I love discovering shopfronts with vintage signage. One can sense the immense stories of these historic buildings and begin to imagine how many people have passed through these doorways. Customers to buy cigarettes, wine, corsets or bread. Now reimagined as coffee, plant and clothes shops to greet new generations. The authenticity that these antique signs grant to these shopfronts adds to their allure. In certain cases the shops have adopted these assumed names, as in Paris’ Boot Cafe which was once a shoe repair shop. I believe that in Paris shops are obliged to retain the original signage. A law which maybe should be passed elsewhere. Dear readers if you know any other shopfronts with vintage signage please share in comments below.
7 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh
A sweet and tobacco shop reimagined as one of our favorite coffee shops. Read more
photo flynnclancy
113 Stoke Newington Church Street, London
London coffee and plant shop with a beautiful example of a ghost sign nodding to a former life as a fountain pen repair shop.
photo francesmehardie
LA BOTIKE BELGE
234 rue de Faubourg Saint-Martin
A former undergarments shop reimagined as a Belgian specialty store. (I’ve since learnt this shop has closed if anyone is interested in acquiring?)
photo alexandrine_ar
51 Galerie de Montpensier, Paris
The must-visit historic Palais Royal gardens with its iconic black and white pillars is the perfect spot to pause for a coffee in Paris.
photo flynnclancy
19 rue du Pont aux Choux, Paris
The former shoe repair shop that lent its name to one of Paris’ most famous coffee shops.
photo flynnclancy
173 rue Saint Honoré, Paris
This beautiful ceramics and homewares shop has retained so many original architectural features it is like entering a shop from a past century.
photo manon21life
138 rue Amelot, Paris
A pretty courtyard to enjoy an organic juice that was once a wine store in a former life.
photo messynessychic
Passeig del Born, 19, Barcelona
This stunning antique shopfront which was once a mattress shop now serves as a womenswear boutique.
photo raquel.cayuela
Rua Anchieta 11, Chiado, Lisbon
In the heart of the Chiado neighborhood A Vida Portuguesa occupies an old warehouse and perfume factory, David & David.
photo flynnclancy
209 Elizabeth Street, New York
An antique shop located in a renovated 1850s NYC firehouse and former bakery. Be sure to check out the amazing neighboring sculpture garden.
photo flynnclancy
