Less is More: Gate Boxes and Storefront Design

Have you noticed that some storefront are a lot taller than others? Well, they're not. In fact these buildings all tend to be from the same period (late 19th/early 20th Century) and built similarly--all ground-floor units were built with tall ceiling heights. The reason some storefronts appear taller is because the business owner has chosen to remove the clutter, usually the exterior gate box and excessive signage, in order to expose the original design.

By simply uncovering the storefront, the look can improve overnight.

If you're wondering, "well, what about security?" That answer is you can get just as much security from an alarm system and/or an interior gate.

The exterior gate box is just not necessary and it makes for an unsightly storefront.