NYC Storefronts: Illustrations of the Big Apple's Best-Loved Spots

by Joel Holland (Illustrator), David Dodge (Contributor), Nicolás Heller (Foreward)

This whimsical love letter to the Big Apple’s most cherished and intriguing shops is a timeless celebration of New York’s diversity, energy, resilience, and weirdness.

Every New Yorker has a favorite place to shop—whether it’s for pizza or flowers, to grab a beer, or slurp down soup dumplings.

When the coronavirus crisis hit in 2020, illustrator Joel Holland began drawing storefronts near his apartment as a way of memorializing an element of city life that seemed suddenly precarious. He posted them on Instagram and they quickly drew an avid following. Eventually, Holland’s collection grew to include shops recommended by friends or strangers online.

This book showcases 225 of his delightful illustrations and runs the gamut, from delis and bodegas to dive bars, bookstores, bakeries, newsstands, cafés, restaurants and more. Each image is paired with engaging text filled with the historical, cultural, and architectural details that have earned these stores a place in people’s hearts. Also included is a foreword by beloved Instagrammer New York Nico, who is known for chronicling the city’s independent businesses.

Genres: New York, Nonfiction

172 pages, Hardcover

First published October 4, 2022

Reviews

[Mia Bornstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books. The only similar book I’d put ahead of this one is Brooklyn Storefronts, same illustrator! They really created magic with the illustrations and stories in here. I have it as a coffee table book and I read through the pages all the time. I show it to all of my friends. It is absolutely a piece of NYC history.

[Joel Kimmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really nice illustrations by Joel Holland. Lots of fun details and it was fun to go through and see which buildings I recognized from having visited when living in and visiting NYC, and which ones I want to visit on my next trip.

[Laura’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would make an incredible for any NYC lover in your life! Beautiful coffee table book with so much history and backstory about the owners of these storefronts, famous patrons, and why these places mean to the best city in the world.

[Mollie Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute coffee table book/unique NYC bucket list book

[violet wexler · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
thought it was so well put together, i loved the doodles + it was very authentic nyc in a way i don’t see in a lot of nyc books :) can’t give five stars since it wasn’t a novel/real READING book