New Orleans Magazine
Interview with Marita Jaeger
Vampyre Visit
Retail with a twist
unfinished and unpublished
by
the former Katherine Moscato
Boutique du Vampyre in the French Quarter is an unusual little retail outlet, catering to a vampire
clientelle. We visited with owner, Marita Jaeger to discuss her brainchild, and it's surprising
success.
Katherine:
Marita, tell us, why a Vampire shop? What is your obsession with Vampires?
Marita:
I don't believe that if you own a Sanitation Company you are necessarily obsessed with feces.
It's just a good venture. I found a niche and it's working.
Katherine:
But you must have some deep interest in Vampires to be able to create such a magical little place.
Marita:
My interest is in creating a special mystical experience for people with a sense of adventure and
imagination - people that would get a kick out of visiting a shop claiming they are the place
where Vampires shop.
The idea of Vampires is very sensual, exciting and dangerous all at the same time. Things that
captivate a lot of people.
Katherine:
Well then, since you consider Vampires amusing and not a real being, I feel I can ask you this.
Aren't you a little worried of offending tourists and locals by having your shop located virtually
next door to the St. Louis Cathedral - a place of worship? The city's place of worship?
Marita:
Katherine, vampires are just one of God's creatures. A Black Widow spider mates and kills, it is
also extremely dangerous to creatures outside of its species, creatures much larger and stronger
than itself. A vampire shares many similarities with the Black Widow - taking part in Innate
actions considered barbaric and monstrous. But everything is for a reason - as God wanted it.
Black Widow spiders serve their purpose in the eco system. Vampires must then serve a
purpose as well. Perhaps the reason we are located so near a place of God is that we long to
know our place, our significance, what our existence is to mean.
Katherine:
Is that your philosophy on Vampires?
Marita:
Katherine, vampires are mythical creatures.
Katherine:
Yes, but you seemed so intense just now in your explanation. I thought....
Unfortunately the interview ended a bit abruptly. I have little tolerance for reporters.
And besides I was getting hungry.
Interview with Marita Jaeger
Vampyre Visit
Retail with a twist
unfinished and unpublished
by
the former Katherine Moscato
Boutique du Vampyre in the French Quarter is an unusual little retail outlet, catering to a vampire
clientelle. We visited with owner, Marita Jaeger to discuss her brainchild, and it's surprising
success.
Katherine:
Marita, tell us, why a Vampire shop? What is your obsession with Vampires?
Marita:
I don't believe that if you own a Sanitation Company you are necessarily obsessed with feces.
It's just a good venture. I found a niche and it's working.
Katherine:
But you must have some deep interest in Vampires to be able to create such a magical little place.
Marita:
My interest is in creating a special mystical experience for people with a sense of adventure and
imagination - people that would get a kick out of visiting a shop claiming they are the place
where Vampires shop.
The idea of Vampires is very sensual, exciting and dangerous all at the same time. Things that
captivate a lot of people.
Katherine:
Well then, since you consider Vampires amusing and not a real being, I feel I can ask you this.
Aren't you a little worried of offending tourists and locals by having your shop located virtually
next door to the St. Louis Cathedral - a place of worship? The city's place of worship?
Marita:
Katherine, vampires are just one of God's creatures. A Black Widow spider mates and kills, it is
also extremely dangerous to creatures outside of its species, creatures much larger and stronger
than itself. A vampire shares many similarities with the Black Widow - taking part in Innate
actions considered barbaric and monstrous. But everything is for a reason - as God wanted it.
Black Widow spiders serve their purpose in the eco system. Vampires must then serve a
purpose as well. Perhaps the reason we are located so near a place of God is that we long to
know our place, our significance, what our existence is to mean.
Katherine:
Is that your philosophy on Vampires?
Marita:
Katherine, vampires are mythical creatures.
Katherine:
Yes, but you seemed so intense just now in your explanation. I thought....
Unfortunately the interview ended a bit abruptly. I have little tolerance for reporters.
And besides I was getting hungry.
