Podcast 54 – Maison Blanche Origins: Abraham Shwartz

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Abraham Shwartz and the family store are the origins of Maison Blanche Department Store.

Maison Blanche Origins – Abraham Shwartz

The story of the iconic store at 901 Canal Street begins with the father of the founder. Simon J. Shwartz of MB fame was the youngest son of Abraham Shwartz, a Jewish immigrant to New Orleans. Shwartz partnered with other retailers before opening his own store on Canal Street. That store led to his son moving up the street to start his own place.

The Pod

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Shwartz, Kaufman, & Co.

Construction of Shushan Airport was part of a larger capital project proposed in 1922. The main component of the package was the seawall. The seawall functioned as a sort of dam along the lake shore. It ran from West End to the Industrial Canal. Construction of the seawall enabled the Orleans Levee Board to drain the water behind the seawall, then develop it. As we discussed in Podcast 51, Winning the War on the Lakefront, much of the reclaimed land became military installations during the run-up to World War II.

25 Chartres Street

Abraham partnered up with his brother-in-law, Simon Kaufman, in Shwartz, Kaufman, & Co., at 25 Chartres Street. This store was in the 100 block of Chartres, just off Canal Street.

161 Canal Street

161 Canal Street – Look for DH Holmes, the 4-story building on the right. Then go three doors up, that’s A. Shwartz & Son. The church on the left is Christ Episcopal, at Canal and Dauphine.

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