The high street has been the focus of multiple changes this last year, with shops forced into lockdown, some sadly not to reopen. It’s a tough business with the escalation of online retail, nonetheless a rise in independent stores always brings a fresh feel to an area. We’ve gathered together a variety of high streets, showing their different faces around the world, along with the impact on surrounding areas and transport links to the city…
Header photo by Steve White, details in article
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The High Street
By Steven Medeiros Photography – Website | Instagram
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Onyx Sweet Shoppe
Onyx Sweet Shoppe, located in F.Q. Story Historic neighbourhood in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, opened in February 2020, right before the world closed down. Vernon and Kathi Williams, who own the shop, bake homemade goods that have been family favorites. They always make everyone feel welcomed and support the community.
Street Market
Roosevelt Row Art District adds a unique flavor to downtown Phoenix. Along with the colorful murals, there is always something happening. Saturday is market day outside The Churchill, where vendors sell their wares and masked-up people face the heat to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
By Jennifer Mullins – Website | Instagram
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Shop Local
Mona Lisa
Both images are of Whitstable High Street in Kent and feature street art by local artist ‘Catman’.
By Lee Thompson – Website
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Sign of the times…
The photograph was taken at the downtown Irving Texas station on a Saturday. The platform was unoccupied except for myself. A sign of the times… Ridership and traffic are way down from the norm.
Loneliness
This photograph was taken at the Dallas, Texas Union Station in the early morning at sunrise, downtown Dallas. The station is the main passenger hub for the city of Dallas and usually busy with people and train traffic.
By Robert C. Maxfield II Photography – Website | Instagram | Facebook
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Lucy’s Basement, Dublin
Sexy Cafe, Barmouth, Wales
By Ingrid Turner Photography – Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
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Where the High Street has no name: Trinidad, Cuba
(Summer Cigar Break from the Factory)
By Courtney Tjaden – Instagram
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Scrummies, Worthing
Beyond Retro, Brighton
By Becky Jones – Twitter
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Dead
I actually set off up my local high street with the full intention of taking some photos showing things in a positive light. I even went in the middle of the day on a Saturday when there’s a usually bustling market. When I got there the only thoughts I had were “tatty”, “drab”, “depressing”. Then it hit me just how many shops/businesses have closed down. Whilst the Covid lockdown has made things worse the general opinion is that most buildings are now owned by big national companies who, through greed, are charging so much for rent the shops cannot survive. All of the photos in the collage were taken along a stretch less than 500m long. I was approached by another photo enthusiast who, after I explained what I was doing, summed things up in just a few words – “Our High Street is dead”.
By Steve White – Instagram
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Window Shopping
Wandering along the street looking for a good place to take a couple of shots brings the unlikely juxtaposition of IDLES and this traditional bridal shop window in Southsea.
Road Closed
It’s not just the shops that have been closed in lockdown; this is one of many social distancing measures taken in town. I wonder how it will look in a year’s time.
By Siobhan at 16 Beasley St Photography – Website | Instagram | Twitter
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A huge thank you to all our featured photographers; lovely to have some new contributors amongst old friends! You can check out more of their work on the links shown.
Copyright for images remains with each named photographer, please do not reproduce without permission.
Our next gallery in June will be ‘Toy Story’ – submission details here.
16th April 2021
Breaking Glass Magazine 