Virtual Canal Street

Maison Blanche on Canal Street, c. 1905

Time was when going down to Canal Street was a big deal for a family. You never went downtown unless you were properly dressed. You met up with folks under the clock at D.H. Holmes. You took the kids every Christmas to see not only Santa, but Mr. Bingle at the Maison Blanche on Canal. Krauss, Godchaux and Gus Mayer were all stops along the way.

Many of those stores are gone. D. H. Holmes has been converted into a hotel. (They've at least put the clock back up, albiet in a bar in the lobby.) The streetcars are all but gone from the CBD, and most New Orleanians do their shopping in malls nowadays. Virtually New Orleans is certainly not the medium that will bring back the glory days of shopping on Canal St., but hopefully we'll be able to jog some fond memories for those old enough to remember the heyday of "goin' downtown."

We're proud to offer the first on-line shopping selection on Virtually New Orleans. Richard Vallon has made available to us his print "One Coffee, One Order," which is probably the best photo of New Orleans coffee and beignets ever shot.

Jump to Richard Vallon's "One Coffee, One Order."

If there's something you'd be willing to buy via the 'net, please drop me e-mail with suggestions as to who we should be talking to. It's one thing to sell the notion of marketing on the Web to folks in New Orleans; it's another to take copies of messages that say there really are users out there who'll buy stuff. Let me know what you think.

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Comments are welcome: e-mail to vno@yatcom.com