Help Holis & Canal Furniture
In the early morning hours of Monday, April 23rd, 2018, Canal Furniture Liquidators, a beloved furniture store in the heart of Mid City at the foot of Bayou St. John, caught on fire.
Within minutes, the entire old warehouse, formerly Doerr Furniture's original warehouse, was completely engulfed in flames. Over 60 fire fighters and 12 units showed up to try to douse the flames at 4 AM, but, even at 7 AM, the fire was blazing. People reported the flames to reach over 4 to 5 stories high. 
My aunt, Holis Hannan, a co-owner and manager, showed up to the scene as soon as she could. In tears, she watched her dream that she had built for the last four years catch into flames, literally, and burn to the ground. Unable to get inside to salvage even one piece of furniture, every last chair, table, couch, and piece of art caught fire and burned, completely unsalvageable. 
But, she persisted on. On the news, through tears, she said that she had to get going because she had a liquidation to run. She had to pay her guys, and she had to fulfill her duties as manager and co-owner of the store. (Interview can be found here ).
Canal Furniture Liquidators was more than a furniture store. To locals and passer-by's alike, this store was a wonderland. I've worked at the store as often as I could the last four years because, honestly, I enjoyed it. The furniture was astounding, unique, and beautiful, and Holis made sure to make the store more than a store--an experience. She employed artists to help paint the furniture and resell it. She taught classes that helped empower people to refinish furniture. She helped people understand the beauty behind old pieces. It wasn't just a furniture store--it was her life.
The people who worked there loved it. I wasn't just a job to them. She made sure every worker had a great day, and oftentimes would buy lunch for the entire store. They had Christmas parties, holiday parties, and it honestly was the best job I've ever had. Just take these signs that creative employees came up with every day: 
Holis, to many, is one of the most selfless, spirited, and kind people they have ever met. Every person who came in to CFL wanted to speak to Holis and Holis only, because they knew that she would do anything she could to be a helping hand. She stayed open late, opened early, and, at the end of the day, made Canal Furniture the place it was known and loved for. Under her management, it won countless awards such as Gambit's Best Furniture Store. 
Besides the furniture store, she also had an art studio that was above the office. She lost countless supplies, tools, and priceless pieces of art.
Please consider helping Holis on her journey to reopening. She has become an important part of Mid City New Orleans, and everyone who knows her can attest to it! Whether it is her awesome hats or even more awesome personality, she is more than deserving of a little help, as she's done more than help out the people who know her.
Click here to see some awesome posts about Canal Furniture Liquidators
Click here to read more about the fire
Thank you again for your love and support--we will be back...and we promise our sales will be even hotter than they were on April 23!! (ha.) 