STORY OF THE TWO SISTERS
Emma & Bertha: The Women Behind the Name
The name Court of Two Sisters originates with Emma and Bertha Camors, two Creole sisters born into an aristocratic Old New Orleans family in the late 19th century. Together, they operated an elegant rabais, or notions shop, at 613 Royal Street—an establishment that became known as The Shop of the Two Sisters.
Their boutique catered to many of the city’s most fashionable women, offering fine garments, lace, Mardi Gras costumes, and perfumes imported directly from Paris.
Born in 1858 and 1860 respectively, Emma and Bertha were deeply rooted in the cultural traditions of the French Quarter. Their shop was not only a place of commerce, but also a gathering space where elegance, hospitality, and conversation flourished.
It is said that the sisters would occasionally welcome favored customers into the spacious courtyard for tea and cakes, unknowingly beginning a tradition of gracious hospitality that continues at the Court of Two Sisters today.
As the French Quarter evolved at the turn of the 20th century, changing demographics and economic pressures made it increasingly difficult for the sisters to sustain their business. Following the death of Bertha’s husband in 1904, ownership of the property passed to family members, and soon thereafter the shop closed its doors. Yet the bond between the sisters endured. They passed away within two months of one another during the winter of 1944 and now rest side by side at St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 on Esplanade Avenue. In 1990, the Fein family restored their tomb, honoring the women whose legacy gave the Court of Two Sisters its name—and its spirit.
Learn the Full History of 613 Royal Street →