Shopkeepers of Downtown, 2006-2011

Black-and-white photograph of the crosswalk closest to Thornes Marketplace on Main Street Northampton. The old Ted's Boot Shop (closed) is colored, showing its red storefront sign. People are walking on the crosswalk and snow can be seen melting on the ground.
Ted’s Boot Shop, 158 Main Street, Northampton, Mass., 2010. Exterior view of storefront from opposite side of street. Black & white (with color highlight). Photograph by Stan Sherer. Historic Northampton (ID no. 2011.8.27).

This documentary photography project acknowledges and celebrates the shopkeepers and the small shops of downtown Northampton, past and present. I created this project, not for nostalgia’s sake, but to remind us that small shops are the foundation of an inviting and satisfying downtown. 

— Stan Sherer, 2026

By 2026, many of these shops have closed.


Click on an image to read about the shop and shopkeeper featured. 

Black-and-white photograph of people working behind the counter at a bookstore. A woman can be seen with short light hair and a turtleneck typing on a computer or cash register. Two other workers are behind her, appearing to be bagging items.
Black-and-white photograph of a mature man sitting at his cluttered desk. He has white hair and is wearing a long sleeve button down shirt.
Black-and-white photograph of a man in a white tank top and apron preparing dough to be put in the oven. A woman with an apron on can be seen walking toward the camera in the distance. They are in a kitchen and industrial stoves can be seen in the background.
Black-and-white photograph of a crowd at Hungry Ghost Bread. The building is covered in ivy, nearly covering the business sign. A tent can be seen in the background with a clutter of people in and around it.
Black-and-white photograph of a man looking into a pair of glasses. He appears to have a desk behind him. He is wearing a sweater and has short dark hair.
Black-and-white photograph of a matured man sitting at his desk working on something. He is faced away from the camera.
Black-and-white photograph of a middle aged woman with light bobbed hair in a shoe store. Behind her are boxes of shoes and next to her is a small rack with socks. She is wearing a zebra-print jacket and a white t-shirt and is smiling at the camera.
Black-and-white photograph of a man at a shoe store looking at a pair of shoes. Behind him is a wall of shelves with shoe boxes.
Black-and-white photograph of a man working at a cluttered desk. Behind him is a wall full of hanging keys.
Black-and-white photograph of a middle aged man with dark graying hair and glasses sitting at a checkout counter. Behind him is a wall full of hanging keys.
Black-and-white photograph of a middle aged man sitting and talking to someone off to the side past the camera. He has white hair and glasses and is wearing a buttoned down shirt. Shelves can be seen behind him.
Black-and-white photograph of a man working at a pizza shop, flipping cooking pizza or taking it out of the oven. He is wearing a t-shirt and has his white apron tied around his waist. He has on a backwards baseball hat.
Black-and-white photograph of a matured man looking at the bottom of a black boot. He has on a longsleeve sweatshirt and a black apron. Behind him are shelves of black boots.
Black-and-white photograph of a man in an office or workshop examining a black boot. He is faced away from the camera and has dark short hair. He is wearing a plaid shirt tucked into jeans.
Black-and-white photograph of a man leaning against a storefront. The sign of the store is above the door and reads: "SABIN STAR-LOCK SECURITY KEYS MADE: INSTALLATION AND REPAIRS OF DEADBOLTS-PANIC DEVICES-SAFES-LOCKS-DOOR CLOSURES." The main has dark short hair and is bearded. He is wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers.
Black-and-white photograph of a middle aged woman with dark short hair and a dark top working at a cluttered convenient store counter. An ice machine and refrigerators full of beverages are seen in the distance.
Black-and-white photograph of a matured man with white balding hair and glasses sitting while playing a ukulele or small guitar. Guitars are hanging on the walls around him.
Black-and-white photograph of a middle aged man with dark balding hair and a mustache cooking something on the a barbeque grill. His face is blurred by smoke. Behind him is a storefront with a sign that reads: "QUALITY SERIO'S MARKET."