As an increasing number of national brands make their way onto Magazine Street, Jenny Vorhoff debuts Marquet, proving that locally-owned shops are relevant, necessary and a lot of fun. I caught up with her ahead of this month’s opening to learn more about the inspiration behind the home and lifestyle store and what shoppers can expect.
You’ve had a successful design business, Studio Riga, for decades. Why open a brick-and-mortar store? Since moving home from New York City 5 years ago, I’ve been absolutely charmed by Magazine St. I love patronizing our local shops and get tremendous inspiration from the assortment of businesses. My career in interior design has been focused on creating spaces, but those spaces are not open to the public. The desire to pivot that part of my career and my enchantment with Magazine Street were the initial seeds for Marquet.
What makes your store unique? Marquet is an amalgamation of many types of stores; furniture, gift, tabletop, general store. I am sourcing items that I would buy or put in a client’s home. My goal is for every customer to find not only what they are looking for but also something else. Each visit to our store should feel like you have traveled somewhere and end with a discovery.
How will Marquet stay engaged with the local community? That’s a great question and it’s intrinsic to our decision making. Firstly, a motivating factor in opening a store was investing in New Orleans. I am so grateful to call this city home, and I believe in its importance in the global design landscape. I am focused on serving our local customers. As we are developing a website, I keep saying to the team “IRL is paramount.” The in-store experience is what will distinguish Marquet.
We want to create a store that is experiential in the same way that great hospitality is memorable. It’s my hope that our customers enjoy being in the store, delight in shopping, and get to take a break from their regular life. Lastly, we have some give-back days planned for local charities and non-profits.
What’s inspiring you, both in the store and across the design world? The micro answer is table linens. We carry pieces from Italy, Sweden, California and India. It’s inspiring to see the different printing and weaving methods as well as color combinations.
The macro answer is shopping in person. Being able to order what you need in two clicks has become a standard part of our lives, and I don’t know what I would do if that went away. That being said, I think the idea of being able to find what you want or need locally is all the rage. Thank you for highlighting us and other amazing shops around town!
Marquet officially opens on September 1st. Store hours will be Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-5pm. Visit marquetshoppe.com.
