In recent years, it was converted into commercial office space and the name changed to Wotel South Pacific (note the neon “M” turned upside-down to form a “W” ). We visited this gorgeous former motel in our latest MIAMI FOOD & VINTAGE: RETRO MOTELS, DINERS & STREET FOOD YouTube video.
To see more of Wotel South Pacific and it’s unique Miami Modern mid-century architecture, including a coursed stone veneer in an angled pattern to create a zigzag, please subscribe to our channel as will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC and now Miami (aka the 6th borough of NYC).
Although the pharmacy is no longer operated by the Katz family, they still retain ownership of the building. We interviewed the 3rd-generation former owner, Michael Katz for our book, “Store Front II-A History Preserved” and he told us the interesting history of its spectacular #vintage neon signage on porcelain enamel with the Spanish word “Farmacia” located underneath the #script “Katz”. Michael’s father, was very business savvy, and “realized that the Puerto Rican’s who began moving to the neighborhood in the 1940s were integral to the shop as they were tremendous cosmetic users. He not only immediately hired Spanish-speaking help but had the Spanish word for Pharmacy installed on its multi-story signage!”
• We love hearing interesting stories like this and that is one of the reasons why we always try and speak with the store owners we visit and find out about the shop’s history. To us, the story behind the photo is equally important as the photo itself.
In celebration of Chinese New Year which is celebrated from Saturday, January 25th through February 8th this year, we are highlighting this #vintage Chinese Herbal Center in Chinatown of the Lower East Side of Manhattan. We took this film 🎞 photo in 2001 as we loved its #vernacular signage, especially the ginseng on the sign and the #neon #gingseng in the window. Happy Year of the Rat 🐀 to everyone who celebrates!
To see more of the delicious and wide variety of regional hot dogs 🌭 this #retro #hotdogstand @dogmagrill sells please watch and subscribe to our YouTube channel as will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC and now Miami (aka the 6th borough of NYC).
In 2009 the motel was lovingly renovated by husband and wife Walter & Shirley Figueroa, who did most of the work themselves. We visited this gorgeous hotel in our latest MIAMI FOOD & VINTAGE: RETRO MOTELS, DINERS & STREET FOOD YouTube video.
To see more of @hotelnewyorker unique Miami Modern mid-century architecture which was designed by Normal Giller in 1953, please subscribe to our channel as will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC and now Miami (aka the 6th borough of NYC).
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To see more of this converted motel’s @vagabondhotelmiami unique Miami Modern mid-century architecture with its open air plan and geometric designs and to hear more about its history, please subscribe to our channel as will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC and now Miami (aka the 6th borough of NYC).
"Marvel Architects say they were drawn to their Tribeca office space 25 years ago because of its connection to NYC history and its openness, qualities that also resonate throughout the firm and its practice."
In this MIAMI FOOD & VINTAGE tour, we visit the MiMo neighborhood of Miami and stop in and have delicious #food at the oldest diner in the area, which serves breakfast all day long.
We also check out the huge concentration of #vintage motels along Biscayne Boulevard, many of which have been lovingly restored to their former 1950s glory with unique mid-century architectural "Miami Modern" details and neon signage.
We also visit a famous retro hot dog stand, known for its street food, including classic and regional specialty hot dogs with a wide variety of toppings.
We not only loved its pies 🥧 and chocolate marble cake but also the reverse channel #neonsign it had with its unique #script font.
Interestingly, the Estate of James Yancey used our photo of Jay Dee Bakery for the 12” first press clear vinyl release of J Dilla’s long lost vocal track (that had never before been released), “Give Them What They Want”.
• The first press 12” features clear vinyl atop a Jeff Jank-altered photograph by James T. & Karla L. Murray.
In our latest video have some delicious food and drinks with the legendary CROME in Wynwood at Kush by LoKal and also listen to CROME as he paints and explains how he got his tag and the inspiration behind his graffiti including his "forced" collaboration with famous street artist @alecmonopoly as well as other interesting stories.
Places we visit include:
1. Enriquetas: 186 NE 29th Street, Miami Florida
2. CROME live painting at wall at 3101 N. Miami Avenue
3. CROME "Thief in the Night" mural / "forced" collaboration with street artist Alec Monopoly @alecmonopoly mural off NW 20th Street at N. Miami Avenue
4. Kush: 2003 N. Miami Avenue at NW 20th Street
In this WYNWOOD, MIAMI GRAFFITI & FOOD tour we visit the vibrant neighborhood of Wynwood, which has more #graffiti and street art than anywhere else in the United States. We not only visit a long-standing Cuban cafeteria & take-a-way spot that has withstood the pressures of gentrification in this #Miami neighborhood but also spend time with our friend, the infamous Miami graffiti artist, CROME as he paints a wall in #Wynwood.
We not only have some delicious food and drinks with the legendary CROME in Wynwood but also listen to CROME as he paints and explains how he got his tag and the inspiration behind his graffiti including his "forced" collaboration with famous street artist @alecmonopoly as well as some other interesting stories.
Places we visit include:
1. Enriquetas: 186 NE 29th Street, Miami Florida
2. CROME live painting at wall at 3101 N. Miami Avenue
3. CROME "Thief in the Night" mural / "forced" collaboration with street artist Alec Monopoly @alecmonopoly mural off NW 20th Street at N. Miami Avenue 4. Kush: 2003 N. Miami Avenue at NW 20th Street
Our rescue dog, Hudson comes along with us as we travel around Miami sampling street food and looking at graffiti art.
Follow CROME on Instagram @cromeface To purchase CROME limited edition prints and artwork including spray paint on canvas visit: www.cromeface.com
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING! We would love for you to subscribe to our channel and hit the thumbs up and notification bell and please SHARE if you enjoy the video.
We will be posting new videos EVERY WEEK highlighting unique small businesses in New York City.
To see & hear more about the delicious “all-around” hot dog 🌭 we had along with their equally amazing French fries 🍟, please subscribe to our channel as will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC and now Miami (aka the 6th borough of NYC).
When we travel, we always try to support local #momandpop shops just like we do at home in New York City. We visited @frankiespizza in our latest MIAMI STREET FOOD: PIZZA, HOT DOGS & FRIES YouTube video.
To see more of the delicious square grandma pies 🍕Frankie’s specializes in and to hear us speak with the 2nd generation co-owner Roxanne Pasquarella who took over the #pizza joint after her father Frank passed away, please subscribe to our channel as we will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC and now Miami (aka the 6th borough of NYC). • •
In this MIAMI STREET FOOD tour, we visit 1950s era "mom-and-pop" food businesses including a historic pizzeria and a world-famous hot dog stand. We not only eat some delicious #streetfood including #pizza, an "all-around" hot dog and french fries but we also visit a nearby historic bowling alley.
Places we visit include: 1. Frankie's Pizza: 9118 SW 40th Street (Bird Road) Miami, Florida 2. Bird Bowl: 9275 SW 40th Street (Bird Road), Miami Florida 3. Arbetter's: 8747 SW 40th Street (Bird Road) Miami, Florida
Our rescue dog, Hudson comes along with us as we travel around Miami sampling food and even gets two hot dogs!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING! We would love for you to subscribe to our channel and hit the thumbs up and notification bell and please SHARE if you enjoy the video.
We will be posting new videos EVERY WEEK highlighting unique small businesses in New York City and Miami.
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Matthew Maher, the owner of McSORLEY”S OLD ALE HOUSE on East 7th Street sadly passed away this weekend at the age of 80.
Mr. Maher started working as a bartender at McSorley’s in 1964 when it was still an all-male establishment known by its slogan, “good ale, raw onions, and no ladies”. Female customers were admitted to most bars by about 1960, but McSorley’s was the last bar in New York City to admit only men. Despite pressure from the women’s movement, it fought to maintain its exclusivity and in 1970 lost the case and was forced to admit women.
We interviewed Mr. Maher (standing in front of the bar in our photo) for our “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York” book and he told us that he “purchased the bar after the McSorley family was upset about the discrimination decision because the City didn’t side with them. They got a kind of resentment towards the bar and decided they wanted to sell it. Everybody talked about how the minute the women would be able to come into the bar, the tradition would be broken and the place would go under. So I decided to buy it from the family. For me, the women paid the bills, you better believe it”.
We met the most wonderful people while at Yambo Restaurant in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami, including this Senor, who told us he was 70 years old and dining at Yambo’s for years!
We visited @yamborestaurantmiami in our latest MIAMI FOOD & GRAFFITI TOUR: Cuban Food & More video and had some delicious Nicaraguan Queso Frito and Gallo Pinto and Melon 🍈 & Naranga 🍊Jugas with our friend and world-renowned graffiti artist ATOMIK.
• To see more all of the amazing and eclectic folk art that covers the #storefront and interior of Yambo and why the #Cuban immigrant who founded Yambo serves Nicaraguan 🇳🇮 food including their famous Carne Asada please subscribe to our channel as will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC and now Miami (aka the 6th borough of NYC).
We visit this historic Cuban 🇨🇺 bakery in our latest MIAMI FOOD & GRAFFITI TOUR: Cuban Food & More video and have some delicious pastries and drinks with our friend and world-renowned graffiti artist ATOMIK.
To see the delicious Guava Pastelito we had and the other delicious Cuban pastries, cakes and guarapo frio (sugar cane juice) they make please subscribe to our channel as will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC and now Miami (aka the 6th borough of NYC).
We visit @yamborestaurantmiami in our latest MIAMI FOOD & GRAFFITI TOUR: Cuban Food & More video and have some delicious Nicaraguan Queso Frito and Gallo Pinto and Melon 🍈 & Naranga 🍊Jugas with our friend and world-renowned graffiti artist ATOMIK.
To see more all of the amazing and eclectic folk art that covers the #storefront and interior of Yambo and why the #Cuban immigrant who founded Yambo serves Nicaraguan 🇳🇮 food including their famous Carne Asada please subscribe to our channel as will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC and now Miami (aka the 6th borough of NYC).
The Pickle Guys, which specialize in a wide variety of traditionally cured kosher pickles 🥒 and pickled vegetables 🥕and fruits 🍉 have opened a stand inside The Market Line at the new Essex Market in the Lower East Side. We visit The Pickle Guys newest location in our STREET FOOD TOUR: ESSEX MARKET, NYC YouTube video and have some free samples!
To see more of the delicious pickled products Pickle Guys sell, please subscribe to our channel as will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC.
Continuing our look back to some of the wonderful NYC #momandpopshop that we lost in the past decade, we wanted to highlight MOISHE’S BAKE SHOP on 2nd Avenue by East 7th Street which was founded in 1977 and closed in March 2019.
We loved this kosher #bakery and went their weekly to buy rye 🍞 bread , which they cut using a vintage bread slicer. Everything was baked on the premises fresh every day. and they were known for their delicious challah bread, rye bread, hamantaschen, rugelach, babka and sugar kichel.
Our photo was taken with 35mm film in the early 2000s and we also interviewed the owner Moishe’s Perl for our book “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York”.
Essex Pearl located inside the newly opened Essex Market’s “The Market Line” in the Lower East Side is the first #seafood restaurant opened by second-generation fishmongers Steven, Freeman and Lina Wong. We visit @essexpearl in our new Street Food Tour: Essex Market L.E.S. YouTube video and check out the many seafood items 🐡🦐🦑🐟they sell including many that are caught locally and sold that same day.
To see more of Essex Pearl’s delicious seafood and other amazing food and coffee we tried while at @themarketline and @essexmarket please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel.
We will be posting new videos EVERY FRIDAY highlighting unique small businesses in New York City.
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In this STREET FOOD TOUR we visit many of the #streetfood vendors and locally sourced specialty, grocery and prepared food businesses inside the Essex Market in the Lower East Side of #NYC. We also visit and sample food from The Market Line vendors and restaurants located in the basement level of the Essex Market.
Our certified service animal/rescue dog, Hudson comes along with us and we even get him some treats/samples.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!
We would love for you to subscribe to our channel and hit the thumbs up and notification bell and please SHARE if you enjoy the video. We will be posting new videos EVERY FRIDAY highlighting unique small businesses in New York City.
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https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla
Continuing our look back at the #momandpopstorefronts we have sadly lost in the past decade, today we are highlighting Cup & Saucer located on Canal Street in the Lower East Side. This 1940s era #Luncheonette complete with its original lunch counter and stainless stools was forced to close in 2017 after their rent was greatly increased from $8,200 a month to $15,800.
We were so saddened by the loss of Cup & Saucer ☕️that we decided to raise awareness of its importance to the community by installing our near life-size photo of the Luncheonette in our @momandpopsles art installation inside Seward Park.
• In another silver lining story, in 2019 we documented the new diner opened by the same owners of Cup & Saucer, Teddy and John Vasilopoulos and also filmed a YouTube video highlighting it.
We hope that this new decade that 2020 has brought in will be a better one for small unique businesses than the past decade as so many shops, restaurants and bars have shuttered.
The original location of Subway Inn on East 60th Street opposite Bloomingdales which opened in 1937, sadly closed in 2014 after the building owner declined to renew their lease as they wanted to build high-end luxury condos on the site.
Thankfully, Marcello Salinas who started out mopping floors at the bar when he immigrated to the U.S. before taking ownership of the #divebar was able to relocate the @subwayinn #bar in 2015 to 2nd Ave at East 60th Street and even brought over the bar’s iconic #neon #signage. We love when a tragic loss ends up as a happy story! 😊
We hope that this new decade that 2020 has brought in will be a better one for small unique businesses than the past decade as so many shops, restaurants and bars have shuttered.
Garry Jewelers in Park Slope, Brooklyn was founded in 1951 by Ralph and Rose Garafola. Their son, Michael, took over the business when Ralph passed away in 1999 but when Michael himself became ill, he rarely opened the shop in 2009 and by 2010 it remained permanently closed. We love its two-tone neon signage 💎complete with #script lettering.
#Filmphoto from 2006 appears in our book “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York”.
