These photos show New York’s disappearing small businesses

Photographers James and Karla Murray have made it their mission to document the small businesses of NYC before Chase branches and frozen yogurt shops inevitably replace them all. 

Their two books of photography Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York and Store Front II – A History Preserved bring together their charming shots of the mom-and-pop shops that still manage to give their neighborhoods character. (The ones that are still around, at least.)

Check out a selection of their work below.

Photograph: Courtesy James and Karla Murray

Photograph: Courtesy James and Karla Murray

Photograph: Courtesy James and Karla Murray

Photograph: Courtesy James and Karla Murray

Photograph: Courtesy James and Karla Murray

Photograph: Courtesy James and Karla Murray

Photograph: Courtesy James and Karla Murray

Photograph: Courtesy James and Karla Murray

Photograph: Courtesy James and Karla Murray