“Indeed was interested in the whole idea of showing the vibrant businesses that are in their community,” said photographer Karla Murray. “They’re a job search engine for various businesses, so they really are champions of small businesses.”
The company reiterated this feeling, calling the project an “homage to interesting job industries that call New York home,” according to Derek Stewart, head of real estate at Indeed. The Murrays have featured four of the designs on their website, highlighting Smith’s Bar, Patsy’s Restaurant, Ralph’s Discount, Clover Delicatessen, the Cheyenne diner, Ottomanelli & Sons, and Vesuvio Bakery.
“[Indeed] chose the eight. Some were specific because they had color themes that they were using for their offices,” said Karla Murray. “If you noticed on the flooring, it’s carpeting. But they made it look like pavement. It looks like you are really standing in front of the actual store.”
But more importantly, these pictures represent something special to the photographers because as much as New York is remembered for the famous landmarks, the pair calls these stores “an equally important part of what makes New York a unique and remarkable city.” But as great as they are, in an increasingly difficult market for small businesses, they are starting to disappear.
“[Our book] became an artistic intervention to open people’s eyes and bring awareness to the plight of these small mom and pop stores,” said Karla Murray. “If people do not go into these stores, they can all go out of business.”
Join James and Karla Murray, as they lead Untapped Cities readers on an upcoming STOREFRONT: A HISTORIC EAST VILLAGE FOOD TOUR, where you will learn about the diverse German, Italian, Jewish and Ukrainian history of the East Village and try some fresh homemade mozzarella, drink an authentic New York City egg cream or have a freshly roasted cup of coffee, taste a hot Ukrainian potato pierogi with toppings, sample a freshly baked Jewish sugar cookie, enjoy an authentic New York hot dog and tropical drink and taste a freshly baked cannoli. Enough food will be sampled so that for most people lunch afterwards is not needed. Get tickets here:
