Guide to Canal Street in New York City
🛍️ Guide to Canal Street in New York City: 25 Essential Businesses
📍 Location: View full route on Google Maps
📏 Length: ~1.7 miles (2.7 km) from Hudson River (West Side Hwy) to East River (FDR Drive)
🚗 By Car: Major east-west artery; heavy traffic; limited parking; street vendors line sidewalks.
🚇 By Subway: Served by the 1, N/Q/R/W, J/Z, and 6** trains at key stations: **Canal St** (multiple lines), **Grand St** (B/D), **East Broadway** (F).
✨ Curiosity: Canal Street was named after a canal that once ran along its path in the early 1800s, built to drain the polluted Collect Pond. The canal was covered in 1820—but the name stuck. Today, it’s the dividing line between SoHo, Chinatown, and Little Italy.
6 Streets Near Canal Street – Explore More
| Street | Distance from Canal St | Main Niche |
|---|---|---|
| Baxter Street | 1 block north | Chinatown heart, street food |
| Mott Street | 1 block north | Historic Chinatown, dumplings |
| Mulberry Street | 2 blocks north | Little Italy legacy, festivals |
| Lafayette Street | 0.2 miles west | SoHo boutiques, galleries |
| Worth Street | 1 block south | Government buildings, courthouses |
| Houston Street | 5 blocks north | Art, nightlife, cultural border |
Canal Street is New York’s most chaotic crossroads—where counterfeit Rolexes, $1 dumplings, Italian cannoli, and luxury lofts collide. These 25 businesses capture its gritty authenticity and entrepreneurial spirit.
1. Economy Candy
History: Opened in 1937; one of NYC’s oldest candy shops.
Founded: 1937
Differential: Vintage sweets, kosher chocolates, and nostalgic packaging—family-run for generations.
📍 Address: 108 Essex St (at Canal St), New York, NY 10002
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
🌐 Website: economycandy.com
📞 Phone: (212) 226-4131
2. Joe’s Shanghai
History: Opened in 1995; famous for its soup dumplings (xiao long bao).
Founded: 1995
Differential: Michelin Bib Gourmand; always packed; no reservations.
📍 Address: 9 Pell St (1 block south of Canal), New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
🌐 Website: joeshanghai.com
📞 Phone: (212) 233-8888
3. Ferrara Bakery & Café
History: Founded in 1892; NYC’s oldest Italian pastry shop.
Founded: 1892
Differential: Cannoli, sfogliatelle, and espresso—right in the heart of historic Little Italy.
📍 Address: 195 Grand St (at Mulberry, 1 block north of Canal), New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
🌐 Website: ferrarabakery.com
📞 Phone: (212) 226-6100
4. Pearl River Mart
History: Opened in 1971; closed in 2016, reopened in 2018 with a focus on Asian-American designers.
Founded: 1971
Differential: Chic home goods, stationery, and art—curated by Asian diaspora creators.
📍 Address: 333 Canal St (at Lafayette), New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
🌐 Website: pearlriver.com
📞 Phone: (212) 431-4770
5. New York Mart
Differential: Massive Asian supermarket with fresh produce, live seafood, and pantry staples.
📍 Address: 20 Elizabeth St (at Canal), New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
6. Golden Shopping Mall
Differential: Underground Chinatown food court with 20+ stalls—soup dumplings, bubble tea, bao buns.
📍 Address: 16 Bowery (at Canal St), New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
7. Nom Wah Tea Parlor
History: Opened in 1920; NYC’s oldest dim sum restaurant.
Founded: 1920
Differential: Classic dim sum in vintage setting; famous for egg rolls and tea.
📍 Address: 13 Doyers St (2 blocks south of Canal), New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
🌐 Website: nomwah.com
📞 Phone: (212) 962-6047
8. Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
Differential: Unique flavors like black sesame, lychee, and green tea in a tiny shop.
📍 Address: 65 Bayard St (1 block south of Canal), New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
🌐 Website: chinatownicecreamfactory.com
9. A.P.C. – Canal Street
Differential: French minimalist fashion boutique in a loft space—luxury contrast to street chaos.
📍 Address: 305 Canal St, New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
🌐 Website: apc-us.com
10. McNally Jackson Books – SoHo
Differential: Independent bookstore with strong international titles and in-house café.
📍 Address: 52 Prince St (2 blocks north of Canal), New York, NY 10012
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
🌐 Website: mcnallyjackson.com
11. Di Palo’s Fine Foods
History: Family-run since 1925; fifth-generation cheesemongers.
Founded: 1925
Differential: Fresh mozzarella made hourly; imported Italian meats and truffles.
📍 Address: 200 Grand St, New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
🌐 Website: dipalosselects.com
📞 Phone: (212) 226-1033
12. The Original Chinatown Arcade
Differential: Quirky underground spot with vintage games and secret bars (e.g., Attaboy).
📍 Address: 13 Doyers St (same building as Nom Wah), New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
13. Shanghai You Garden
Differential: Authentic Shanghainese cuisine—braised pork, scallion oil noodles.
📍 Address: 78 Bayard St, New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
14. Canal Street Market
Differential: Hip indoor market with local designers, coffee, and food vendors.
📍 Address: 265 Canal St, New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
🌐 Website: canalstreetmarket.nyc
15. Duane Reade – Canal Street
Differential: Trusty NYC drugstore for essentials amid the chaos.
📍 Address: 315 Canal St, New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
🌐 Website: duanereade.com
16. Century 21 Department Store (Historic – Now Closed)
History: Iconic discount fashion store since 1961; closed after 2020 fire.
📍 Address: 22 Cortlandt St (at Church St, 2 blocks south of Canal), New York, NY 10007
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
17. Tenement Museum – Lower East Side
Differential: Historic tours of immigrant life—5 blocks east of Canal.
📍 Address: 103 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
🌐 Website: tenement.org
18. Mmmono
Differential: Japanese-inspired dumpling shop with creative fillings.
📍 Address: 12 Mott St, New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
19. Apothéke
Differential: Speakeasy-style cocktail bar with “medicinal” drinks—hidden on Doyers St.
📍 Address: 9 Doyers St, New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
🌐 Website: apothekebar.com
20. New Oriental Bakery
Differential: Fresh Chinese buns, egg tarts, and mooncakes daily.
📍 Address: 26 Pell St, New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
21. Lombardi’s Pizza
History: America’s first pizzeria (1905); coal-fired oven.
Founded: 1905
Differential: Historic thin-crust pies in Little Italy—5 minutes from Canal.
📍 Address: 32 Spring St (at Mott), New York, NY 10012
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
🌐 Website: firstpizza.com
📞 Phone: (212) 406-6999
22. Chinatown Brass
Differential: Artisanal coffee and matcha in a minimalist Chinatown space.
📍 Address: 16 Mott St, New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
23. Wing’s Lung Kee
Differential: Legendary roast duck and soy sauce chicken—no frills, all flavor.
📍 Address: 28 Mott St, New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
24. Chinatown Porridge
Differential: Comforting rice porridge with century egg, pork, or fish—open late.
📍 Address: 216 Canal St, New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
25. Canal Street Espresso
Differential: Local coffee spot with strong espresso and loyal neighborhood following.
📍 Address: 316 Canal St, New York, NY 10013
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
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