan for the downtown Cotton Port Historic District. The purpose of the plan was to identify potential projects that positively impact economic development, population growth, and quality of life. The plan also identified possible funding sources.

This publicly driven plan was developed through input taken from public meetings, online surveys, and one-on-one meetings with small business owners and community leaders. A downtown master plan steering committee was also formed for the purpose of gathering feedback. The group represented possible stakeholders in the planning process. An online version of the plan is available at www.downtownwestmonroemasterplan.com