Ed Branley, a former high school history teacher, will discuss his new book, “Krauss, The New Orleans Value Store,” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.

This event is free of charge and is open to the public.

For almost 100 years, generations of New Orleans shoppers flocked to Krauss. The Canal Street store was hailed for its vast merchandise selection and quality customer service.

In its early days, it sold lace and fabric to the ladies of the notorious red-light district of Storyville.

The store’s lunch counter, Eddie’s at Krauss, served Eddie Baquet’s authentic New Orleans cuisine to customers and celebrities such as Julia Child.

Although the store closed its doors in 1997, Krauss is remembered as a retail haven. With vintage photographs, interviews with store insiders and a wealth of research, Branley details the story of New Orleans’ Creole department store.

New Orleans native Edward J. Branley has written five books for Arcadia Publishing, including “Legendary Locals of New Orleans” and Images of America books “New Orleans: The Canal Streetcar Line,” “Maison Blanche Department Store” and “New Orleans Jazz.” He is a graduate of Brother Martin High School in New Orleans and the University of New Orleans.