Help keep your local storefronts bustling on Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and every day with EVCC's new online Get Local Guide.
Our new Guide is updated in real time. So it's the best place to find up-to-date information on the go.
Don't worry, we're still printing those cute little books! Our 2020 Get Local Guide arrives next week.
The East Village Community Coalition (EVCC) announces the release of "Preserving Local, Independent Retail: Recommendations for Formula Retail Zoning in the East Village." The report analyzes the growing presence of chain stores, proposing a framework for limiting the expansion of formula retail.
Three possible methods of formula retail zoning are proposed within the report. These options — aimed at informing decisions by East Village policy makers — have been crafted using case studies, legal suggestions and preexisting zoning frameworks from other parts of the country.
"As the trend toward homogenization progresses in New York, with respect to both the built environment and retail landscape, a timely solution is needed to preserve the individuality of the city’s neighborhoods," said Sara Romanoski, EVCC's managing director. "Placing restrictions on formula retail establishments via zoning amendments provides a path to preserving the rapidly changing East Village. An East Village Special District using the proposed framework will emphasize the importance and uniqueness of the community."
The East Village Community Coalition with the East Village Independent Merchants Association are hosting a workshop tomorrow targeted to local business owners regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and practical solutions to increase accessibility to East Village businesses. Residents are also encouraged to attend.
We invite you to join in a conversation about access and your business. This event will be facilitated by East Village resident and wheelchair-user, Alexandra McArthur. Our discussion will explain the benefits of making simple, inexpensive changes to storefront entryways to improve access. Kleo King from the Mayor's Office of People with Disabilities and Ted Finkelstein from the Commission on Human Rights will join the discussion.
Wednesday, March 18, 10 am-11am
Cafe Mocha, 116 Second Ave. at East Seventh Street
Questions or to rsvp: email
Take the East Village Consumer Survey
Your input is important for the community
The East Village Community Coalition seeks your opinions to understand what types of retail and services residents and visitors want to see in the community. Help the community understand what is available and what is missing from retail in the East Village. Survey results can identify trends in the neighborhood's retail environment that can help empower businesses and residents work to attract desired businesses.
We are hoping to reach as many East Village residents and visitors as possible. Respondents need not give identifying information to participate. It takes just 5-10 minutes to share your experience living in, working in, or visiting the East Village.
The consumer survey is part of the of EVCC's retail diversity campaign, which advocates for increased diversity of available retail and local services for residents within the East Village.
From the EVG inbox...Introducing EVIMA
A gathering with food, conversation and more information about the East Village Independent Merchants Association (EVIMA)
Monday, Feb. 24
7-9 pm
Ciao For Now
523 E 12th Street (between Aves A & B)
Light Snacks Provided
East Village Community Coalition (EVCC) has been collaborating with small business owners in order to create the East Village Independent Merchants Association (EVIMA).
This meeting will be an informative, yet fun opportunity to hear about EVIMA, meet other local merchants and learn how you can join us in promoting, connecting and representing local merchants in the East Village.
While EVIMA’s main focus will be to support independently owned businesses with daytime hours, we welcome any East Village business owner to attend the meeting.
Spending your money locally helps small businesses thrive in the East Village.
Local shopping also:
• Keeps more money in our community
• Creates local jobs with fair wages
• Sustains small business owners who defend our neighborhood’s identity
• Spending your money locally helps small businesses thrive in the East Village.
The newly available 7th Edition lists more than 450 local merchants and is available in shops and cafes in the neighborhood.
Formula Retail Community Workshop
The Neighborhood Preservation Center
Tuesday, November 19, 6-8pm
232 East 11th Street
Limited space, rsvp required to melanie@evccnyc.org or 212.979.2344
EVCC is working to protect independent, small businesses within the neighborhood in order to maintain the diverse, unique community that has existed for so long. Over the past four years, increases in chain businesses can be see in both 10009 and 10003 zip codes that make up the East Village.
Currently there are roughly 115 chain stores located within the square half mile the makes up the neighborhood. Several New York city and regional plans site unique neighborhoods and independent stores as extremely important for New York’s future. Yet, according to the Center for Urban Future, 2012 marked the fifth consecutive year there was a net increase in national chain stores throughout the five boroughs.
Other places have already started taking action in defense of their communities. Examples of formula retail regulation can be seen in both New York City’s own Upper West Side and the city of San Francisco. In 2012, after having issues with store frontages being largely occupied by banks and apartment lobbies three corridors on the NYC’s Upper West Side were rezoned as “Special Districts”.
The new zoning limits the store frontage sizes and certain store conversions or changes in use. San Francisco is the largest urban area in the US to have strict formula retail business restrictions. The city zoning only allows formula retail in certain neighborhoods, requires neighborhood notifications before any chain retail is allowed to be built, and can limit the size and type of formula retail allowed in a given area.
In an attempt to keep our neighborhood independent and unique, the East Village Community Coalition (EVCC) publishes the free Get Local! Guide to East Village Shops each year. The updated 5th Edition is available now!
Spending your money locally helps small businesses thrive in the East Village. Local shopping also:
• Keeps more money in our community
• Creates local jobs
• Sustains small business owners who defend our neighborhood's identity
• Chooses creativity and personality over uniformity
The newly available 5th Edition lists 400+ local merchants and is available in shops and cafes in the neighborhood. You can download the online version here. (PDF)
We are working to preserve small businesses as an integral part of maintaining our diverse, livable community. In addition to the Get Local! Guide, the EVCC is researching ways to maintain retail diversity in our community.
In an attempt to keep our neighborhood independent and unique, the East Village Community Coalition (EVCC) publishes the free Get Local! Guide to East Village Shops each year. The updated 5th Edition is available now!
Spending your money locally helps small businesses thrive in the East Village. Local shopping also:
• Keeps more money in our community
• Creates local jobs
• Sustains small business owners who defend our neighborhood's identity
• Chooses creativity and personality over uniformity
The newly available 5th Edition lists 400+ local merchants and is available in shops and cafes in the neighborhood. You can download the online version here. (PDF)
We are working to preserve small businesses as an integral part of maintaining our diverse, livable community. In addition to the Get Local! Guide, the EVCC is researching ways to maintain retail diversity in our community.
