738-742 Royal Street was constructed circa 1838, according to New Orleans Notarial Archives. The three-story Creole townhouse was originally built by the Catholic Church and has historically functioned as a store at the first level and apartments at the second and third level. The building retains its original use and layout via the character defining inner courtyard, galleries, and stairways.

This property has functioned as a book shop, children’s’ clothing store and a leather goods shop. The building retains almost all of its character defining features, with modern updates confined mostly to the kitchens and bathrooms. This structure provides a quintessential architectural snapshot of the famed French Quarter with its lacey ironwork, wrap-around balcony and red brick masonry. It is architecturally significant and a contributing structure to the Vieux Carre’s Historic District.