Canal Street is a major east-west street in Manhattan, New York City. In 1815, the city decided to drain Collect Pond, but the springs caused the dry land to be boggy and uneven, leading to the city authorizing a covered canal in 1819 to carry off the excess water. However, the canal became a stinking covered sewer, so the city built Canal Street in 1820. The eastern stretch of Canal Street was a part of the Five Points neighborhood, known for its low property values and living conditions. However, after World War II, Canal Street became a bustling commercial district and the main Chinese jewelry business district of Chinatown. Open-air stalls and bare-bones stores were opened along Canal Street to sell grey market imports and counterfeit goods.
