Our History Runs Deep

From New Orleans to the world.
Discover how Santa's Quarters™ began as a local Christmas shop in 1976 and over the years grew into the premier online supplier of Christmas decor leading the way with cutting edge products and personalized service.

The Early Days

In 1976 Harry and Nell Leveque open up a shop selling year-round Christmas decorations in the heart of New Orleans' historic French Quarter. Located at 1025 Decatur Street, they name it "Santa's Quarters" as a playful tribute to Mr. Claus' new outpost in the city's oldest neighborhood.

As one of only a handful of year-round Christmas shops in the US at the time, the store quickly becomes a favorite with locals and tourists alike who are drawn in by the vast assortment of Christmas merchandise and the magical old world atmosphere.

Occupying the ground floor of a classic Creole masonry building dating back to the early 1800's, Santa's Quarters legendary store windows capture the imagination of shoppers from all over the world with their "Christmas Fairyland" displays.

Far ahead of its time, the store starts offering worldwide shipping to cater to the growing number of international tourists, and shoppers can even place orders for custom made holiday decor.

A New Generation

After having successfully operated Santa's Quarters™ for almost 30 years, the Leveques decide it is time to retire and to hand over the business to a new generation of proprietors, the Erath family. Native New Orleanians and French Quarter residents, they purchase the company in January 2005, full of enthusiasm and plans to carry the legend and tradition into the new millennium.

The Perfect Storm

Then on August 29th, 2005 Hurricane Katrina makes landfall as an extremely large and powerful storm, causing massive destruction. In New Orleans the levees crumble under the surge of water being pushed in from the Gulf of Mexico, submerging 80% of the city under water for weeks, killing almost 1,400 people and forever changing the urban landscape. It is the costliest hurricane to ever hit the US.

Luckily the store is spared from flooding and eventually shifts its focus to selling New Orleans themed Christmas ornaments and seasonal items crafted by local artisans, such as hand painted oyster shells and cypress knees. It enjoys enormous popularity until its closing in 2022 due to the global pandemic.

Santa's Quarters™ Goes Digital

The extremely challenging environment in the aftermath of the hurricane necessitates a pivoting, leading to the launch of the online presence of Santa's Quarters™ in 2005. The iconic Santa logo and joyful seasonal Santa red debut on the website and become a symbol of our passion for quality and dedicated customer service. From the very beginning, the curated palette of products attracts global clients from a wide range of backgrounds, including the hospitality and retail industry, municipalities, as well as individual customers looking for high end holiday decor.

Another milestone is set with the introduction of Santa's Quarters™' very own online Christmas Ornament Calculator™, Commercial Christmas Ornament Calculator™, and Christmas Light Calculator™, allowing customers to quickly and easily find the right number of ornaments and lights for any size Christmas tree.

In 2021 Santa's Quarters™ is chosen to provide the stage decor for the annual Game Awards held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles with a performance by Sting and the world premier of Star Wars Eclipse, among others. The event is viewed by 85 million people, and Santa's Quarters™ is very proud to have been a part of it.

Santa's Quarters™
At Your Service

Our dedicated team of experts is here to answer all your questions, no matter how big or small. From choosing the right Christmas decor to finding the best shipping option, we're here to help.
We are real people, and we provide real answers.
Your satisfaction is our priority.