Counter culture: shopkeepers from around the world – in pictures

Vladimir Antaki has been documenting shopkeepers all over the world. His project was born from his desire to document and pay tribute to these ‘guardians of urban temples’ that we meet everyday without really noticing

Rachid the butcher in Paris. All photographs: Vladimir Antaki/Barcroft Media

David poses with his dog in London

Jainul in his shop in New York

Jose, a TV repairman, in New York

Abou Georges in his workshop in Beirut, Lebanon

Marie in Montreal, Canada. Marie is a passionate collector. She runs a store that contains nostalgic objects that belonged to her late husband. The store no longer exists

Richard surrounded by hundreds of items in Montreal

Edwige is dwarfed by stacks of vintage magazines in Paris

Alyssa in Montreal

Abdou in Beirut

Denise Acabo in her chocolate shop in the Moulin Rouge area of Paris

Yacek stands amongst his adult books and magazines in London

Baba in his shop in Paris

Abraham sits inside a car in Beirut Photograph: Vladimir Antaki/Barcroft Media

Esther stands next to a bin containing fabric in her shop in Montreal. “It gives me a purpose. I get up in the morning and I come here. I have something to do. Most of my friends my age which is 85, 86, 84 give or take, they get up in the morning and say: ‘What am I gonna do today?’. They have to look for things to do.”

Terrence in his bookshop in Montreal. “Bookstores, you know, are also a form of community centers. A lot of people come here just to sit and browse and chat with their friends. I’ve had people come in here, men and women who have met one an other and ended up getting married, for heaven’s sake.”

‘Birdman’ is surrounded by stacks of CDs in his shop in New York. He doesn’t own a computer, a mobile phone, or a cash register. He solely relies on his visual memory. He made a fortune on Wall Street when he was 35-years old and enjoyed it up to when he was 57, before opening his shop Rainbow Music 13 years ago