Holiday Shopping Hotspots

Photo William A. Morgan

It’s the most wonderful time of the year to shop and Louisiana delivers. We’ve compiled a few shopping districts throughout the state offering everything from antiques and collectibles to clothing and furniture. Be sure to check their calendars. From now until the end of the year many of these shopping hotspots host holiday events. 

New Orleans
For those who love to peruse stores, Magazine Street is six miles of pure bliss. The road filled with boutique shops curves like the Mississippi River from the Central Business District through the Garden District and upriver to Audubon Park. It’s a heady mix of art galleries, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, antique shops, groceries and more and virtually impossible for the shopper to not find what they’re looking for — or close to it. 

Magazine Street began as a shopping district, named for the French rue de magasins popping up along the street stretching uptown from Canal Street in the early 19th century. Today, visitors will find vintage shops, eclectic boutiques, New Orleans-centric boutiques such as Fleurty Girl and artist headquarters such as painter and author Alex Beard and jewelry designer Mignon Faget. 

Natchitoches
Strolling up historic Front Street in Natchitoches, the oldest city in Louisiana, is a treat in and of itself, but it’s also the place to find unique gifts. A good example remains Kaffie-Fredericks General Mercantile, the oldest general store in Louisiana and one that hasn’t changed much since its inception in 1863. Shelves are stocked full of classic toys, kitchenware, household items and décor and, of course, hardware. For something original, the Natchitoches Art Guild & Gallery sells creations from local artists and Plantation Treasures sells the Clementine Hunter Gitter Gallery collection. The annual holiday open house — this year Nov. 18 — happens the same time as “Turn on the Holidays,” the beginning of the city’s light extravaganza that runs through the new year.

Grand Coteau
It’s a week of holiday fun in Grand Coteau, beginning with the annual Grand Noel on Nov. 25 with carriage rides, live music, a visit from Santa and the town’s antique shops and boutiques open house. On the following weekend, Dec. 1-2, Christmas at Coteau brings holiday cheer to The Academy of the Sacred Heart and Berchmans Academy with a Holiday Market.

Shreveport/Bossier City
Think art when you visit Shreveport for that special gift. The Agora Borealis sells local and regional artwork, from textiles and clothing to paintings and pottery, while artspace, Shreveport’s art center in the heart of town, showcases its local pride in its gift shop. Antique lovers may prefer a stroll down Line Avenue, while those who prefer big names should choose the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City. Mardi Gras and Louisiana-themed gifts constitute a good section of Tubbs Hardware & Cajun Gifts, which make perfect presents for those out of state yearning for home.

West Monroe
Grab a macaron at Cake or beignets at Caster and Chicory in West Monroe’s Antique Alley, then shop to your heart’s content. It’s no mistake that Southern Living called Antique Alley “a shopaholic’s delight.” Most of the several blocks that make up this district feature antique shops — vintage lovers will be in heaven here — but there’s also boutiques, jewelry stores and restaurants. Antique Alley will host their annual Christmas Market on the Alley Dec. 16.

Baton Rouge
The Capital City region is home to two major shopping plazas, the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge and the Tanger Outlets in Gonzales. To visit locally owned boutiques, stroll down Government Street for trendy and sometimes eclectic gifts or visit downtown and pick up handmade Louisiana items at Brass by Circa 1857. 

Ruston
Ruston’s historic downtown district runs the gamut for gifts. There’s the latest trends at The Fashion of Ruston, home décor at Chartreuse Pear and organic and handmade clothes at Garden Baby, to name a few. Art galleries such as Creative Exchange, Ruston Artisans, Studio 301 and Fringe sell locally made items. But don’t take our word for it, visit the shops’ Holiday Open House Nov. 16.

Lafayette
Shoppers living in the Hub City visit the Oil Center, the “town centers” of the traditional neighborhood development River Ranch and smaller collection of shops such as On the Boulevard off Johnston Street. Moncus Park, the city’s new multi-functional public park, assembles artisan vendors in early December for its annual The Market at Moncus Park.

Lake Charles
Downtown Lake Charles doesn’t just offer shopping opportunities, said Shalisa Roland, director of public relations at Visit Lake Charles. It offers the unique, such as the family-owned Bespoke Hat Company with its variety of head adornments and Panorama Music Exchange selling everything from band T-shirts to vinyl.

“Our downtown area is really cool,” Roland said. “I think most people don’t realize what we have.”