Friday, January 30, 2015

Essex House, South Beach Miami.

Art Deco pioneer Henry Hohauser created the now landmarked Essex House Hotel in 1938. The notorious gangster Al Capone was said to play cards in the dining room.



Thursday, January 29, 2015

The New Casablanca Cocktail Lounge, Bed Stuy, Brooklyn NYC.

On the corner since the late 1940s the bartender would give a signal to the doorman to buzz open the gate. The old NYC dive bar has been recently been re-born with a sign-less exterior.


Saturday, January 24, 2015

Jerry's Famous Deli, South Beach, Miami R.I.P.

The "open 24 hours" deli, popular with tourist and late night club goers, has closed after 14 years. The deli served the "mile-high" corned beef, pastrami, and brisket sandwiches made famous by Manhattan institutions like Katz's and Carnegie Deli.


Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Cuba Tobacco Cigar Co., Little Havana, Miami.

The business was established in 1896 in Cuba. Pedro "Peter" Bello Jr is pictured in front of his cigar factory that has been at this location since 1994. The Bello family is one of the largest manufacturers of premium cigars in the USA.


Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Colony Hotel, South Beach.

The Colony Hotel is the oldest Art Deco Hotel in South Beach operating since 1935.


Monday, January 19, 2015

Jumbo's R.I.P. Liberty City, Miami

Jumbo’s, in business from 1955 to 2014, was considered a soul-food landmark. In the 1960s it was the first white-owned restaurant to employ and serve blacks. The Flam family bought the diner in 1955. The Civil Rights Act had passed three years earlier, but Miami was still part of the Deep South. Discrimination was officially illegal, but many restaurants and other businesses did not comply. A developer has purchased the property.


Thursday, January 15, 2015

Bowery Coffee R.I.P. East Houston St. NYC

Bowery Coffee on East Houston Street just west of the Bowery closed after being in business since 2011. The owner Gadi Gilan also had an antique store in the basement level selling unique light fixtures and things. According to Boweryboogie.com the landlord refused to renew the lease. We had excellent coffee here with @danielkrieger after meeting him for his #lunchwithaphotographer series on IG.


Tuesday, January 13, 2015

VIDEO NOW AVAILABLE WITH AUDIO CORRECTED! Capturing the Disappearing Storefronts of Greenwich Village and the East Village: A GVSHP Presentation.

With photographers and authors James & Karla Murray Talk took place on December 2, 2014 in the East Village at the 6th Street Community Center.


Tarrant's Cafe, Richmond, VA.

"In 1883, The storefront at One West Broad Street became a drugstore owned by Harrison and Pierce. In 1905, it was taken over by William G. Tarrant, who started Tarrant Drug Company. This corner drug store sold glasses and all kinds of medicinal remedies. Physicians could prescribe and purchase remedies on site. After Tarrant's death in 1961, the drug store was taken over by his son Bill until 1987.  Today, Tarrant's Cafe is bringing upscale but affordable neighborhood service to Richmond's community." (Tarrant's website)



Monday, January 12, 2015

Nuñez Fabrics, Miami.

Nuñez Fabrics has been in business for 45 years. It specializes in lycra and spandex.


Saturday, January 10, 2015

The National Theater, Richmond, Virginia.

The National is located along the 700 block of Broad Street which was once known as Theatre Row. It is the only surviving auditorium of the row (the others now exist in facade only). The theater was built in 1923, originally staging both live entertainment (such as vaudeville shows) as well as motion-pictures.


Thursday, January 8, 2015

Pawn Shop, Richmond.

The time-honored three-ball symbol of the pawnbroker profession dates back to the Medicis. This one blinked on and off.


Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Polly's Beauty Shop, Richmond, VA.

Owned by Mrs. Polly Logan and "Doing business in Jackson Ward for over 25 years."



Tuesday, January 6, 2015

The Hippodrome Theater, Richmond, VA.

The Hippodrome Theater is located in Jackson Ward which is known as the “Harlem of the South.” It was built in 1904 as a vaudeville and movie theater.