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Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York
Store Front (Mini) is a new, compact version of the critically acclaimed bestseller Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York, by James and Karla Murray.
The Murrays' brilliant documentation of New York's irreplaceable, generations-old storefronts has made headlines all over the world. For many of these establishments, the photographs mark the end of a legacy. In the wake of gentrification, vital facets of New York's cultural heritage are disappearing at an alarming rate. Store Front (Mini) immerses the reader in a virtual tour of NYC at its most authentic. From tiny stores tucked away on narrow side streets to well-known institutions on historic avenues, this book presents the individual images and shop owner stories that together make up a collective history. Up until now, there has been little attention paid to New York's storefronts; this book reverses that glaring omission and makes clear that the spirit of New York City is etched in its facades.
The influx of big box retailers and chain stores pose a serious threat to these humble institutions, and neighborhood modernization and the anonymity it brings are replacing the unique appearance and character of what were once incredibly colorful streets. Store Front is a visual guide to New York City's timeworn storefronts, a collection of powerful images that capture the neighborhood spirit, familiarity, comfort and warmth that these shops once embodied.
The Murrays' brilliant documentation of New York's irreplaceable, generations-old storefronts has made headlines all over the world. For many of these establishments, the photographs mark the end of a legacy. In the wake of gentrification, vital facets of New York's cultural heritage are disappearing at an alarming rate. Store Front (Mini) immerses the reader in a virtual tour of NYC at its most authentic. From tiny stores tucked away on narrow side streets to well-known institutions on historic avenues, this book presents the individual images and shop owner stories that together make up a collective history. Up until now, there has been little attention paid to New York's storefronts; this book reverses that glaring omission and makes clear that the spirit of New York City is etched in its facades.
The influx of big box retailers and chain stores pose a serious threat to these humble institutions, and neighborhood modernization and the anonymity it brings are replacing the unique appearance and character of what were once incredibly colorful streets. Store Front is a visual guide to New York City's timeworn storefronts, a collection of powerful images that capture the neighborhood spirit, familiarity, comfort and warmth that these shops once embodied.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
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236 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 5, 2018
I'm not sure how I first learned of this book, some 10 years ago, but it seemed right up my alley. (Or down my main street, if that's more appropriate.) I do remember originally seeing a pricey coffee-table edition, and was thrilled to discover this smaller-but-still-decent-sized-and-still-hardcover-for-god's-sake version (and oh yeah it was cheaper). For whatever reason, however, it got lost amongst my unread books, shrink-wrap still keeping it warm, and as is often the case, forgotten.
Flash forward to this summer, when I stumbled upon an Instagram account by James and Karla Murray, authors and photographers of the book. They were promoting an exhibit of their storefront photos in New York City. And I thought, "Hey, I have that book!" With much less difficulty than anticipated, I located it in my apartment, and was soon ripping off that shrink-wrap.
A friend who sometimes asks annoying questions wondered how I was reading a photo book. But there is much to read here, all of it worthwhile. The book is divided into the five boroughs of New York City, and those sections are further split into neighborhoods. The Murrays provide us with history of and demographic changes within those boroughs and neighborhoods. (Full-page maps accompany these section beginnings.)
Next are chunks of text for many of the featured storefronts. After a short introduction to the business, there is usually a first-person recollection from the current owner, who is often second-, third-, or fourth-generation. It's a little funny, a little sad, how similar these stories are: "If my grandfather didn't buy this building, we could never afford the rent here." "The old customers moved away, but they come back to shop around the holidays." There are beautiful full-page photos for each featured storefront, as well as many that aren't written up. (Each photo gives the location of the business as well.)
Overall, it's a lovely portrait of New York, a city always in flux, old mixing with new, as well as a tribute to so many businesses that are gone — and wow, how many more have vanished in the decade since this book appeared — and the gorgeous, broken-down, neon, letters-falling signs that hung out front.
Flash forward to this summer, when I stumbled upon an Instagram account by James and Karla Murray, authors and photographers of the book. They were promoting an exhibit of their storefront photos in New York City. And I thought, "Hey, I have that book!" With much less difficulty than anticipated, I located it in my apartment, and was soon ripping off that shrink-wrap.
A friend who sometimes asks annoying questions wondered how I was reading a photo book. But there is much to read here, all of it worthwhile. The book is divided into the five boroughs of New York City, and those sections are further split into neighborhoods. The Murrays provide us with history of and demographic changes within those boroughs and neighborhoods. (Full-page maps accompany these section beginnings.)
Next are chunks of text for many of the featured storefronts. After a short introduction to the business, there is usually a first-person recollection from the current owner, who is often second-, third-, or fourth-generation. It's a little funny, a little sad, how similar these stories are: "If my grandfather didn't buy this building, we could never afford the rent here." "The old customers moved away, but they come back to shop around the holidays." There are beautiful full-page photos for each featured storefront, as well as many that aren't written up. (Each photo gives the location of the business as well.)
Overall, it's a lovely portrait of New York, a city always in flux, old mixing with new, as well as a tribute to so many businesses that are gone — and wow, how many more have vanished in the decade since this book appeared — and the gorgeous, broken-down, neon, letters-falling signs that hung out front.
March 22, 2022
This is a big, weighty book with several foldout pages so the reader can get an sidewalk feel for the many facades. Snippets of the business histories and maps make this a fun one to go through.
March 16, 2023
Since this book was published in 2010, I'm sure even more of these decades-old vintage signs and Mom & Pop, non-chain, non-franchise, often family-run stores have been destroyed since, especially since the rate of tearing down old buildings/businesses and gentrifying neighborhoods has only accelerated in the last few years, so I'm especially glad to have visual documentation, some history, and in some cases personal testimony from the owners, many of whom were the second- or third-generation working there. The photos are presented on lovely paper.
Per this book, it's sad how many historic signs were killed by New York City's permits, fees, and regulations, as many businesses would've preferred to keep their neon but the NYC fees and paperwork were prohibitive. Turns out you need to pay for a permit to have a neon sign, even if you never light it up anymore. One shop owner with a neon marquee sign fought the city in court to keep that sign but when the city retaliated with a $50,000 fine, he had to give up.
One small quibble is that the Queens segment is miniscule. Being a Queens girl, I was hoping to see a particular liquor store, Queens Wines & Liquors, 5903 71st Ave near Myrtle Avenue, that still retains its old neon sign today in this book but no. Ridgewood alone in the '00s could've provided a lot of photos and shops. There's more to Queens than Astoria (and somewhat famous vintage businesses Eddie's Sweet Shop and the Lemon Ice King of Corona)!
Per this book, it's sad how many historic signs were killed by New York City's permits, fees, and regulations, as many businesses would've preferred to keep their neon but the NYC fees and paperwork were prohibitive. Turns out you need to pay for a permit to have a neon sign, even if you never light it up anymore. One shop owner with a neon marquee sign fought the city in court to keep that sign but when the city retaliated with a $50,000 fine, he had to give up.
One small quibble is that the Queens segment is miniscule. Being a Queens girl, I was hoping to see a particular liquor store, Queens Wines & Liquors, 5903 71st Ave near Myrtle Avenue, that still retains its old neon sign today in this book but no. Ridgewood alone in the '00s could've provided a lot of photos and shops. There's more to Queens than Astoria (and somewhat famous vintage businesses Eddie's Sweet Shop and the Lemon Ice King of Corona)!
September 2, 2019
Amazing book full of close up color photos of store fronts throughout New York City. Some are full page others are several to a page and some are fold out panoramic. There are even detailed coinciding maps throughout the book. These are phenomenal photos that really capture the feeling and atmosphere of Manhattan. Reading the book is like a nostalgic stroll through the city. Absolutely wonderful! 5 stars!
March 12, 2012
I go to New York City about 2-3 times a year, and it seems I find something new with each visit. Store Front is a fascinating chronicle of store fronts in the major boroughs - mainly pictures, but many of them have interesting back stories by the current store owners. Some founded the businesses, some took over from parents or grandparents. Some started out paying only $25 a month in rent, while others have had to close down when rent rose to $33,000 a month!
Definitely when I hit the city next I'd love to bring this along as a map to different neighborhoods.
Definitely when I hit the city next I'd love to bring this along as a map to different neighborhoods.
December 13, 2012
I loved the stories the shopkeepers tell about how their families came from the old country and have been running the businesses ever since.
July 12, 2017
Long live the Lemon Ice King of Corona!
January 8, 2021
This book is chock full of gorgeous and unique storefront signage from around New York. I love all things retro and vintage, and these kind of old signs and storefronts aren't things you can find on Pinterest. As the face of NYC continues to change, it's so great to have all this inspiration in one book.
April 24, 2014
Whenever I leave New York for a week or so - the first thing on my return is to walk through my neighborhood in downtown Manhattan and see what's left. The radical pace of changes doesn't slow down. And sometimes I have to make yet another little mark into my copy of "Store Front" when one of these places is gone forever.
The Murrays have done an incredible job on so many levels: They documented and preserved a vital part of New York that is rapidly changing to the worse. While New York always was a place of radical change and fast development, this phase in the early 21st century seems to annihilate the city's past and rip out its soul. The work of Jim and Karla Murray is a most valuable contribution to the city's history. The texts bring each place to life, not only for born and bred New Yorkers, but also for anyone who loves this city and just knows a little bit about it. The voices of the shop owners make the reader connect with the storefronts in an instant. You might laugh or cry about what you read, but I think that the Murrays did set indeed a new standard in urban documentation - because they add so much more.
On another level, Jim & Karla Murray grabbed the beauty and particular culture of storefront lettering - an aesthetic joy in its own - and coming from their interest in graffiti culture, it seems to be quite a natural development. For their follow up title "New York Nights" the Murrays revisit many of these places, just to add the other dimension through nocturnal appearances, bathed in neon and Tungsten lights. Their photographic style seems to be deadpan in the first place - until you start paying attention to more and more details and notice which decisions went into the photographic process. Jim and Karla Murry understand how to carve out the essence of each of these places, unadulterated by the daily hustle and bustle.
Conclusion: Whether you are a visiting New York lover or a native dweller from the neighborhood, a historian or a font designer, you will find plenty interesting and useful things in these two books. "Store Font" and "New York Nights" have top shelf places in my ever growing New York book collection.
The Murrays have done an incredible job on so many levels: They documented and preserved a vital part of New York that is rapidly changing to the worse. While New York always was a place of radical change and fast development, this phase in the early 21st century seems to annihilate the city's past and rip out its soul. The work of Jim and Karla Murray is a most valuable contribution to the city's history. The texts bring each place to life, not only for born and bred New Yorkers, but also for anyone who loves this city and just knows a little bit about it. The voices of the shop owners make the reader connect with the storefronts in an instant. You might laugh or cry about what you read, but I think that the Murrays did set indeed a new standard in urban documentation - because they add so much more.
On another level, Jim & Karla Murray grabbed the beauty and particular culture of storefront lettering - an aesthetic joy in its own - and coming from their interest in graffiti culture, it seems to be quite a natural development. For their follow up title "New York Nights" the Murrays revisit many of these places, just to add the other dimension through nocturnal appearances, bathed in neon and Tungsten lights. Their photographic style seems to be deadpan in the first place - until you start paying attention to more and more details and notice which decisions went into the photographic process. Jim and Karla Murry understand how to carve out the essence of each of these places, unadulterated by the daily hustle and bustle.
Conclusion: Whether you are a visiting New York lover or a native dweller from the neighborhood, a historian or a font designer, you will find plenty interesting and useful things in these two books. "Store Font" and "New York Nights" have top shelf places in my ever growing New York book collection.
July 25, 2013
With so much store signage now having such lacklustre design, it's nice to have a book that gives a retrospect view of the great sign making of yesteryear. This books shows a time when shop owners took a real pride in the image they want to convey to it's customers, and with so many of these shop fronts disappearing it's good to have a reminder of how good store fronts can be.
June 19, 2011
A lot of fun. Now I want to go to New York. My only gripe is the printing is dark and the colors are often oversaturated. Despite that nitpick, this book is an amazing artifact of a quickly disappearing history of unique Mom & Pop establishments.
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September 26, 2011View an excerpt in our January 2011 issue. http://www.shelfmediagroup.com/staff_...
August 3, 2013
Wonderful descriptions of old-time businesses still operating in NYC. Coverage of the outer boros, which is nice. I love the interviews with the shop owners!
December 29, 2015
Elegiac, nostalgic, and a little bit heartbreaking.
June 17, 2012
Wow! There's stores and stores! This is a visual story to be told!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews