Krauss building
Encyclopedia
29.956514°N 90.07366°W
The Krauss Building is a landmark building in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the downtown lake corner of Canal Street
and Basin Street
. It housed one of the city's leading department store
s for over 90 years. In 2009 it was redeveloped into condominiums by Elie Khoury.
In 1903, Krauss Department Store was opened at 1201 Canal Street, New Orleans
by Leon Fellman and his nephews, the Krauss brothers—Max, Alfred, Leopold, and Fritz. The building cost $25,000. Because of its location—right on the edge of Storyville—the store sold satin and lace to the ladies of the “District,” as it was known. Of course, women from all over the city shopped there, as well. Krauss was the first department store to install air conditioning in 1925 and also the first to have escalators—then known as mechanical stairs. The store survived into the 1990s by stocking obscure items not available at large chains and by refusing to reduce service to its loyal New Orleans customers. It was a monument to the old-fashioned way of doing business, and proud of it. During its 94 years of existence it expanded from 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) to 350000 square feet (32,516.1 m²), all on a real estate parcel of 8.5 acres (34,398.3 m²) fronting on Canal Street. Krauss closed in 1997.
From the long Formica lunch counter with the round red stools, to the madams and ladies of nearby Storyville
who once shopped within the store, the Krauss building enjoys a unique and storied place in New Orleans history.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4200/is_20070430/ai_n19066310
Historic Krauss Building - Good News in New Orleans
http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/2008/todays-news/good-news-in-new-orleans.html
Krauss Building New Orleans set for Fall Occupancy (2008)
http://www.allbusiness.com/safety-accidents-disasters/disasters-tropical/11485911-1.html
The Krauss Building is a landmark building in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the downtown lake corner of Canal Street
Canal Street, New Orleans
Canal Street is a major thoroughfare in the city of New Orleans. Forming the upriver boundary of the city's oldest neighborhood, the French Quarter , it acted as the dividing line between the older French/Spanish Colonial-era city and the newer American Sector, today's Central Business District.The...
and Basin Street
Basin Street
Basin Street or Rue Basin in French, is a street in New Orleans, Louisiana. It parallels Rampart Street one block lakeside, or inland, from the boundary of the French Quarter, running from Canal Street down 5 blocks past Saint Louis Cemetery...
. It housed one of the city's leading department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
s for over 90 years. In 2009 it was redeveloped into condominiums by Elie Khoury.
In 1903, Krauss Department Store was opened at 1201 Canal Street, New Orleans
Canal Street, New Orleans
Canal Street is a major thoroughfare in the city of New Orleans. Forming the upriver boundary of the city's oldest neighborhood, the French Quarter , it acted as the dividing line between the older French/Spanish Colonial-era city and the newer American Sector, today's Central Business District.The...
by Leon Fellman and his nephews, the Krauss brothers—Max, Alfred, Leopold, and Fritz. The building cost $25,000. Because of its location—right on the edge of Storyville—the store sold satin and lace to the ladies of the “District,” as it was known. Of course, women from all over the city shopped there, as well. Krauss was the first department store to install air conditioning in 1925 and also the first to have escalators—then known as mechanical stairs. The store survived into the 1990s by stocking obscure items not available at large chains and by refusing to reduce service to its loyal New Orleans customers. It was a monument to the old-fashioned way of doing business, and proud of it. During its 94 years of existence it expanded from 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) to 350000 square feet (32,516.1 m²), all on a real estate parcel of 8.5 acres (34,398.3 m²) fronting on Canal Street. Krauss closed in 1997.
From the long Formica lunch counter with the round red stools, to the madams and ladies of nearby Storyville
Storyville
Storyville was the red-light district of New Orleans, Louisiana, from 1897 through 1917. Locals usually simply referred to the area as The District.-History:...
who once shopped within the store, the Krauss building enjoys a unique and storied place in New Orleans history.
Current Use
This historic building remained vacant for nearly 11 years prior to its resurgence as the first luxury condominium development post-Katrina. Now named 1201 Canal, it houses an upscale community of 233 luxury residences and over 25000 square feet (2,322.6 m²) of street-front retail.Recent Articles
$60m Krauss Building Project in New Orleanshttp://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4200/is_20070430/ai_n19066310
Historic Krauss Building - Good News in New Orleans
http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/2008/todays-news/good-news-in-new-orleans.html
Krauss Building New Orleans set for Fall Occupancy (2008)
http://www.allbusiness.com/safety-accidents-disasters/disasters-tropical/11485911-1.html