Gramercy Cafe on Third Avenue at 17th Street was in business for over 24 years before closing a few days ago.

Signs in the window say that it will be reopening as Gramercy Kitchen but there is no word on what exactly that means...whether it will remain a #diner with a long breakfast 🍳 counter is uncertain. Photo from 2009 appears in our book "New York Nights". We loved its #neon signs especially the #script #lettering and hope that the new "Kitchen" 🍔☕️
keeps the same aesthetic. #neonsign #signgeeks #storefront #disappearingfaceofnewyork #signcollective #type #typography #dailytype #guardiancities #myfeatureshoot

We are happy to have our photography of the 66th Street/Lincoln Center Station included in the book "New York's Underground Art Museum - MTA Arts & Design"

Mars Bar in the East Village with Roy, sitting outside.

This #analog photo was taken in 2005 and appears in our book "Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York". Roy, who passed away in 2010, was a fixture outside of this iconic #divebar and could also be found inside in the morning prepping it for the day.
In 2011, this neighborhood bar closed after being in business since 1984 and the whole building was demolished to make way for a luxury apartment building. Today, a shiny glass TD Bank branch stands in its place. #storefront #disappearingfaceofnewyork #handpainted #signage

In celebration of #LunarNewYear we are posting our #analog photo of Chinese Herbal Center in Chinatown, Manhattan.

We love the mix of #signage including the #neon ginseng in the window and the #handpainted ginseng and the deer on the main #storefront. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 🐔🐔🐔New Year!
#chinesenewyear #lunarnewyear2017

Botanica Eleggua in the Bronx.

A Botanica is a shop that sells folk medicine, religious candles, statuary, amulets, oils, incense and other products that are considered to be magical. This #botanica specializes in products associated with the spiritual practice of Santeria. Eleggua is the most important of the Orishas in Santeria. "He opens the way and alllows ache to flow in the universe". We love the #handpainted signage this unique #storefront has. #disappearingfaceofnewyork

The Urban Lens: Inside the Village East Cinema, one of NY’s last surviving ‘Yiddish Rialto’ theaters - January 27, 2017 By James and Karla Murray for 6Sqft

LINK: https://www.6sqft.com/the-urban-lens-inside-the-village-east-cinema-one-of-nys-last-surviving-yiddish-rialto-theaters/

Moviegoers at the Village East Cinema located on 181 Second Avenue at the corner of East 12th Street may be surprised to learn that they are visiting a recently restored New York City designated landmark. The Village East Cinema has a fascinating history as one of the last surviving “Yiddish Rialto” theaters along Second Avenue in the East Village. Today, the cinema is known for premiering many independent films and an eclectic mix of art and commercial releases. The theater’s most significant visual aspect, however, is its main auditorium’s ornate and colorful ceiling, which is regarded as having one of the most remarkable works of plaster craftsmanship displays in New York City.

Expert In Shoe Repair in Greenwich Village.

This shoe 👞 repair shop has a variety of #handpainted #signage including the green and white one with the yellow shoe over the #storefront as well as some gems in the window advertising watch ⌚️ repair and change batteries and another great #sign for a Shoe Sign All While-U-Wait! 👠👡👢👞

Stardust Motel, Hollywood Florida

Built in 1960. #neon #vintage

Classic newsstand in the #subway system of NYC.

In the 1950s there were over 1,500 independent newsstands but less than 300 remain in operation today. There are a variety of reasons for the decline but the biggest one is that less people buy newspapers and magazines. By NYC law, a #newsstand operator can license no more than two outdoor newsstands. Ones like this that are located in the subway 🚋 or in hotel lobbies are licensed by the New York City Parks Department. As lovers of all things related to #type and #typography, printed matter 📰🗞,books 📚 and #analog film lovers we hope that #vintage ones like this survive! #shopsmalllove

Joe's Dairy, SoHo, NYC

Joe's Dairy in the South Village was founded in 1977 but was operating as a dairy store called Frank and Al's Dairy for over 40 years prior. It specialized in #homemade Mozzarella both regular and smoked flavors, which were made on premises. In this photo taken in 2008 for our book "Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York", the owner's father is relaxing outside the #storefront after having hydrated and marinated sun-dried tomatoes 🍅 which they also sold at the shop. Sadly this #Mozzarella store closed in 2013, which came as a surprise to many but the owner Anthony had told us in 2008 that "When I am ready to retire, it (Mozzarella making) will probably be a lost art in my family because I have a daughter but I won't allow her to do this. It's a lot of hard work. It's not that a woman couldn't do it, but you have to get up really early and work long hard hours." Full interview and photo appears in our "Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York".

Unicorn Pizza & Gyros Coffee Shop in the #Bronx, NYC

Obama Market, Miami.

Cigarettes-Newspapers in Chinatown on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

This #newsstand is perfect to us in so many ways...the simple #signage 🚬📰, the stack of newspapers, the slide window for paying and even the #graffiti along the #storefront. Sadly these are disappearing rapidly from the city especially because less people actually purchase and read a newspaper every day.

Montero's Bar & Grill in Brooklyn Heights was founded in 1939.

Montero's is the last longshoreman' s bar left in the area and is full of maritime memorabilia ⚓️including model ships 🚢 and even life preservers. It was opened by Joseph and Pilar Montero and is currently run by their son Pepe who although has no immediate plans to sell the bar and the entire building it is located in, there is talk of him joining six neighbors to offer all of their property together for $56 million dollars. We love this bar's decor 🚤 and its #vintage #neonsign and hope that it stays around for many more years. Photo from 2010 appears in our book "New York Nights".

Hudson. Over in Miami Wynwood Art District...

Minetta Tavern on a rainy 💦 night in Greenwich Village, New York City.

This #historic restaurant in Greenwich Village opened in 1937. It was named after the Minetta Brook, a small stream that ran southwest from 23rd Street to the Hudson River. Minetta Tavern became a famous dining spot for beatniks, celebrities and literary luminaries including Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Eugene O'Neill, E. E. Cummings, Dylan Thomas and Joe Gould. We love how the light from the #neon sign and the light shining on the wet pavement from all of the other MacDougal Street businesses add to the glow of the scene. Full photo appears in our book "NEW YORK NIGHTS".

Martin Luther King Jr. Day over in Brownsville, Miami

Hudson. Over in Wynwood, Miami, just now...

#wynwood #miami

1951 Dodge Coronet Gyromatic Sedan

Push the steering column mounted stick in and up with foot on the clutch for 1st and 2nd. Pull down for 3rd and 4th...

Turf Motel, Miami

Turf Motel in Miami has unique #lettering on their oversize #sign. We especially love the horseshoe-shaped "U" and the jaunty cut log-inspired "T". We love when we across atypical #signage in our travels.

Morning, Florida, earlier...

The Miscue Lounge, Florida, earlier...

Ralph's Deli & Grocery, NYC

Ralph's Deli & Grocery in #NYC has a colorful #storefront and #fontastic signage! We especially love the "R" and the mix of Spanish and English groceries listed.

Tiny's Liquors Bar, Miami

Tiny's Liquors Bar has an amazing #vintage #neonsign. We love the jaunty #font and the combination of #neon and bulb-light #lettering. It's surprising to us that despite its #rust, the #sign has survived in Miami so many years despite the numerous hurricanes it has weathered including the Category 5 Hurricane Andrew in 1992. We guess things were made to last back then.

Jules Bistro on St. Mark's Place.

Georges Forgeois opened this French bistro in 1993 after being inspired to bring the energy of Harlem jazz venues to the East Village. With nightly free live music 7 days a week, no cover charge and a classic French menu including moules frites, steak frites and onion soup gratineé, the atmosphere is very classic.

Mr. Joseph's Village Hairstylists has been in business for over 40 years.

Mr. Joseph's Village Hairstylists #barbershop 💈 was founded by three #Italian immigrants who were not only master #barbers ✂️ but also created a friendly #GreenwichVillage atmosphere, bantering with the customers while golden oldie music 🎶 played in the background. We love its #handpainted sign with the #script lettering. Photo from 2009 appears in our book "Store Front II-A History Preserved". #storefront

PATSY’S RESTAURANT from our book "Store Front II-A History Preserved"

PATSY’S RESTAURANT was founded by Pasquale “Patsy” Scognamillo. Patsy came to New York from Naples, Italy 🇮🇹 with his wife Concetta in the 1920s and opened his #Italian restaurant in the Theater district in 1944. Third-generation family members are now running Patsy’s and one of the co-owners, Frank DiCola told us," This was Frank Sinatra’s favorite restaurant and he often dined here after recording at his nearby studio. He brought in many other famous celebrities and that definitely helped give the restaurant its status." We of course are not only big fans of the amazing 🍝food but also its original #vintage #neonsign. Photo from 2010 and full interview with Frank appear in our book "Store Front II-A History Preserved". #storefront

Gotham City Video, Times Square, NYC

Gotham City Video aka the Playpen is one of the last places in #TimesSquare where you can see a live #peep 👀show. In addition to selling adult videos, almost every imaginable adult toy, movie and accessory, the #storefront has nearly 30 adult video-viewing booths and six live booths. Over two decades ago, these places were countless in the Times Square area but due to zoning changes instituted by #nyc and pornography's migration to the Internet, very few still exist. Photo from 2009 appears in our book "New York Nights". #neon #neonsign

Hudson. Over in Allapattah, Miami, earlier...

Trailways Bus Depot

Hudson. Over in Miami's Design District, earlier...