ABOUT
THE CENTER
The Andress Artist and Entrepreneur Center, located in the heart of Shreveport Common, is home to established businesses, startups, and artists.
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OUR MEMBERS
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WHAT'S NEW
We're in the news. Check here to see what is happening around the AAEC and what people are saying.
New Andress Artist & Entrepreneur Center opens soon
January 13, 2021 | KTBS
The Andress Artist and Entrepreneur Center is opening in February in downtown Shreveport. The building was renovated after it was vacant for more than 30 years. READ MORE
Andress Ford Motor Co. gets new life as Andress Artist & Entrepreneur Center
August 23, 2019 | Shreveport Times
The Andress Ford Motor Co. building has new life after sitting unused for decades, thanks to the public/private redevelopment effort of Shreveport Common and JRM Ventures. READ MORE
OUR HISTORY
A Revival Story
The Art Deco building was designed by world renowned architect and Shreveport native Sam Wiener. The original owner, Benton Howard, opened a Ford dealership in the building in 1929. Redden Thaddeus “Thad” Andress took over the building in 1931, and it served as a parking garage and a Ford dealership in its heyday.
After Andress moved his dealership to a larger location on Texas Avenue, the Andress Building, with its ornate Mayan-inspired molding and colored glass windows, sat vacant, crumbling under the weight of time and the elements.
In early 2019, Jim Malsch, Managing Partner of the Andress Artist & Entrepreneur Center, partnered with Shreveport Common and the Shreveport Regional Arts Council to bring the building back to life. The Center is proud to be part of the larger creative revival of downtown Shreveport.