20 Years... Remembering those lives lost or destroyed that awful day...

 

Sunshine Florist on First Avenue at 52nd Street has been in business since 1958.

This lovely family-owned #florist like many florists across the country and elsewhere, struggled to survive during the pandemic as it was forced to close since it was not an essential business, wedding and other large parties to which they provide flowers for were cancelled and many people who live in the Sutton Place neighborhood that this #floralshop serves also moved out of the neighborhood.  

• Yesterday we visited Sunshine Florist to check in on it and are happy to report that they are still going strong! To watch our livestream video where we visit Sunshine Florist as well as another independently-owned small business in the neighborhood. 

To watch and subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story. 

•Full video: https://youtu.be/hu5BUH100h8

Happy Rosh Hashanah to all who celebrate!

In honor of the Jewish New Year celebration which began at sundown last night, we are highlighting Ditmas Kosher Meats & Poultry, as beef brisket is one of the dishes traditionally served on this holiday. 

When we photographed Ditmas Meats & Poultry in 2004 for our book “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York”, we also spoke with the owner of this Borough Park, Brooklyn #storefront who told us that the holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur were one of the busiest times of year for his business! 

• • • • • #disappearingfaceofnewyork #kosher #jamesandkarla #meatmarket #butcher #kosherfood #jewishfood #boroughpark #butchershop #butchersofinstagram #butchers #poultryofinstagram

To continue our barbecue-filled celebration for the Labor` Day weekend, we are highlighting William’s BAR-B-Q on Broadway in the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

This barbecue spot, was founded in 1952 by Harry Williams and became well known for its barbecue chicken 🍗 served hot off the spit. 

Many famous customers frequented the small take away joint, including Liza Minnelli, Harry Belafonte, Wade Boggs, Isaac Stern and Itzhak Perlman before it closed in 2005. 

Our 35 mm film photo taken in 2004 is an outside from our book “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York”. 

• #jamesandkarla #barbecue #storefront #barbecuetime #bbqchicken #disappearingfaceofnewyork #bbqlife #bbqchicken #bbqporn #beefbrisket #barbecuesauce #bbqchicken #coleslaw #upperwestsidenyc

With the holiday weekend starting, attending a barbecue is on our mind and got us thinking about Sherman’s Bar BQ in Harlem.

This barbecue 🍖 spot, which was founded in 1948, was a neighborhood favorite for its outstanding pork 🐷barbecue ribs and even served the Beatles in 1964 when Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes took them to Sherman’s Bar BQ. Sadly this iconic restaurant closed in 2011. 

Our 35 mm film photo taken in 2004 appears in our book “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York”.  

• • • • • • #jamesandkarla #barbecue #bbqribs #disappearingfaceofnewyork #bbqlife #bbqchicken #bbqporn #harlem #storefront #harlemnyc #barbecuetime

Zelig Blumenthal on Essex Street near Hester Street was one of the many Judaica stores in the Lower East Side selling Jewish religious articles.

When we took this 35mm film photo in 2004 for our book “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York” we had no idea in that just a few short years that it would close and be replaced by a coffee shop as the neighborhood became more and more gentrified. The other religious stores in the neighborhood also closed and to our knowledge there are none left. Yesterday, we visited this part of the Lower East Side, which once had a large Jewish population and stopped in some other Jewish-owned shops to help support them. 

To watch our livestream visit to the area, please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story. 

• Full video: https://youtu.be/elAyYQCVkTs

Kossar’s Bagels 🥯 & Bialys has been in business since 1936.

This storefront photo taken in 2005 appears in our book “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York” along with an interview with the former owner, Deborah Engelmyer who purchased the #bialy business from the Kossar family and explained the difference between a bialy and a #bagel to us. 

•We revisited this iconic Jewish bakery today ( it was completely renovated in 2016 after the latest owners took over the #storefront in 2013) to have a bialy and peak into the baking area. To watch our livestream visit to Kossar’s today, please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story. 

• Full video: https://youtu.be/elAyYQCVkTs