Down the block is an ongoing photographic project documenting independent neighborhood businesses across Chicago. Through portraits of business owners and photographs of their spaces, the work explores how these businesses shape community identity amid ongoing urban change.

Rather than focusing on spectacle or loss, the project centers on presence. the people, interiors, and everyday labor that sustain neighborhoods over time. Each photograph is made in collaboration with the business owner, using a simple and respectful approach that prioritizes trust and representation.