Mindy Lewis

Commerce

stores closing, banks opening

In my upper west side neighborhood, stores have been standing empty for 2, 3, 4 years. Local landmarks, like Embassy Florist on the corner of 91st & Broadway since the thirties, finally closed. After several months, the script signage over the empty storefront was finally removed, leaving a ghost image. Other casualties like Ivy's Bookshop, Liberty House are slowly being sold, and still stand empty. Yet on almost every block, there stands a shiny new bank, the only businesses that seem able to afford the massive rents.

91st Street and Broadway, New York City