Labiche Legendre Baronne Street
Labiche Legendre Baronne Street shoe store in the 1930s.
Labiche Legendre Baronne Street
Franck Studios photo of the Labiche and Legendre Shoe Store, 307 Baronne Street, 1933. The store moved from 836 Poydras Street to Baronne that year. Albert V. Labiche and Armand A. Legendre partnered in the shoe store. Labiche and Graff was the clothing store. The stores later combined under just the Labiche name. Labiche Legendre Baronne Street moved to Canal Street.
Poydras Market
Labiche and Graff opened their store in the mid-1920s. They acquired 830 Poydras Street. This building was just at the end of Poydras Market, one of locations in the city’s public market system. Public markets operated in neighborhoods all over New Orleans. While we think of the French Market in this role, it wasn’t the only one. Since shoppers made their way to the Poydras Market for fresh meat, fruits, and vegetables, proximity to the market made sense for a clothier.
Labiche and Graff grew and profited. By 1929, Mr. Labiche expanded. He opened a shoe store next to the clothing store. Labiche joined with Armand Legendre in the shoe venture.
Closer to Canal
Labiche decided that proximity to Canal Street would boost business. He looked at locations away from Poydras Market. Labiche and Graff acquired the Kaufmann building at 311-313 Baronne. Labiche also leased the first floor and mezzanine of the de Montluzin building at 309 Baronne, for the shoe store. With NOPSI and Feibelman’s already in the 300 block, the clothing and shoe stores were in good company.
Sales boost
The move closer to Canal boosted sales at both stores. Charles F. Labiche, Albert’s son, commented on this to the Times Picayune on April 19, 1933.
In dollar volume, our sales are fifty percent ahead of this time last year, and in unit sales, 100 percent ahead. Of course, part of this showing is due to our more advantageous location on Baronne Street, but much of it must be do to the reassurance that has been given to the people by Roosevelt and the steady improvement in our banking situation. We say with emphasis, ‘Let’s Go.’
Charles Labiche saw the stores through the Great Depression and WWII.
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