Olsen Ventures uses the history and value of the past to build companies in New Orleans.

When most people start businesses, they look to the future. We’ve always looked to the past. To our history, to what came before us. Our companies focus on creating new life from nostalgia.

Vice & Graft

927 Royal Street

It’s been said that New Orleans is a city built on vice and graft. We’ve used that idea as the foundation of our Royal Street store, where we curate items from - and pay homage to - the history of New Orleans. From film costuming to the backs of great musicians, our clothing has spread far beyond New Orleans.

Swamp Rags

806 N Rampart Street

Swamp Rags curates 80s and 90s clothing and pop-culture memorabilia in a French Quarter store. We now work with agencies & brands to harness the invisible power of nostalgia. From Super Bowl to Taylor Swift, Swamp Rags has been involved in the biggest New Orleans events of recent years.

The inaugural Louisiana Vintage Festival brought together the best vintage dealers in Louisiana to the French Quarter - for a sold out event. Hosted at the House of Blues, over 2000 attendees shopped 40 vendors in a tour de force of vintage. 2026 will have Louisiana Vintage Festival as a 2-day event, with multiple sub-festivals along the way.

We combine the old and new to maximize the value from estate sales. By blending traditional in person sales with modern digital marketing and our retail stores, we reach the widest audience and highest value.

We’re always looking for new businesses to create, old companies to help grow, and different people to talk with.