In the early 2000’s the Museum Director, Herman Mhire had a vision to build a new museum on the grounds of the Art Center (the original USL Art Museum). With a generous gift of $5 million from Paul and Lulu Hilliard, Mhire’s vision became a reality. The new museum space opened in April of 2004, and at that time the original museum store was located upstairs in the open space on the second floor. The store had an extensive collection of art and art-inspired books. Along with the books were several curated gift items that provided museum visitors a rounded shopping experience. In 2012 a decision the Museum Director made the decision to relocate the museum store to its current location on the first floor. ULL students staffed the store and provided visitor services to guests.

The vision for the museum store has evolved over the years and reflects these changes by offering more local artworks for sale. Highlighting the works of Louisiana and other Southern artists and artisans in the museum store has become the biggest transformation. The store currently represents over thirty artists from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Visitors appreciate the marvelous selection of textiles, ceramics, jewelry, stationery, paintings, and more. Each handcrafted piece is unique and makes great gifts. Art and art-inspired books are an integral part of store sales and feature a variety of educational publications related to exhibitions and collections. Browsing the store’s bookshelves is a fantastic way to spend time after viewing museum exhibitions. The store also offers a variety of sustainable gifts and books for children. Children are welcome to explore the store and play with the toys on display.