I photographed this old storefront because of the mural, but then I began to wonder about its sign "1926 Joe Ridley 1926." Who was Joe Ridley? I am intrigued with the little I've been able to learn online. Joe Ridley was an African American tailor and successful businessman. He and his wife Sophie lived around the corner from his shop and were apparently well-loved in the community. They raised a niece, Teresa Flateau, who became a teacher. The building, much bigger than it appears here, is now the workshop of a sculptor and woodworker, Patrick Ricard.
