Krauss Department Store, 1924

This 1924 photo of Krauss Department Store shows the original 1903 storefront.

Krauss Department Store, 1924

Franck Studios photo (now in the public domain) of Krauss Department Store, 1201 Canal Street. The date is 1924, and that’s easily seen because of the poor condition of the Canal neutral ground. The city embarked on a major repair/upgrade project of Canal Street in 1930.

Leon Fellman purchased the 1201 block in 1899. He built the front section of the store in 1903. Since he moved his store from 901 Canal in 1897, to 800 Canal, he needed a tenant for this space. Leon offered the space to his nephews, the Krausz Brothers. They accepted and opened Krauss Department Store. Note the change in the name–the brothers swapped the ‘z’ in their last name for a second ‘s.’ Anglicization of German names was common in New Orleans. (Even when the name wasn’t changed, Germans made other concessions to American culture, like the Fabachers calling their company the “Jackson Brewing Company.”)

“Trade Palace”

So, the Krauss brothers opened what The Daily Picayune called “a veritable trade palace” that lasted until 1997. By the time of this photo, the company expanded back from Canal, acquiring the property in the block along Basin Street to CustomHouse (now Iberville) street. They built the first section of the five-story building in 1911, continuing the development in 1921. By 1952, the store would extend from those sections into the block from Ibervillle to Bienville.

This photo better illustrates the expansion history, because the company had yet to paint the entire store to match. The Krausz Brothers started off-Canal, having worked for their uncle, Fellman. By 1897, they opened a ladies’ accessories shop at 833 Canal (where the IHOP is today). The 1201 opportunity enabled them to go much bigger.

Succession

By 1920, the four bachelor brothers expanded the players in the business. They brought their brother-in-law, Leon Heymann in. Heymann was married to Thekla Krauss. Since there was no heir, no second generation, among the brothers, they passed things to Heymann. Leon was in full control of Krauss Corporation at the time of this photo. It was his leadership that transformed the store into a full-on competitor to D.H. Holmes and Maison Blanche.

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