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Shopping in the French Quarter
Shopping in New Orleans is a highly evolved leisure activity with a shop for every strategy and a fix for every shopaholic -- and every budget. The range is as good as it gets -- many a clever person has come to New Orleans just to open up a quaint boutique filled with strange items gathered from all parts of the globe or produced by local, somewhat twisted, folk artists. And what's a better thing to do to help stimulate a struggling economy than throwing money at it?
Having said that, nearly every store is, at press time, undergoing varying levels of post-Katrina difficulty, either problems with sufficient staff, or difficulties stocking merchandise thanks to postal or shipping issues. In many cases, those problems may have abated by the time you go, but be aware that operating hours (and in some extreme cases, the very fate of the store itself) may still be affected, so call ahead to be sure.
Canal Place -- At the foot of Canal Street (365 Canal St.) where it reaches the Mississippi River, this sophisticated shopping center holds more than 50 shops, many of them branches of the world's most elegant retailers: Brooks Brothers, Bally, Saks Fifth Avenue, Gucci, Williams-Sonoma, and Jaeger. Open Monday through Wednesday from 10am to 6pm, Thursday from 10am to 8pm, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 7pm, and Sunday from noon to 6pm.
The French Market -- Shops in the Market begin on Decatur Street across from Jackson Square; offerings include candy, cookware, fashion, crafts, toys, New Orleans memorabilia, and candles. It's open from 10am to 6pm (and the Farmer's Market Café du Monde is open 24 hr.). Quite honestly, you'll find a lot of junk, but there are some good buys mixed in.
Jackson Brewery -- Just across from Jackson Square at 600-620 Decatur St., the old brewery building has been transformed into a jumble of shops, cafes, restaurants, and entertainment. Many shops in the Brewery close at 5:30 or 6pm, before the Brewery itself. Open Sunday through Thursday from 10am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 10pm.
Julia Street -- From Camp Street down to the river on Julia Street, you'll find many of the city's best contemporary art galleries. Of course, some of the works are a bit pricey, but there are good deals to be had if you're collecting and fine art to be seen if you're not.
Magazine Street -- This is the Garden District's premier shopping street. More than 140 shops line the street in 19th-century brick storefronts and quaint cottagelike buildings. Among the offerings are antiques, art galleries, boutiques, crafts, and dolls. If you're so inclined, you could shop all the way from Washington Street to Audubon Park. The most likely section goes, roughly, from the 3500 to 4200 blocks (from about Aline St. to Milan St., with the odd block or so of nothing). Pick up a copy of Visit Magazine Street: For a Shopper's Dream, a free guide and map to most of the stores on 6 miles of Magazine, available all along the street.
New Orleans Centre -- New Orleans's newest shopping center, at 1400 Poydras St., features a glass atrium and includes upscale stores like Lord & Taylor and Macy's. There are three levels of specialty shops and restaurants. Open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 8pm and Sunday from noon to 6pm.
Riverbend -- To reach this district (in the Carrollton area), ride the St. Charles Avenue streetcar (or the free bus temporarily replacing it) to stop 44 and then walk down Maple Street 1 block to Dublin Park, the site of an old public market that was once lined with open stalls. Nowadays, renovated shops inhabit the old general store, a produce warehouse made of bargeboard, and the town surveyor's raised-cottage home.
Riverwalk Marketplace -- A mall is a mall is a mall, unless it has picture windows offering a Mississippi panorama. Even though you almost certainly have a mall at home, this is worth visiting. Besides, if you need T-shirts instead of sweaters or vice versa, this is the closest Gap to the Quarter. Note that the best river views are in the section of the mall closest to the Convention Center. Other than a branch of Café du Monde, it's the usual mall suspects. 1 Poydras St. Open Monday through Thursday from 10am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 10pm, and Sunday from 12:30 to 5:30pm.
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