In the last few months, the city of Natchitoches has experienced a wave of business closures along with the addition of several business openings.

In 2025, the Natchitoches community lost the following businesses: International Paper Red River Mill, Pinocchio Restaurant, Piggly Wiggly, Arby’s, Natty Southern Nutrition and Ben D. Johnson Educational Center due to different factors. Also set to close this year is Sally’s Beauty Supply on Nov. 15 and Goodwill on an unspecified date in December.

While several local favorites have shut their doors this year, business leaders say this cycle of change is a natural—and sometimes healthy—part of a small city’s economy.

Laura Lyles, president and CEO of the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce and executive director of the Natchitoches Economic Development Alliance, explained that business turnover is not unusual for communities like Natchitoches.

“Businesses are the heartbeat of any community, they provide jobs, services and products so their success directly impacts the community,” Lyles said. “Openings and closings are not new. They have always happened. What matters is how we respond and how we fill the gaps.”

Lyles explained that about 65% of businesses in Natchitoches are small, locally owned operations. She added that the current rising costs, including utilities and supplies, have made operating a small business more challenging than in previous years.

“It is always sad to see a business close, but there is always opportunity whenever a business closes for someone to come in to fill a gap that was not already being filled,” Lyles said.

The Natchitoches community is seeing new businesses step up to fill those empty spaces. This year the community added a Wingstop, a new Super 1 Foods, Troy’s Butcher Shop and Raging Bull Sports Bar.

Cane River Soap Company, which offers an assortment of handmade soaps, lotions, sugar scrubs, essential oils and laundry soaps, opened on Front Street. Co-owner Mike Walthall explained that the company officially opened its brick-and-mortar store after years of success in Shreveport.

“We have been doing retail sales, which consists of farmers’ markets and online, for about six or seven years,” Walthall said. “We have been making products for about 14 years.”

Natchitoches Picnic Company, co-owned by Laurie Berry and James Gaspard, also opened on Front Street. The business originally opened as a grab-and-go deli located on South Drive in 2021, then later relocated to Church Street in 2023.

Now located in a larger location on Front Street, the owners are able to grow their vision by offering deli items, soups, salads, sandwiches, gelato, desserts, coffee, charcuterie and catering. The business also has plans to introduce a breakfast menu and wine and bourbon tasting section.

Berry said that she has noticed a shift in the types of businesses opening and closing.

“Many of the businesses that have closed are franchises,” Berry said. “But what are opening and taking their places are small businesses.”

While the loss of businesses may raise concerns, new openings show that Natchitoches’ commercial landscape is continuing to evolve. The transition between the closing of older establishments and emerging newer businesses shows the economic community is finding new ways to grow.