This e-store is the natural evolution of Promenade Fine Fabrics, the legendary shop and iconic landmark in New Orleans.
Herbert Halpern
The fabric store was established over 50 years ago, when Herbert Halpern opened Promenade on historic St. Charles Avenue, next to the oldest running streetcar in America. For Herbert, quality fabrics were in his blood. His own father, Max, opened Remnant Mart in the late 1930s, bringing couture fabric to The Big Easy. It was followed by Halpern’s Fabrics that was expanded and franchised, with 28 stores throughout the United States.
Throughout the decades, Promenade has imported the finest textiles from around the world, including Irish linens, Italian and English wools, French, Swiss and Asian silks, French laces and brocades. They scour the ends of the earth to find the highest quality, most unique fabrics around.
Original shop on Dryades Street.
Max Halpern, ca. 1940
Original store front on Dryades Street.
In 2012, Herbert’s son, Cole, joined the family business. The third generation of Halperns, Cole is committed to bringing Promenade’s famous hands-on customer service and attention to detail to people both nationally and internationally.
He launched PromenadeFineFabrics.com and it has become a go-to-choice for sewers, bloggers, instructors, movie sets, designers and fabriholics. This customer-friendly site has exclusive fabrics you can’t find in any store, plus a selection of Hyman Hendler vintage ribbons too large to fit in any one location.
It is a family affair, as Herbert’s other son Dane, opened BackRoom Fabric in 2018. This shop specializes in upholstery and home dec fabrics and it is located directly across the streetcar tracks on St. Charles Avenue.
