A Visual Glimpse Into the Neighborhood We Love

Those of us intimately familiar with Brooklyn will love this new book released in September called Brooklyn Storefronts. Following the success of their previous book, NYC Storefronts, illustrator Joel Holland and writer David Dodge teamed up once again to capture Brooklyn’s unique character. Holland is an internationally recognized illustrator based in New York City, while Dodge is known for covering topics such as travel, LGBTQ+ issues, politics, and culture for various notable publications.

The book showcases over 230 of Brooklyn’s small businesses, including diners, cafés, bars, nightclubs, record shops, florists, tailors, clothing stores, bowling alleys, and an abundance of delis and pizzerias. It’s certainly a tribute to the small business owners who work so hard and to the neighborhood’s vibrant scene. Roberta’s Pizza, for instance, is featured with its wood-fired pies, as is Win Son Bakery, with its Taiwanese American treats. The book also captures Brooklyn’s nightlife scene with venues such as House of Yes, a circus-inspired nightclub, and Bossa Nova Civic Club, a techno hotspot. Unique retail spaces are represented by places like Paperboy Prince’s Love Gallery, a combination thrift store and community center, and Eugene J. Candy Co., a Halloween-themed confectionery.

Dodge’s narratives accompany each illustration, adding historical context and neighborhood lore. Published by Prestel, the 176-page book is priced at $30.00 and includes a foreword by Pace Gallery’s Kimberly Drew.

Whether you live in Brooklyn or you just love it, this book is certainly one that will be fondly featured on the coffee table of many homes!