I have heard about the shops on Canal Street and I wondered if that was the street that offered knock off handbags etc. Are the shops open on Sunday? Is this near Little Italy? Thank you for your help.

Helen: Yes to all questions. You will have your selection of store after store of knock off bags and other products on Canal Street. It is open 7 days a week and when your appetite is built up after hours of shopping, you an walk a block or two to Little Italy or Chinatown.

Right at Canal and Grand you will be at the edge of Soho and all the good boutiques,restaurants and starting along Canal there are some really good bags stalls.I got a few goodies for friends this past winter, we all like getting the colorful Kate Spades, Burberry bags, and Guccis in colors, those are the ones you might not carry everyday and it would be a shame to spend $700.00 on a bag that you would carry only once in a while.

If you're there on a Sunday it'sd also fun to head over to the lower East side and check the Orchard Street "bargain District" - two block of merchants sellign alll kinds of things and many have tables out in the street as two blocks are for pedestrians only on Sunday. Especially good deals are available on leather goods and nearly all the merchants will haggle/bargain to get your business. I bought a leather jacker for $155 including tax that would have cost me at least $200-250 anywhere else.

The best shopping on Canal is between Broadway & Mulberry, which is convenient because Mulberry is the heart of Little Italy.

Recently everytime I've commented on how nice someone's handbag or shoes are, they said they got it on Canal Street. Enjoy and happy shopping!

This sounds like a cool place to shop. My 18 year old daughter & I will be visiting NY in May. We are staying at the Doubletree in Times Square. What is the best way to get to Canal sTreet from there?

I'd take the N or R train from Times Square (station is at 45th and 7th but there are also entrances at 42nd Street). Get off at Canal Street. To return either take the same train or if you're further east on Canal get the 6 back to Grand Central and the shuttle to Times Square or if returning from further west on Canal get the A or C to 42nd St Port Authority and walk the few blocks to Times Square.

Kim - The Doubletree is at 47th and 7th. The subway entrance for the N and R trains is at 49th and 7th, not 45th. Get off, as indicated at the Canal St. station.

What about diaper bags? I'd love to buy a knock-off baby bjorn diaper bag. You think they'd have them on Canal St.?

me ([email protected])
never seen a knockoff baby bjorn--
besides, the whole point of getting a knockoff is to avoid paying inflated prices for something that is really just decorative (e.g. a handbag or scarf) not especially functional. Why not just get a cheaper baby carrier from a reputable but less expensive company?

What's the average price of a Kate Spade knockoff? Do prices vary store to store and are they negotiable?

Very negiotiable. You should be able to get something nice for $50, but since prices are negotiable, that is just a guess.

"Kate Spades" are going for around $35, Coach fabric type bags for $25-30.
You may actually get better prices off Canal street, on the side streets of Chinatown--I did. The vendors there don't get as much business and were lowering prices as I walked down the street (without even expressing any interest to buy!)

The little Kate Spades are $20 and the Coach bags are $27-45
Always bargain and do not be afraid to walk away and shop around.

My wife & I shop Canal frequently, and I've noticed that obvious tourists are quoted higher prices than apparent New Yorkers. For example, we heard a Kate Spade bag quote for $40 to a fanny-packed person, but when my wife asked 2 minutes later, she was told $25. We paid $20. This has happened to me with fake sunglasses as well.
My advice is never pay the quoted price; counteroffer 10-30% lower; and don't be afraid to walk away. It's all a part of the game and NOT an insult to the vendors. Good luck & Enjoy!

They drop the prices very nicely if you buy two or more.I got a Kate Spade for my daughter, it was $25-but when I held up the red Gucci bag, she made both bags $20-each.

Thanks for all your info -- Canal Street is definitely someplace for me!

Canal St. is an overcrowded cesspool that reeks of fishheads and truck exhaust.

ttt for Bernie