Artist Statement

 

         Corner Stores in America and particularly in, Charleston, SC, have been in rapid decline throughout the years.  Every day, we pass these corner stores on our way to class or work, tourists pass by them all the time on their walking/carriage tours and every day we never just stop to think about these struggles the families go through while running their beloved stores.  

          While these “brick and mortar” stores still hold the majority over chain convenience stores on the peninsula, so many people choose to shop at the multiple Walgreens and CVSs’ that also exist throughout the city. These corporate stores are able to operate 24 hours a day every day, yet the city regulates the corner stores so that they cannot possibly compete with places like CVS or Walgreens.

           When beginning this photography project, I wanted to showcase these corner stores we have on the peninsula of Charleston. While the layout of each store can be very similar to each other, with closer inspection each storefront carries distinct features that make them entirely unique from one another. All of these corner stores bring about a sense of unification of the residents within their respective neighborhoods. But in the midst of a booming era for corporate convenience stores, we are rapidly losing local mom and pop shops which are quickly becoming novelties in our city.  

            My overall goal with this project was to bring awareness through photography to the abrupt fall off of these unique stores that have been staples in Charleston’s neighborhoods and communities for so many years.