Source: MouseInfo
Summer 1997 – May 2011
LOCATION
New Orleans Square – The Jewel of Orleans boasted a coveted spot at the front of Royal Street. To find the shop, visitors would walk beyond the Pirates of the Caribbean entrance, keeping left as the square opens into several alleys. Today, this space is home to Mlle. Antoinette’s Parfumerie.
EXPERIENCE
Details:
- Merchandise – antique jewelry, watches, sunglasses, and accessories
- Unique Features – Antique chandelier, purchased by Walt and Lillian in New Orleans
If there were a prize for most glamorous gift shop, the Jewel of Orleans surely would’ve won. This beautifully decorated store was as ornate as its goods. In the early years, visitors could purchase antique wares, including pocket watches and old-fashioned pearls. And in the shop’s last year of operation, visitors had access to designer pieces, with an expanded selection including sunglasses and bags.
CLOSURE
In 2010, the shop went through a dramatic transformation. With a slowing economy and fewer visitors searching for unique merchandise, the Jewel of Orleans just wasn’t making many sales. After six weeks of refurbishment, the shop reopened with familiar designers and a more contemporary selection, but the shop never gained much attention. Finally, the store closed for good in the spring of 2011, making space for the perfume shop that has been there ever since.
TRIVIA
From 1997 – 2010, the Jacobs family of Dianne’s Estate Jewelry ran the shop.
Jewel of Orleans was decorated to resemble a Parisian store.
This shop sold some of the most expensive merchandise ever available inside the park – with antique collectibles priced at over $10,000.