Exceptional full plate tintype showing a commercial storefront with a sign advertising "The Celebrated Japan Tea for Sale Here," incorporating a stylized Masonic-like star and lettering. Posed outside the clapboard-sided building are seven individuals, including a woman seated with a hat, men in work clothes, and several women in Victorian attire, suggesting a family-run enterprise or local mercantile hub. A bicycle rests in front, adding a lively period touch.

To the left of the entrance, a small sign affixed to the building reads: "Photos by Stace’s / East Side, St. Johns." This places the scene in St. Johns, likely Michigan, and connects it to a local photographer or studio active in the region. The business and signage—particularly the inclusion of the Japan Tea ad and bold graphic—make this image unusually rich in commercial iconography.

The composition, signage, and rare presence of a large-format tintype capturing both vernacular architecture and a working storefront make this a standout example of rural American commerce in the late 19th century.