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Q: Does Canal St. live up to the hype?

A:  In a wordNo. It’s true that you might be getting something that sort-of looks like your favorite designer brand, but the quality of the bags/sunglasses/watches are poor and easily recognized as cheap. The higher-end knock-offs (the one stored in illicit back rooms and basements) look like the real deal, but they are highly illegal and have been linked to terrorists groups and organized crime. Also, it’s so not worth the crowds and the pushing and shoving that typically goes on.

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“New York blends the gift of privacy with the excitement of participation.”
— E. B. White, Here Is New York

©2026 ASK A NEW YORKER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRIVACY POLICY  MADE BY CODE18 INTERACTIVE.