This area once had many camera 📷 and video equipment shops, catering to the tourist crowd who flocked to nearby Macy’s.
These camera shops always seemed to have a “going out of business” sale but the prices were inflated so in actuality it was no sale at all!
#jamesandkarla #disappearingfaceofnewyork #camera #cameras #videocam #videocamera #camerastore #heraldsquare
M&G closed in 2008 after this beloved #soulfood restaurant “went on vacation” and never reopened.
We photographed this iconic spot in 2004 and our 35mm film photo appears in our book “Store Front:The Disappearing Face of New York”.
We always loved their amazing fried chicken 🍗 and the gorgeous #neonsignage surrounded by light 💡 bulbs which announced “Southern Fried Chicken” in a jaunty #font and the “Old Fashion’ BUT Good” with the letter “I” dotted with a star ⭐️!
The restauranteur and chef Marcus Samuelsson @marcuscooks rescued part of the original #neon sign and had it displayed inside his now shuttered Harlem Streetbird restaurant but we are not sure where that gorgeous relic is now. If anybody knows its whereabouts please share it with us.
While Rosario’s which was open from 1963-2020 focused on classic New York slices, Zazzy’s owner, Jon Gabel decided to offer classic slices as well as many health conscious and plant-based options.
Today we visited @zazzyspizza to try their classic cheese slice in a battle of Lower East Side pizzerias. •
To watch our pizza battle video: https://youtu.be/L8uaN7b45YE
Yesterday, we visited @neilscoffeeshop to help support this lovely family-owned Upper East Side diner as it has been struggling to survive since the pandemic as many of their customers who lived in the neighborhood moved away and the students at nearby Hunter College have been only attending classes remotely so the campus has been empty since March 2020.
To watch our livestream video where we visit Neil’s Coffee Shop with our dog Hudson and our friend Sifat of @thenycwalkingshow and have their amazing Neil’s Beefburger Deluxe, Grilled Cheese sandwich with Swiss 🧀 cheese on rye and their Texas Cheeseburger 🍔 with a fried egg 🍳 on top please watch our full video: https://youtu.be/-5VuLXWgt5M
Mishkin’s Drug Store on Amsterdam Ave at 145th Street has been in business at this location since 1930 but the pharmacy itself dates back to the 1890s.
For over 35 years, it has been owned and operated by pharmacist, Mr. Seung Yoo and his wife who although updated the handpainted #storefront signage, still maintain the overhanging neon sign (not in photo) which was installed in 1950.
Our 35mm film photo was taken in 2004 and appears in our book, “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York”.
#jamesandkarla #pharmacy disappearingfaceofnewyork #apothecary #harlem #handpainted #signpainting #signage
Nom Wah Tea Parlor on crooked Doyers Street aka the Bloody Angle is the oldest dim sum tea parlor in Chinatown, having opened in 1920. Today, we visited @nomwah to help support this wonderful restaurant being run by the 2nd-generation owner Wilson Tang and had their delicious shrimp 🍤 siu mai, vegetable dumplings and stuffed 🍆 eggplant.
We also love that they still have outdoor seating available even though interior seating is again available (2nd photo) so we could dine on this colorful street with our dog Hudson who also got treated to some sweet & sour pork chops courtesy of the chef 👨🏻🍳.
• To watch our livestream video and subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story.
• Full video: https://youtu.be/wt4D3dFjXXo
Zig Zag Records was in business for over 35 years before it closed in December 2010. We always loved it’s vast selection of #vinylrecords and the owner Stan was always so welcoming. We asked him in 2009 when we visited him to show him our “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York” book why many of the posters in his window had been the same for years, he laughed and told us that the record companies no longer sent him free posters. (the posters in the window when we took this 35mm film photo in 2004 were exactly the same in 2009).
We also loved the gorgeous #handpainted signage this #recordstore had with the jaunty “Zig Zig” and the #vinylrecord used as the “O” in RECORDS.
Many people ask us which store that we have photographed is our favorite and certainly Zig Zag Records is one of them and that is why we even have a 4 foot print of Zig Zag hanging over our couch in our studio.
Little Cupcake Bakeshop was established by Salvatore LoBuglio in Brooklyn in 2005 and later opened this lovely NoLita shop on Prince Street, specializing in baking using no preservatives or shortening and only sustainable ingredients predominantly sourced from local farms, including milk from grass-fed cows.
We visited this lovely bakery and purchased two different cupcakes, their “Vanilla Bean”🧁 and their “Strawberry Shortcake” cupcake which was invented by the owner because he ate Good Humor strawberry shortcake 🍓ice cream bars all the time when growing up and wanted to recreate the flavor in a cake form. This specialty cupcake not only resembled a strawberry shortcake ice cream bar but also tasted exactly like it!
• To watch our livestream video where we visit @littlecupcakebakeshop and taste their cupcakes 🧁 in a battle of the L.E.S. cupcakes, please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story. • https://youtu.be/pOI4M0-hlgc
Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery on Rivington Street in the Lower East Side of Manhattan (2nd photo of #storefront) was founded in 2003 by partners Debbie & Peggy (Peggy seen in photo) and specializes in baking a variety of homemade cupcakes 🧁 including vegan cupcakes. Today, we visited this lovely bakery and purchased three different cupcakes, their signature “Sunshine Cupcake” with yellow cake and vanilla buttercream, a pistachio cupcake with “The Moose” topping, and a strawberry cupcake with strawberry cake 🍓with cream cheese icing. All three cupcakes were both super fresh, moist and exceptional tasting and at only $2.75 each were an absolute bargain. We highly recommend visiting this lovely bakery!
• To watch our livestream video where we visit @sssbakery and taste their cupcakes 🧁 in a battle of the L.E.S. cupcakes, please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story. • https://youtu.be/pOI4M0-hlgc
We can’t thank all of the first responders, teachers and other essential workers enough for making this possible! Here is a behind the scenes photo that James took with our professional DSLR camera (Canon 5D Mark II with 100-400 mm L series lens) last night while we were also livestreaming the fireworks show from our apartment window!
Extra extra good! Full fireworks stream: https://youtu.be/Ufk76644fMc
When searching for an appropriate photo to post, our thoughts immediately went to this patriotic #storefront in Brooklyn, which was once a barber shop. Notice the #vintage broken barber pole💈attached outside of the right window. The owner’s granddaughter let us know that her family came from Italy to Manhattan before eventually moving to Brooklyn and opening this #barbershop.
We wish we could have visited it while it was still open, but still admire its understated beauty with its wood and brick facade and disheveled blinds in the window and of course the American 🇺🇸 flag in the doorway. #flagday🇺🇸 #americanflag #barber #barbernation #barbershopconnect #barberlove #barberworld #america #disappearingfaceofnewyork #jamesandkarla #italianamerican
This 35mm #filmphoto was taken circa 2001. Let us know if you remember any other inventive #storefront pairings like Phil’s which help keep #vinylrecords alive!
#vinylcollection #vinylcommunity #vinylrecord #vinylrecordcollection #jamesandkarla #barbershop #disappearingfaceofnewyork #bedstuybrooklyn #barber #barberlife #recordcollection #recordcollector
This old-school diner has been in business since 1949 & the still serves hamburgers 🍔made with beef from Weichsel Beef Conpany, one of the last Meatpacking holdouts in the neighborhood.
Sadly, business has severely declined since the pandemic and although they were once open 24 hours a day, serving in the early early morning not only the butchers working in the area but club goers and tourists staying at the nearby Standard High Line Hotel, they are now open only until 11:30 PM.
We wanted to help support this struggling diner and ordered a Jumbo Beefburger Deluxe 🍔, Roast Beef Club Sandwich and a Grilled Cheese Sandwich (2nd photo).
• To watch our livestream video visit to Hector’s with our friend @actionkidtv please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story.
• Full video: https://youtu.be/GvxHMDP4UQQ
We have highlighted this mom-and-pop #storefront a few times as it truly is a gem and has been in business making homemade fresh mozzarella daily and pasta since 1908. They also make a great sandwich and this evening we had their caprese with fresh mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes, roasted peppers, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette and also purchased a seeded & braided loaf of Italian bread. 🥖 •
To see the longtime manager, Jimmy making fresh #mozzarella and to see all the wonderful homemade #pasta they sell, please watch and subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story.
Full video: https://youtu.be/9_CHzG9DRmY
It is one of the last freestanding diners in Manhattan and certainly one of the last ones below 57th Street. Today, we visited Pearl Diner to help support this family-owned #diner as it has been struggling to survive since the pandemic closed most of the nearby offices, thereby severely reducing their clientele.
We had an amazing hamburger 🍔 deluxe, fries 🍟 and a grilled cheese sandwich (2nd photo) and finished with an amazing egg cream and live-streamed our visit for our YouTube channel and spoke with our server Julie, who told us quote on quote “Since we reopened and even with the outdoor dining area, weekdays business sucks, there is mostly nobody dining, but thankfully the weekends are beginning to pick up.”
• To watch and subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story.
• Full video: https://youtu.be/3B0nJKRwsqk
Odessa Restaurant on Avenue A which has been in business since the 1960s in the East Village has been closed since July 2020 due to a decrease in business because of the pandemic and although there was hope they would reopen, the restaurant has just been put up for sale via a listing on Craigslist for $400,000.
We have fond memories of not only dining at Odessa having a mix of Ukrainian 🇺🇦 and Anericsn dishes but also visiting its former space right next door to the restaurant, Odessa Cafe and Bar. (Below for 2nd photo of Odessa Bar which we photographed on film). Odessa Café and Bar closed in 2013 after the landlord asked for a 50% increase on the bar’s $10,000 a month rent. #storefront #disappearingfaceofnewyork #jamesandkarla #odessa #ukraine #ukrainianfood #diner #toosmalltofail #supportsmallbusiness #supportlocal #supportsmall
We purchased a regular hot dog with deli mustard from Papaya Dog on Sixth Avenue at West 4th Street, along with a papaya drink. We also purchased an “Empire Dog” from World’s Wurst on nearby West Houston Street at the corner of Sullivan. @worldswurst “Empire Dog” on the right in our photo, consisted of a grilled Vienna Beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun served with Sir Kensington’s mustard.
• To find out which hot dog was the clear winner of our battle, please watch and subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story.
• Full Video: https://youtu.be/BJ9PbQlEJMA
We spoke with 2nd and 3rd-generation owners Marty and Matthew Landsman and their long-time employee Lee about their amazing shop known for its slogan, “If it’s in rubber- we have it! and their struggle to stay in business during the pandemic. We looked at the entire inventory of foam rubber, hoses, tubing, sheet rubber, floor tiles and mats and also had foam custom cut to order for our sofa cushions.
• To see the amazing products this store carries, please watch and subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story.
• Full video: https://youtu.be/YD3bwNEb8iE
In years past, the most common reason a #momandpopshop closed was due to a high rent increase but since the pandemic began in 2020 it also often has to do with a lack of business due to decreased foot traffic from locals now working at home and no tourists around. We are hopeful now that NYC is opening again that the situation will change.
We have been documenting struggling shops and restaurants and have also interviewed many of the owners a as bad sharing our photos on social media and videos on our JamesandKarla YouTube channel in the hope to raise awareness of their importance to the community.
#storefront #disappearingfaceofnewyork #jamesandkarla #supportsmallbusiness #supportlocal #supportlocalbusiness
We speak about our mission to document mom-and-pop storefronts & help raise awareness of their importance in the latest issue of @mic . • "James and Karla Murray, who post their photos on the now uber-popular Instagram account @jamesandkarla, have become central figures within the discussion of struggling mom-and-pop shops all around New York. Followed by close to 70,000 users — including celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, influencers like Leandra Medine Cohen, and restaurateurs like Frank Prisinzano — the account has been active since the early 2000s.”
Full article: https://www.mic.com/p/these-photographers-are-scrambling-to-capture-new-yorks-disappearing-mom-pop-shops-81048433
Full article: https://www.mic.com/p/these-photographers-are-scrambling-to-capture-new-yorks-disappearing-mom-pop-shops-81048433
"James and Karla Murray, who post their photos on the now uber-popular Instagram account @jamesandkarla, have become central figures within the discussion of struggling mom-and-pop shops all around New York. Followed by close to 70,000 users — including celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, influencers like Leandra Medine Cohen, and restaurateurs like Frank Prisinzano — the account has been active since the early 2000s."
Subway Inn on East 60th Street near Lexington Avenue was where Marilyn, in between takes of “The Seven Year Itch” dropped in for drinks. Many photos and paintings of Marilyn lined the back walls of the historic bar.
Sadly in 2007, the building which houses Subway Inn was sold to a developer for $6.3 million and the bar was eventually forced to move to Second Ave and the building was torn down to make way for a luxury condo.
Our photo of the original Subway Inn and interview with the long-time bartender Rodney Williams, appears in our book “New York Nights”.
#divebar #divebars #jamesandkarla #disappearingfaceofnewyork #bar #marilynmonroe #supportsmallbusiness #supportlocalbusiness #supportlocal #supportsmallbusinesses
Riviera Ravioli was founded in 1946 and when we took this film photo in 2005 for our book, “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York” and spoke with the 2nd-generation owner Joseph Giordano, he told us that his father-in-law founded the shop after moving from the Italian Riviera 🇮🇹 near Monte Carlo, when World War II ended. Everything including all pastas and sauces were made on the premises, fresh daily.
