The History of the Blue Goose Neighborhood

Neighborhood Origins

The Blue Goose neighborhood was once the vibrant heart of Shreveport’s Crosstown district. Situated near the corner of Snow Street and Pickett Street, it was a place where family life, small businesses, and community pride came together.

The area took its name from the Blue Goose Grocery & Market, a modest corner store with a painted blue goose on its wall. Though the meaning behind the painted goose has been lost, the image gave identity to the entire district. More than just a store, it was a gathering place where families bought their essentials, exchanged news, and built lasting connections

Crosstown and the Rails

Crosstown’s location gave it an important role in Shreveport’s early growth. Just blocks away stood Union Station, the city’s main passenger rail terminal.

  • Opened in 1897, Union Station linked Shreveport to major rail networks across the South and Midwest.

  • The station drew travelers, commerce, and workers into the heart of downtown, and neighborhoods like Crosstown thrived because of this proximity.

  • Families living in Blue Goose were part of a city in motion, where the rhythms of rail and trade shaped everyday life.

Being close to Union Station gave the neighborhood a sense of connectedness — both to the city’s downtown economy and to the wider region.

Community Businesses and Anchors

Life in the Blue Goose neighborhood was centered around locally owned establishments that served everyday needs:

  • Blue Goose Grocery & Market
    The cornerstone of Crosstown, it offered groceries, household goods, and a communal space for neighbors. Rebuilt in brick in 1940, the structure still stands today as one of the last reminders of the community.

  • Fulco’s Grocery Store
    Fulco’s brought stability and relief to residents by providing consistent access to groceries in an area long considered a food desert. Its shelves served generations of Crosstown families, ensuring no one in the neighborhood had to go far for food staples.

  • Hogan’s Barber Shop
    Known as the oldest operating barber shop in Shreveport, Hogan’s Barber Shop was far more than a place for haircuts. It was a trusted community hub — a space for conversation, mentorship, and fellowship. Even when the building later fell vacant, its historical importance remained, representing both endurance and tradition in the Blue Goose story.

The Interstate Era

By the mid-20th century, however, progress came at a heavy cost. In the 1950s and 1960s, Crosstown was dramatically altered when much of the neighborhood was bulldozed to make way for Interstate 20.

  • Homes and businesses were demolished.

  • Families were displaced.

  • The once-thriving district was cut apart by concrete and traffic lanes.

Although the original Blue Goose Grocery had already been replaced by a brick structure in 1940, that building managed to survive the interstate’s intrusion. Today, it remains as one of the only standing physical links to the old Crosstown neighborhood.