Tuesday, October 31, 2017
A #ghostsign post for Halloween π»!
Horn & Hardart Automat Cafeteria opened in Times Square on July 2, 1912. The Horn & Hardart Automats sold prepared food behind small glass window dispensers with coin-operated slots. They were extremely popular during the Depression era, serving filling favorites like macaroni & cheese, baked beans and creamed spinach. The automats remained popular through the 1950s but their popularity declined in the late 1960s and began being replaced by fast food restaurants in the 1960s. The last Horn & Hardart Automat to remain open in NYC was located at the corner of 42nd Street and 3rdAvenue. It sadly closed in April 1991. #automat #hornandhardart
Monday, October 30, 2017
Hudson. Wishing his favorite Cube a very happy 50th birthday π !
#HappyBirthdayCube #EastVillage #citypitties #hudsononthings
With Halloween π» a day away, we thought we would post a favorite #ghostsign of ours from Elizabeth Street in NoLita.
We remember the G. La Rosa & Son Bread Co. well as we would often take our dogs Tabasco and Java (R.I.P) for a walk along this street and would always smell the fresh bread π baking late in the evening. The owner even gave us a fresh out-of-the-oven loaf one evening because we were stopped outside his open doorway and commented to him how good it smelled. ( they were a wholesale business and had no actual storefront to sell individual loaves).
This #analog photo was taken after the #bakery had closed in the early 2000s and this portion of it became a high-end antique shop and the building next door became a condo with boutique stores on the ground floor. #signgeeks #signsofgrime #typography #signcollective #dailtype #typevstime #graffitiwall
This #analog photo was taken after the #bakery had closed in the early 2000s and this portion of it became a high-end antique shop and the building next door became a condo with boutique stores on the ground floor. #signgeeks #signsofgrime #typography #signcollective #dailtype #typevstime #graffitiwall
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Friday, October 27, 2017
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Stingy Lulu's in the East Village circa 2001.
This retro-style #luncheonette was opened in 1992 by Karacona Cinar and featured drag queens as waitresses. The #storefront later was home to the Hop Devil Grill and was empty for quite some time with for rent signs visible before becoming part of a large Starbucks that wraps around the corner of St. Mark's Place and Avenue A. We wonder what happened to the old Coca-Cola #eastvillage #lodownny
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Barber Shop, Brooklyn
We love the simple name and #handpainted signage this barber shop has. Definitely keeping it to the point! ✂️ #Analog photo from 2004 appears in our book "Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York". #storefront
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Bleecker Bob's Records was founded by Bob Plotnick in 1967 on Bleecker Street.
This #recordstore was one of the first places in the late 1970s to sell albums by #punk bands. Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin's guitarist πΈand Frank Zappa both occasionally tended the register back in the day. π§ Photo from 2011 and interview appears in our book "New York Nights". #storefront #neon #vinyl #vinylcommunity #signgeeks #recordplayer #disappearingfaceofnewyork
Monday, October 23, 2017
Saturday, October 21, 2017
Long Island Bar in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.
@longislandbar is an historic bar/restaurant which was opened in 1951 by Ramon Montero and was run by his daughter Emma Sullivan (and her late husband) until 2007. It sat empty for nearly 7 years until it was lovingly restored (including the #vintage two-color #neonsign ) and reopened by Joel Tompkins and #mixologist Toby Cecchini. We love ❤️ that they not only kept but relit the #neon. We are sure that Emma would be proud! We photographed this #storefront back in 2004 for our book "Store Front:The Disappearing Face of New York" and also interviewed Emma who told us the name of the bar was chosen by her father "because Brooklyn was still considered part of Long Island back then".
Friday, October 20, 2017
Newsstand, Union Square Park, NYC
Beginning in 2007, the city began to replace various old newsstands throughout Manhattan and the boroughs with glass and steel boxes by CEMUSA, which operate as franchise locations. The ramshackle old Newsstands were mainly privately-owned small businesses and the owners kept them for generations. Sadly this green, oval-shaped newsstand, recently closed and construction began to remake the location into a stand selling nuts. We will miss this #newsstand! #storefront #disappearingfaceofnewyork #unionsquare
Thursday, October 19, 2017
STORE FRONT II - A HISTORY PRESERVED MINI Edition!
"James and Karla Murray’s classic tome from their ongoing Store Front series is now available (Dec 2017) for the first time in its covetable “mini” format. The Murrays have been capturing impeccable photographs from the streets of New York City since the 1990s. With Store Front II they’ve continued their documentation of an important cross-section of New York’s “Mom and Pop” economy. The Murray’s penetrating photographs are only half the story though. Their copious background texts, gleaned largely from interviews with the stores’ owners and employees, bring wonderful color and nuance to the importance of these unique one-off establishments.
The authors’ landmark 2008 book, Store Front, was recently cited in Bookforum’s 20th Anniversary issue as having “…demonstrated the paradoxical power of digital photo editing to alter actual views in order for us to see more clearly what is really there.” James and Karla Murray live in New York City and were awarded the New York Society Library’s prestigious New York City book award in 2012 for their last book, New York Nights."
Pre-order: http://gingkopress.com/shop/store-front-ii-mini/
The authors’ landmark 2008 book, Store Front, was recently cited in Bookforum’s 20th Anniversary issue as having “…demonstrated the paradoxical power of digital photo editing to alter actual views in order for us to see more clearly what is really there.” James and Karla Murray live in New York City and were awarded the New York Society Library’s prestigious New York City book award in 2012 for their last book, New York Nights."
Pre-order: http://gingkopress.com/shop/store-front-ii-mini/
In honor of Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, which starts today: Milon, a Bangladesh Indian restaurant, East Village, NYC
Milon is a family-owned restaurant, which has been in business since 1982. As seen in this photo, Milon and its neighboring restaurants, take #Diwali very seriously and have decorated their interiors with thousands of lights. The owner of Milon told us that in the summer, they have to unplug lots of their lights because when the air conditioner is running, they overload the circuits! Photo from 2010 and full interview with owner appear in our book "New York Nights". #storefront #diwalidecor #lodownny #ig_signage #everything_signage #festivaloflights
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Photography from our visit to EverGreene Architectural Arts in Industry City, Brooklyn for 6sqft's new feature "Where I Work"...
LINK: https://www.6sqft.com/where-i-work-inside-the-plaster-and-mural-studios-at-evergreene-architectural-arts/
"On Monday evening, the Historic Districts Council will present their 29th annual Landmarks Lion Award to Jeff Greene of EverGreene Architectural Arts, one of the nation’s foremost experts in specialty contracting for both traditional and new, innovative techniques for restoring and conserving murals, ornamental plaster, and decorative finishes. “Jeff has been pivotal in restoring some of New York City’s most beloved landmarks to their proper glory,” said HDC’s executive director Simeon Bankoff. And indeed, this is true; their commissions include the recent restoration of the New York Public Library’s Rose Reading Room, Brooklyn’s Loew’s Kings Theater, the Eldridge Street Synagogue, and the McKim, Mead and White-designed University Club, where the event will be held, and this only scratches the surface of their hundreds of projects throughout the country."
"On Monday evening, the Historic Districts Council will present their 29th annual Landmarks Lion Award to Jeff Greene of EverGreene Architectural Arts, one of the nation’s foremost experts in specialty contracting for both traditional and new, innovative techniques for restoring and conserving murals, ornamental plaster, and decorative finishes. “Jeff has been pivotal in restoring some of New York City’s most beloved landmarks to their proper glory,” said HDC’s executive director Simeon Bankoff. And indeed, this is true; their commissions include the recent restoration of the New York Public Library’s Rose Reading Room, Brooklyn’s Loew’s Kings Theater, the Eldridge Street Synagogue, and the McKim, Mead and White-designed University Club, where the event will be held, and this only scratches the surface of their hundreds of projects throughout the country."
We are in a sporting mood with the NY Yankees ⚾️playing tonight in the post-season at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx
That is why we are highlighting Varsity Sneakers πShoes π. We love the #vintage #signage this #storefront has, especially because it includes the word "DUNGAREES" π. We also are fans of this #Bronx store's large window displays, which you rarely see in newer shops as they tend to maximize interior square footage and not care about large product window displays.
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Monday, October 16, 2017
Hudson. Curtain call over at Theater for the New City Gallery as our show "Capturing the Lower East Side's Storefronts"came down today!
Thank you to all who supported our workshops and resulting gallery show and continue to support the Mom & Pop Stores of New York City.
Thank you to all our generous sponsors including Neighborhood Preservation Center, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, The Municipal Art Society of New York, East Village Community Coalition, Veselka :: BeceΠ»ΠΊa, The Village Alliance, Greenwich Village Society For Historic Preservation, Unique Copy Center and Unique Visuals NY, Veniero's, Jimmy's No. 43, Westside Market Taste Wine Company, FABNYC, Townsquared, and Amalgamated Bank.
Also thank you to following blogs and websites who showed support: The Lo-Down NY, Untapped Cities, E.V. Grieve, PIX 11, 6sqft and others who showed their love of neighborhood mom&pops! #storefront #disappearingfaceofnewyork #ahistorypreserved
Thank you to all our generous sponsors including Neighborhood Preservation Center, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, The Municipal Art Society of New York, East Village Community Coalition, Veselka :: BeceΠ»ΠΊa, The Village Alliance, Greenwich Village Society For Historic Preservation, Unique Copy Center and Unique Visuals NY, Veniero's, Jimmy's No. 43, Westside Market Taste Wine Company, FABNYC, Townsquared, and Amalgamated Bank.
Also thank you to following blogs and websites who showed support: The Lo-Down NY, Untapped Cities, E.V. Grieve, PIX 11, 6sqft and others who showed their love of neighborhood mom&pops! #storefront #disappearingfaceofnewyork #ahistorypreserved
Saturday, October 14, 2017
Friday, October 13, 2017
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Chung's Candy & Soda Stand, Lower East Side, NYC
We love how this small #momandpop shop kept their original #signage visible and did not cover it up with the newer plastic awning. Sadly, according to the @lodownny Chung's Candy π & Soda Stand has now closed and a for rent sign is visible across the #storefront. #disappearingfaceofnewyork
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Box Fresh 1969 Polaroid Model 340 Land Camera
We couldn't believe our eyes π when we spotted this entire #vintage @polaroid set-up at a flea market near our studio in the East Village, with its original packaging and cold-clip (to get good color pictures when the temperature of the camera and film is 65 degrees F or below) and optional Polaroid Flashgun # 268 and unopened pack of 75 speed color film which expired in October 1970. All we have to do to get it in working order is to convert the current 4.5 V battery which powers the electric eye and shutter controls to use AAA batteries. Original price tag says G. Fox & Co. Department Store.
Monday, October 9, 2017
Neptune Liquors in Crown Heights, Brooklyn
This liquor shop not only has great #script #signage but also a great graphic of the god Neptune. We took this #analog photo in 2006 for our book "Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York" (hence the low liquor prices compared to today's prices). #storefront #type #disappearingfaceofnewyork
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Jet Set Concepts, Harlem, NYC
We not only love the #signage this #storefront has with its combination of #script and #fontastic lettering but also love the forward fashion and wigs displayed in the windows. #Analog photo from 2004 appears in our book "Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York".
Friday, October 6, 2017
AT&T Long Distance Building Lobby
Hildreth Meiere was commissioned to design the ceiling mural in this building's lobby that depicts the "Continents Linked by the Telephone and Wireless". We love the #ArtDeco style of the ceiling murals and this tile map of the world π. #untappedcitiesOHNY
Thursday, October 5, 2017
Tijuana Picnic on the Lower East Side.
#nationaltacoday yesterday! @tijuanapicnicnyc
@tijuanapicnicnyc
@tijuanapicnicnyc
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
White Mountain Farm Grocery, NYC
In honor of last night's harvest moon π which is unusually late this year (it is normally seen in late September, not October) we are posting White Mountain Farm Grocery. We love that this #delicatessen kept its #vintage Coca-Cola #privilegesign. In the 1930s and 40s, these #signs were very prevalent around the city as they were given free to store owners who agreed to sell Coca-Cola products. Unfortunately many of these Coca-Cola signs have been replaced. #storefront
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Monday, October 2, 2017
Getting ready to ship our Chromatic Storefront Collage Print 20 X 60 inch (5 feet width) to a client, just now...
Limited edition prints available up to 6 feet width. Contact us for more info: jandkphoto@att.net
The Market Diner, NYC
The Market Diner opened in 1962 and was one of the city's most interesting diners in an architectural sense as it was built with a zig-zag overhang and windows that sloped inward at the bottom. Unfortunately it closed in 2015 when the real estate company who owned the property decided to build a 13-story mixed use glass tower in its place. We loved this #diner not only for its crazy architecture but also because it was one of the last stand-alone diners left in Manhattan. #storefront #disappearingfaceofnewyork #gentrification #vintagediner #chromediner
Sunday, October 1, 2017
Russ & Daughters Cafe on Orchard Street in the Lower East Side.
The 4th-generation owners of the historic Russ & Daughters Appetizers shop @russanddaughters opened this sit-down restaurant a few years ago so that people could enjoy their smoked salmon, sturgeon, herring π and caviar along with other Jewish comfort food including knishes, potato latkes and matzo ball soup. We not only love this cafe's food but also love how they modeled both the exterior of the cafe including its #neon #signage and the interior on the original 1904 location. #storefront #neonsign #breakthefast
