As a photographer of both Dead Ends and a fan (and frequent patron) of tire shops, I love this project. I'd like to see a map overlapping the two, as it seems that auto body shops and tire places, like dead ends, are often located on the edges of boroughs and neighborhoods. If you haven't read it, Ian Frazier's latest book, Paradise Bronx, has a whole chapter devoted to the ubiquitous and iconic Flat Fix signs.
In that first streetview screenshot of County Place, the cars that are visible are all parked in the opposite direction that the one way arrow is pointing. I am so confused.
These photos are fascinating to me. Where I live, tire shops are big buildings with multiple bays. Sure, there are still stacked tires around, but the customer spaces are clean, bright and well lit. Shops that look like the ones Dave shoots are the "bad places" and "not safe". And I am genuinely curious about how the shops put new tires on the cars. Do they just pull onto the sidewalk and use a floor jack?
I don't think this country boy could ever adapt to city life.
Right, they do tend to be in "less safe" neighborhoods because they're usually industrial areas, or anyway not in areas where the well-heeled live. Maybe it's different in the suburbs, but I'm a city boy so I'm not sure. As for "big buildings," a lot of these shops are big, bigger than the average shop, because they need to fit cars inside. And that's another reason they're not going to be in the most desirable neighborhoods, where real estate is way more expensive. There are also zoning restrictions, of course.
Dave, first, thanks for the reply and again, the photos are fascinating. When I was talking about the shops being in les desirable areas, I was meaning where I live. It's clearly a very different place in NYC as compared to a mid-sized Texas town. I was not disparaging any of the businesses. Just noting a huge difference in my experience.
You're actually seeing a partial view of that "shoop." There's a whole other area, basically a lot, right next to what you see in the photo. (You can see a tiny sliver of it on the right.) And in that lot, going up the side of building is...a ladder!
Having never lived in a crowded metropolis like NYC, these photos are always fascinating to me. Out in the 'burbs, of course, tire shops have lots of space and bays for you to pull into. I guess in the city, if you don't have space for a garage, you use the sidewalk!
A lot of these shops do have room inside for a car or two, or have a lot attached to them. (See my reply about Gonzales Tire Shop above.) But it's true that for many of them the cars being worked on have to park on the sidewalk. This is a problem for me as a photographer. For some shops I've had to go back a few times because there was a car on the sidewalk blocking my shot.
I scrolled down here to comment on the same thing -- all that yellow.... it does seem to work somehow. I *want* tire shops to be yellow. Great photos Dave!
I've thought about the yellow facades. I guess it's because yellow is the color of traffic signs? And a lot of toolboxes and things like that are also yellow. The tire shops that don't have any yellow in their signs usually jump out at me, and are often the more interesting ones because they buck that trend.
My initial assumption was a "stolen valor" situation. There's an appropriate term that I can't recall right now. The companies are trying to benefit from a known entity in the tire game that is yellow. Continental, old Michelin signs, etc.
these are great images — thanks Dave + Paul for sharing. i knew a guy in Chicago who captures parallel car-culture signage, muffler shops especially… i’ll try to link:
As a photographer of both Dead Ends and a fan (and frequent patron) of tire shops, I love this project. I'd like to see a map overlapping the two, as it seems that auto body shops and tire places, like dead ends, are often located on the edges of boroughs and neighborhoods. If you haven't read it, Ian Frazier's latest book, Paradise Bronx, has a whole chapter devoted to the ubiquitous and iconic Flat Fix signs.
Thanks, Rob. I'll check that out. That overlap map would be...a big project!
This whole story left me tired…. Sorry I couldn’t resist.
LOL.
In that first streetview screenshot of County Place, the cars that are visible are all parked in the opposite direction that the one way arrow is pointing. I am so confused.
Oh, good point -- I'll add a note about that!
These photos are fascinating to me. Where I live, tire shops are big buildings with multiple bays. Sure, there are still stacked tires around, but the customer spaces are clean, bright and well lit. Shops that look like the ones Dave shoots are the "bad places" and "not safe". And I am genuinely curious about how the shops put new tires on the cars. Do they just pull onto the sidewalk and use a floor jack?
I don't think this country boy could ever adapt to city life.
Right, they do tend to be in "less safe" neighborhoods because they're usually industrial areas, or anyway not in areas where the well-heeled live. Maybe it's different in the suburbs, but I'm a city boy so I'm not sure. As for "big buildings," a lot of these shops are big, bigger than the average shop, because they need to fit cars inside. And that's another reason they're not going to be in the most desirable neighborhoods, where real estate is way more expensive. There are also zoning restrictions, of course.
Dave, first, thanks for the reply and again, the photos are fascinating. When I was talking about the shops being in les desirable areas, I was meaning where I live. It's clearly a very different place in NYC as compared to a mid-sized Texas town. I was not disparaging any of the businesses. Just noting a huge difference in my experience.
HOW does the Gonzales Tire Shoop get the tires on and off the roof? That seems the hardest possible location to work from... I want to know more!
You're actually seeing a partial view of that "shoop." There's a whole other area, basically a lot, right next to what you see in the photo. (You can see a tiny sliver of it on the right.) And in that lot, going up the side of building is...a ladder!
I see an ampersand on Gonzalez.
Is it: Gonzalez & Shoop, Inc?
Yeah, that ampersand is kind of odd. They probably mean something like it's a flat-fix place and also a shop?
Having never lived in a crowded metropolis like NYC, these photos are always fascinating to me. Out in the 'burbs, of course, tire shops have lots of space and bays for you to pull into. I guess in the city, if you don't have space for a garage, you use the sidewalk!
A lot of these shops do have room inside for a car or two, or have a lot attached to them. (See my reply about Gonzales Tire Shop above.) But it's true that for many of them the cars being worked on have to park on the sidewalk. This is a problem for me as a photographer. For some shops I've had to go back a few times because there was a car on the sidewalk blocking my shot.
Surely there's a story about many of the tire shops/awnings being yellow.
I live near a cemetery that is abutted by a street with no outlet. I still lament not getting a picture when the posted street sign read DEAD END.
I scrolled down here to comment on the same thing -- all that yellow.... it does seem to work somehow. I *want* tire shops to be yellow. Great photos Dave!
Thanks, Chris. Yeah, some products or categories of products are expected to be in certain colors. It's definitely yellow for tire shops.
I've thought about the yellow facades. I guess it's because yellow is the color of traffic signs? And a lot of toolboxes and things like that are also yellow. The tire shops that don't have any yellow in their signs usually jump out at me, and are often the more interesting ones because they buck that trend.
My initial assumption was a "stolen valor" situation. There's an appropriate term that I can't recall right now. The companies are trying to benefit from a known entity in the tire game that is yellow. Continental, old Michelin signs, etc.
Nothing better than starting my day with unexpected photos of tire shops. Great post, Paul.
I'm glad (but not surprised) that Paul recognized the appeal of these.
these are great images — thanks Dave + Paul for sharing. i knew a guy in Chicago who captures parallel car-culture signage, muffler shops especially… i’ll try to link:
https://www.interestingideas.com/the-western-avenue-art-gallery-beauty-salon-art/
Love those. Thanks.