I guess I need to restructure our itinerary as I have us going there on a Saturday and I understand it is virtually shut down. Is that so?

Since a significant number of the businesses are owned and operated by Orthodox Jews, most places will be closed on Saturdays.

Since there is no way to know when one is looking at all the posts under US where you are talking about, which city are we to guess you mean?

It would be Hayward, CA, only nothing shuts there on Sat.

Patrick, I think NYC would be a safe guess!

Well, Howard, I thought it was a "safe guess" that when someone asked recently about dinner at Carmine's that it was NYC, but then found out it was Chicago.
I do know there are many Orchard Streets in the US, including a rather busy one if I recall in Bellingham, Washington that has a fun brewery and eateries on it.
Guess I'm just getting tired of guessing where people are talking about.

Yes, but the telltale clue was the original poster's concern about it being "virtually shut down" on a Saturday morning. That could only be Orchard Street in the Lower East Side in New York!

Damn, this sleuthing is difficult. I even missed the part where it said Saturday MORNING. Where was that again? Many places have stores that close on Saturday evenings, how could I know they didn't mean that? Or places with lots of restaurants that aren't open for lunch on Saturday -- I've seen lots of those too. Guess some of us aren't as psychic as others.

Anyway, my point was meant to gofsu. It would be nice to mention where you are posting about.

Patrick,

I think yo many need to switch to decaf.

I knew instantly that tthey were talking about NYC. "Virtually shut down" was the clincher.

The people that could answer the question, knew what city she was taking about. Those that didn't know which city, probably couldn't have answered the question anyhow.

I agree, though, that it would have helped if they had said was in NYC.

Patrick, I agree with you. I live in NJ, spend a fair amount of time in NYC less than 30 mins from my house and had NO CLUE where OP was inquiring about.

It's nice that some of you understood, but the point is, be clear in your post to ensure accurate answers.

Seems like simple logic, but clearly it's not. I'm always trying to help...but don't like to guess either.

Warning, semi-annoying reply: in that I have only partial information.

The historic Orchard Street, a street of good discount shops run by Orthodox Jewish families, now exists intermingled with less-historic Orchard Street.

The old traditional shops are still closed for the Jewish sabbath, mid-afternoon Friday thru all of Saturday, and open on Sunday.

The other shops are open all the time. I believe they include discount shops run by various non-Jewish owners, AND some young zippy boutiques which are part of the hippifying of the Lower East Side.

Of the older traditional shops I can recommend: Klein's of Monticello, expensive women's sportswear marked down somewhat; Fine and Klein - handbags; and Kaufman (maybe A.R. Kaufman? not sure) which looks like nothing but has a good selection of fine lingerie. It's on Orchard St not far from Delancey St, on the west side of O St.

There used to be a place full of Tahari suits, too. By and large the good places seem to be on the West side of Orchard St.

In that area I especially recommend Schachner, at 95 Delancey St, between Orchard & Ludlow, for lingerie & nightgowns. If anyone remembers Barbizon nightgowns - they have them there.

(I will never repeat this information again [probably], by the way, that place is a secret source of mine.)

Thanks for sharing, Elizabeth.

Simply clicking on a posters name can often clear things up, as was the case here.

Greenhouse, you're promoted to SENIOR SLUTH!

Simple logic tells me you mean sleuth.

...unless you were going for a REALLY rude misspelled response.