Virtual French Market -- Walking Tour

We're now standing in front of the Market Cafe in the Vegetable Market (the original location of the Morning Call Coffee Stand for you old-timers). This is a three-way corner: Decatur continues downriver, but splits to the right into N. Peters Street here at the intersection of St. Phillip St. As we turn towards the river, there is a large, three-story red building in front of us that is known as the Red Stores.

This section of the Market received its name because the original 'red stores' were three identical buildings that were located on what is now the downriver section of the Bazaar Market. The original buildings were constructed in 1833 as private stores that weren't officially connected to the French Market. As with many things that are clumped together in close quarters, the Red Stores became associated with going to the French Market. You can almost hear the servants in the antebellum Vieux Carre' saying "I'm going down to the Red Stores at the French Market to pick up a few things." Time and storms took its toll on the original buildings, and they were demolished in the big renovation of the Market in the 1930s. When the Market was again renovated in the 1970s, there was a need to build space for the French Market Corporation offices, as well as to create new retail or restaurant space, so the new building was painted red and given the legacy of the original Red Stores.

The current Red Stores building does indeed house the offices of the French Market Corporation, and the first floor is the location of Greco's Seafood Restaurant, which serves traditional Creole dishes. Barbecue Shrimp is one of their specialties. Greco's has a nice patio area as well as regular indoor dining.

Other than Greco's for lunch or dinner, there's not much to keep our interest at the Red Stores, so let's cross N. Peters and move down the alley.