Circuit City | Photo 02

This is (or was) the Circuit City store on Broadway, between 79th & 80th Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It has been in this location for years and years and years ... but in late 2008, the company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and when they could find no buyers or financial support, they declared Chapter 7 and began liquidating. The "going out of business" sign above the entrance makes that pretty clear, and the various other signs in the windows create a real sense of urgency...

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These are photos that I began taking in mid-December of 2008, after the government helpfully informed us that the recession (a word they had dared not use before, just as they refuse to use the word "depression" now) has actually been in effect since December 2007.

Having lived through roughly half a dozen previous recessions, with nothing but vague memories to mark their existence, I thought it would be useful to start gathering some photographic memories of the current one. It may or may not turn out to be as severe as the Great Depression of the 1930's, and it may or may not produce the kind of grim photographs that we have of that era ... but we won't really know until it's over, and our 20-20 hindsight might be better informed with some pictures.

Thus far, I have only a few pictures of signs showing steep discounts; these are interesting, but it's the "human story" that I think will tell the more important story. But I've also noticed an increase in the number of homeless people on the street, asking for money, food, and handouts; but I have no direct evidence that it's associated with the recession itself. In any case, I'm reluctant to take advantage of such people by taking casual photos of them; I'm sure more appropriate opportunities will present themselves, and I'll add them to the album as I find them...