From his earliest days standing on a milk crate as an 8-year-old cashier for the family business, Rick Balow has made a career in the retail field. Today, as general manager for Perkins Rowe, he has helped make the shopping center one of the area’s more popular attractions. He says the appeal of Perkins Rowe is its “Live, Work and Play” concept, and likens the ambiance of the grounds to urban centers of the past. Fittingly, Balow considers Perkins Rowe to be his favorite spot in Baton Rouge. Read the full Q&A here. Here’s a sample:
The shopping center offers a different feel from other centers in the Baton Rouge area. How do you define that vibe and what inspired it?
“The mixed-use property concept has been around for several years and really harkens back to the traditional inner-city living, where you would live and work within several blocks. You went to the market or drugstore or out to eat or to the movies, and they were all conveniently close to your home. For those coming from outside the property, [Perkins Rowe] is a magical place that allows you to get away and enjoy the beauty and excitement that is very unique to Baton Rouge and the surrounding area.”
