We're Reimagining Canal Street | | |
Dear Friends,
As we continue this important work together, I want to share a meaningful shift in how we speak about Canal Street and its future.
For some time, we have used the word “revitalization.” While that work remains important, it no longer fully captures the scale of what we are building together. Today, we are embracing a broader, more ambitious vision—the REIMAGINING of Canal Street.
Reimagining means thinking bigger. It means creating a corridor that is not only restored, but redefined—one that is vibrant, welcoming, economically strong, and reflective of the very best of New Orleans. It is about aligning partners, focusing our efforts, and building lasting momentum that will shape Canal Street for generations to come.
This next chapter calls for bold, immersive destinations and thoughtfully designed mixed-use environments—places that balance storytelling with exceptional guest experience, while also meeting the realities of constructability, schedule, and capital discipline. It is about translating vision into deliverable hotel, retail, and entertainment developments that maximize long-term asset performance and guest value. Achieving this will require large-scale repositioning, a clear understanding of our existing assets, and strong strategic partnerships across both public and private sectors.
This is a shared effort, and we are deeply grateful to each of you for being part of it. Together, we are not just looking back—we are moving forward.
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Join Us For Lunch at the Four Seasons
Spring 2026 Quarterly Meeting
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We are excited to gather again and share the next phase of this work at our Spring 2026 Celebrate Canal! Quarterly Meeting. We hope you will join us for what promises to be an inspiring and energizing gathering!
📅 Friday, April 10, 2026
🕒 11:00 AM – Networking
🕦 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM – Program & Plated Lunch
📍 Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans – River Ballroom
| | Guest Speaker: Bhavna Mistry | | |
We are honored to welcome longtime former Disney Imagineering Vice President Bhavna Mistry, who has helped design and build numerous Disney hotels and attractions around the world, including most recently the Disney Toy Story Hotel & Fantasy Springs Hotel in Tokyo, Japan.
Bhavna’s story is also deeply connected to New Orleans. Her family moved here when she was eight years old, and she has maintained a home in the city throughout her adult life. She is a design and development executive with a masters in Architecture from Tulane University. Early in her career, Bhavna also led the design of the former Harrah’s Casino and the adjacent original Caesars Hotel here in New Orleans. While at Caesars, she led the Sentosa Singapore four-billion-dollar integrated casino resort international destination bid package.
Throughout her work with Disney, Bhavna has helped bring to life story-driven destinations across the globe. Her projects include work at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California, the Disney Riviera Resort, Coronado Springs Resort Destino Tower (which features artistic inspiration from Salvador Dalí), the new Polynesian Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Tower in Orlando, Florida as well as themed-land expansion master plan in Hong Kong.
Closer to home, Bhavna also played a key role in the development of Disney World’s Princess and the Frog attraction, helping ensure that the legacy of New Orleans culinary icon Leah Chase and the Chase family was understood and respectfully honored in Disney’s storytelling.
Bhavna has worked alongside some of the most accomplished developers and builders in the world, bringing visionary ideas to life through thoughtful design and immersive guest experiences. We are excited for her to share slides from her remarkable insight into how bold ideas can become world-class destinations, like Canal Street.
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Looking Ahead: A Historic Milestone
Celebrating 100 Years
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As we look ahead to the future of Canal Street, we are also preparing to celebrate a truly special milestone in its remarkable history.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the iconic
Loews State Palace Theatre - April 3, 1926
When the theater first opened its doors, it represented the very height of elegance and innovation. Designed as a grand movie palace, the Loews State Palace welcomed generations of New Orleanians and visitors who came to Canal Street to experience world-class entertainment beneath its magnificent architecture. With its ornate detailing, soaring interiors, and unforgettable presence along the corridor, it quickly became one of the most celebrated theaters in the country.
For nearly a century, the Loews State Palace has stood as a powerful symbol of Canal Street’s cultural vibrancy and architectural grandeur. It reminds us of a time when Canal Street was not only the commercial heart of the city, but also one of its most exciting destinations for arts, entertainment, and shared experiences.
As we work together to reimagine the future of Canal Street, honoring and restoring treasured landmarks like the Loews State Palace will be central to bringing the corridor back to life in a meaningful and lasting way. These historic places connect us to the past while inspiring what is possible for the next generation of New Orleans.
Stay tuned—more to come soon as we commemorate this extraordinary 100-year legacy.
| | Stakeholder Block Receptions | | |
The Celebrate Canal team is deeply grateful for the engagement and participation of property owners along Canal Street. Many have joined us at our public events, shared thoughtful ideas and concerns, and expressed their appreciation for the progress that has been made so far.
Following a successful first year, we are now entering the next phase of our work—beginning to envision projects that reflect the Reimagining of Canal Street. Our vision is for Canal Street to once again be alive with energy and possibility: a vibrant, walkable boulevard layered with music, cuisine, art, design, and performance.
As we move into this phase, strong partnerships with property owners will be essential. To help facilitate these conversations, we are launching a series of “Stakeholder Block Receptions,” where we will meet directly with property owners and stakeholders, gather their input, and share ideas for the future of their blocks and buildings.
We are excited to announce the first of these partnerships on the 400 block of Canal Street. This block has consistently been identified in studies and planning efforts as a site of tremendous potential and a missed opportunity for the corridor.
We are grateful to property owners Aaron and Mike Motwani for their willingness to partner with us as we explore this opportunity. We are also grateful to developer Zach Kupperman, architect John Williams, and private equity partner Frank Rabalais, who are working alongside us as we begin exploring the possibilities for the 400 block. This project has the potential to serve as a catalyst for the River Shopping District on Canal Street, helping to spark additional investment and momentum that will extend into both the Historic District and the Family District along Canal Street.
| | Join Us April 15th @ Lafayette Square | | |
Celebrate Canal! is proud to be the featured Nonprofit Spotlight on April 15 at the YLC Wednesday at the Square, one of New Orleans’ most beloved spring traditions.
Held each Wednesday evening in Lafayette Square, this vibrant outdoor concert series brings thousands of residents and visitors together to enjoy live local music, food, and community in the heart of downtown. The event is free and open to the public, with proceeds from food and beverage sales supporting the Young Leadership Council and its many community programs that strengthen leadership and improve quality of life across Greater New Orleans.
As the featured nonprofit for the evening, Celebrate Canal! will have a dedicated table where we will share our vision for reimagining Canal Street, connect with community members, and invite new supporters to get involved in this exciting work. We hope you’ll stop by, say hello, and help us continue building momentum for the future of Canal Street!
📅 Wednesday, April 15
🕔 5:00 – 8:00 PM
📍 Lafayette Square, Downtown New Orleans
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Save the Date: GIVE NOLA DAY | |
We are excited to participate in GiveNOLA Day, the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s annual day of giving that brings our entire community together to support the nonprofits working to make our region stronger.
This year, we invite you to support Celebrate Canal as we continue advancing our vision to reimagine Canal Street—restoring it as a vibrant, welcoming corridor that reflects the very best of New Orleans.
Through public events, community partnerships, advocacy, and strategic planning, Celebrate Canal! is helping build the momentum needed to bring new life, investment, and opportunity back to this historic boulevard.
Your gift—of any size—helps us continue this important work.
Together, we can ensure that Canal Street once again becomes a place where families gather, businesses thrive, and visitors experience the energy and culture that define New Orleans.
Stay tuned for more details and the link to support Celebrate Canal on GiveNOLA Day.
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Friends of Celebrate Canal Spotlight:
Four Seasons New Orleans
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This month, we are thrilled to spotlight the Four Seasons New Orleans, a premier destination at the foot of Canal Street and a true anchor of our city’s hospitality landscape. Under the leadership of General Manager Esther Oh Kostesky, the Four Seasons continues to set a standard for excellence while demonstrating a strong commitment to the future of New Orleans.
Their partnership with Celebrate Canal! reflects the kind of collaboration that is essential to the reimagining of Canal Street as a world-class destination and we are incredibly grateful for their support.
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Upcoming Events
Spring 2026 Meeting- River Ballroom at the Four Seasons New Orleans on April 10th 11-Networking 11:30-Program + Plated Lunch
Wednesday at the Square - Nonprofit Spotlight for YLC’s Wednesday at the Square on April 15 5-8PM
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Don’t miss an update! Follow us for event details, stories, and Canal Street highlights:
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Thank you for your continued support. Every ticket purchased, every event attended, and every story shared fuels this movement. Together, we are writing the next chapter of Canal Street’s history.
See you soon!
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