For 16 years, photographers Philipp Graf and Martin Frey have been systematically documenting Vienna's storefronts and commercial establishments, creating a visual archive that captures not just architectural details but the evolving soul of Austria's capital. Their project, called "Geschäfte mit Geschichte" (Shops with History), has become both an artistic endeavor and an invaluable historical record of urban transformation.

"Some things are so ordinary that you only notice them when they're gone," explains Graf, who works as a biotechnologist when not behind the camera. "Then you know something was there, but you can't see it anymore. It's like it's been erased." This observation sparked the collaboration between Graf and Frey, a professional graphic designer, to preserve these fleeting moments of Vienna's streetscape before they vanish forever.

The duo emphasizes that their work isn't driven by nostalgia but rather by a desire to capture snapshots of the city and document its continuous evolution. While some disappearing businesses represent a loss for loyal customers, the photographers note that new establishments often emerge in their place, creating fresh chapters in the city's commercial story. Sometimes, they've discovered, the same type of business returns to a location in a completely new form.

One striking example from their collection shows this cyclical nature of urban development. Their archive contains photographs of a hair salon called "Haarmoden Rabl" on Breitenfurter Street, which appeared frozen in the 1980s aesthetic. A later photograph shows the same location completely transformed by a new building, with a modern hair salon and nail studio occupying the ground floor. "When we photographed it, the lady came out and wanted to know what we were doing," Frey recalls. "So we told her about the project, and the new owner was completely surprised that there had been a hair salon there before. She had no idea."

Their "Shops with History" project has found multiple platforms for public engagement. Currently, their work is featured in an exhibition at Café El Speta in Vienna's sixth district, and they're participating in the Vienna Art Book Fair with their photography books. In the past, they've collaborated with the Wien Museum to conduct walking tours that visited the businesses they've photographed, often going inside to chat with the owners about their establishments' histories.

These conversations with business owners eventually evolved into short documentary films that profile various shops, which are being screened at the Breitenseer Lichtspiele cinema. The photographers stress that they're not interested in taking a museum-like approach to these businesses, but rather in understanding them as functional parts of the city's living fabric. "When something changes because it's no longer needed in that form, that has its justification," Graf explains.

Central to their philosophy is the concept of equality in documentation. "We photograph a Lobmeyr store in the city center the same way we photograph a tailor shop in the 22nd district," Graf says, referring to the famous Viennese glassware company alongside humble neighborhood services. While their focus is primarily on older establishments dating from the turn of the 20th century through the 1950s, 1960s, and sometimes into the 1980s, they've also included younger businesses as part of special projects documenting new takeovers.

The statistics from their extensive archive tell a sobering story about urban change: approximately half of the businesses they've photographed over the years no longer exist. These range from hardware stores and pharmacies to second-hand shops, representing a significant transformation in Vienna's commercial landscape. However, the photographers have also observed fascinating patterns in both historical periods and industry-specific design choices.

Storefronts from the turn of the century were often elaborate affairs, featuring metal lettering and artistic wooden portals. "In the past, people designed a storefront for eternity," Graf notes. "They assumed it would need to last for generations." This contrasts sharply with today's more transient approach, where LED signs and adhesive films create easily changeable displays that reflect the faster pace of modern business cycles.

Industry-specific design traditions have also caught the photographers' attention. Butcher shops, they've noticed, frequently feature tile work on their exteriors, likely to convey cleanliness and hygiene. Hair salons have historically favored mosaic tiles arranged in artistic patterns, while candy shops often employ rounded, flowing, elegant lettering to attract customers. These details reveal how businesses have long used visual cues to communicate their identity and attract their target clientele.

The evolution of storefront design reflects broader changes in retail philosophy and urban planning. Modern shop entrances are sometimes barely visible, with continuous glass fronts where doors are marked only by long vertical handles. This represents a dramatic shift from earlier eras when portals led customers inward and entrance doors were set back slightly into the interior. Today's retailers often use displays, flowers, or objects placed in front of doors to indicate entry points.

Graf and Frey have also observed a recent trend toward architectural restoration, where some property owners are removing the panels and signs that have covered storefronts to reveal the original building structure underneath. The photographers view these changes with equanimity, as long as the ground floors remain active and vibrant. Their primary concern is that these spaces continue to serve the community rather than becoming parking garages or remaining vacant.

Their current exhibition, "Geschäfte mit Geschichte. Eine fotografische Reise zu Wiener Traditionsgeschäften" (Shops with History: A Photographic Journey to Viennese Traditional Businesses), runs from October 18 to November 15 at Café El Speta. The accompanying short films will be screened on October 19 at Breitenseer Lichtspiele, offering audiences both visual documentation and personal stories from business owners. Their photography books remain available at the Vienna Art Book Fair through October 19.

Through their meticulous documentation, Graf and Frey have created more than just a photographic archive; they've produced a meditation on urban change, commercial culture, and the delicate balance between preservation and progress. Their work serves as both artistic expression and sociological document, capturing Vienna's transformation one storefront at a time while celebrating the enduring human need for community gathering spaces and local commerce.