Olde Towne Slidell is getting the full holiday-movie treatment, with Netflix transforming the historic downtown into a small-town winter set for a new romantic comedy. Storefronts are being refaced, seasonal touches are popping up around the square, and while shop owners say they intend to stay open, the production is expected to bring occasional street closures as cameras roll.
City Maps Out Storefront Makeovers For The 'St. Opal' Set
Photos shared by the City of Slidell show crews rebranding several Olde Towne businesses to match the film's fictional setting of St. Opal. Olde Towne Tavern is now The Mint Julep, Expo Signs has turned into Rusty's Hardware, Tacos & Beer is dressed as Giddy Gardenia Blooms & Bouquets, Brass Monkey is operating on camera as Bob's Magnolia Mart, The Golden Goat has become the St. Opal Theater, and Old Town Soda Shop is now Sweetie Pies & Cakes.
The city's post emphasizes that all Olde Towne businesses will remain open during filming, with only sporadic street closures expected while scenes are in progress. The images also give a clear look at the temporary signage and set dressing installed along the downtown facades.
Cast And Filming Details
The project, titled A Christmas Kind of Love, is a Netflix holiday movie now shooting in the New Orleans-Slidell area and features JoAnna Garcia Swisher alongside Mark Wystrach and Madison Wolfe. The story centers on a widowed baker and her daughter who are racing to save the town's Christmas production, according to 4Filming. Production writeups also list Bethany Ashton Wolf as writer-director, placing the film in the ongoing wave of Southern-set holiday rom-coms made in Louisiana.
What To Expect Downtown While Crews Work
The city has cautioned that residents and visitors should be ready for temporary lane or street closures, parking restrictions, and crew equipment on sidewalks during shooting, though most businesses are expected to stay open to customers, per the City of Slidell. Local casting calls have also been seeking background actors in the greater New Orleans-Slidell area, hinting at town-square crowd scenes, according to Axios New Orleans.
City officials are encouraging shoppers and diners to check hours with individual storefronts and to follow municipal updates for details on specific closure times as the production moves through downtown.
Why Louisiana Keeps Drawing Film And TV Productions
Louisiana has long been a magnet for film and television shoots, with state incentives, crew infrastructure, and studio capacity helping to pull projects away from other markets. New Orleans CityBusiness has reported on recent legislative reforms to the state's motion picture tax program that industry leaders say could help attract more episodic and feature productions.
For smaller downtowns like Slidell, a short-term Netflix shoot typically means extra business for restaurants, hotels, and local vendors while cast and crew are in town.
Where To Get Updates
The City of Slidell's Facebook page remains the main hub for day-to-day advisories, including photos from the set and notices about traffic and parking. Local coverage of the production has included reporting from WDSU and regional entertainment sites tracking casting calls and crew activity.
