A Friendly Photographic Reminder That CBGB Is Now a Boutique Outlet

When CBGB closed its doors in 2006, 70s punk icon Patti Smith sagely remarked, “There’s new kids with new ideas all over the world. They’ll make their own places—it doesn’t matter whether it’s here or wherever it is.” The words are calm, rational, and wise—but ten years later, they don't soothe the sting of walking past 315 Bowery and seeing the grungy white awning and caked-on graffiti replaced by a John Varvatos outlet.

Photographers James and Karla Murray have been documenting the changing atmosphere of New York City for two decades—their photos are the source material for Randy Hage's highly-detailed dioramas of old New York. They've published their work in three books called Store Front, Store Front II, and New York Nights, immortalizing the unique 19th and 20th century graphics that enticed NYC shoppers for generations. They snap images of each building and supplement them with interviews of the enchanting personalities behind the businesses. Personalities like former Katy's Candy Store owner, Katy Keyzer, who told them, "I speak 3 languages. English. Spanish. And Motherfucker." Her shop closed in 2007, the year after CBGB.

At first, the Murrays didn't want to make a before-and-after comparison book because the visuals were too painful. "We had developed such a personal connection and in many times a friendship with the store owners after spending many hours photographing their store and speaking with them," the couple tells The Creators Project. "However, we did notice very early on while photographing the original stores that if the owner did not own the entire building, their business was already in jeopardy of closing. The owners themselves frequently acknowledged that they were at the mercy of their landlords and the ever-increasing rents they charged."

However, they inevitably wound up capturing the changing storefronts over the years. They documented the transformation from CBGB to John Varvatos, Katy's Candy Store to vacant retail space, and innumerable pharmacies, delis, and record stores into banks and Starbucks locations. "By the time we wrote our introduction to our book Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York in 2008, over one-third of the stores we had photographed had already disappeared and today, over two-thirds are no longer in business," they say.

Right now they're working on a new book called Mom & Pop: Erasing New York's Family-Owned Shops. "We felt strongly that because these storefronts were rapidly disappearing at such a fast pace in the face of modernization and conformity, that the once unique appearance and character of New York's colorful streets was suffering in the process," the couple says.

They are admirers of the photography of Berenice Abbot, a 1930's WPA beneficiary who documented New York's tranformation from distinguished port into towering city of the future. In 2004, Douglas Levere published a book revisiting the same iconic places as Abbot—a compelling continuation of the narrative she began. By similarly re-photographing all the locations they had documented since the late 90s, the Murrays also continue the city's narrative.

"The purpose of the photos in Mom & Pop is to clearly spell out and provide documentation of not only what storefronts have been lost but also what is often lacking in the commercial space’s replacement," they explain. This is also the mission of photographers like Levere and Paul Sahner, Reddit's /r/nycpics forum, plus countless Facebook groups like Dirty Old 1970's New York City and Manhattan Before 1990. "Until you place them side-by-side and really look at the two photos, you cannot get the true sense of loss experienced by the neighborhood," the Murrays continue. "We hope this glimpse will bring awareness to the unique character these small mom-and-pop businesses add to the streets and neighborhoods of New York City and the sense of community they provide."

These businesses are caught in the crossfire of gentrification, and the cacophonous conversation about whether it's a tragedy that must be stopped or an inevitable, harmless economic phenomenon. Regardless of your philosophy, take a moment to appreciate the unstoppable march of time these images represent. Reject or embrace the march, it's fascinating to see it summarized in a single image.

James and Karla Murray have been working on Mom & Pop: Erasing New York's Family-Owned Shops for the past year and a half. They have given us images and captions from the book, which you can peruse above and below.

See more of James and Karla Murray's photos on their website. Buy their most recent book, Store Front II: A History Preserved  here.

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