SOS: Local business owners discuss their COVID-19-related rent challenges

Save Our Storefronts (SOS), a coalition of East Village merchants and community members, is calling on New York State to enact commercial rent relief.

In this video, released yesterday, local business owners document the challenges they are facing with commercial rents during the COVID-19 pandemic...



Visit www.saveourstorefronts.nyc for more information on the campaign, including the petition that's in circulation.

Assemblymember Harvey Epstein and State Sen. Brad Hoylman are drafting a bill on commercial rent relief legislation, which they plan to introduce soon, to help create a path to small business and nonprofit recovery based on sharing the burden of the crisis.

According to a Hospitality Alliance survey, only 19 percent of New York City businesses paid June rent and only 26 percent of landlords waived any rent.

A grim small business outlook

[Photos by Steven]

Fine-Tune Brows shut down a few weeks back here on Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

The salon, which opened in 2017, had grown a steady client base... one of whom left behind an RIP message outside...



Unfortunately, we can likely expect more closings like this in the weeks and months ahead. A new report issued by the Partnership for New York City finds that one-third of the city's 230,000 small businesses may never reopen post pandemic.

As the Post reported:

Most small businesses have less than three months worth of cash reserves — a period equal to the length of the state's COVID-19 shutdown.

"That means that funds to restart, pay back rent and buy inventory are exhausted, leaving tens of thousands of entrepreneurs at risk, particularly business owners of color," authors Kathryn Wylde and Natasha Avanessians wrote.

They say business owners face high rents, regulatory burdens and taxes.

In addition, the report projects that only 40 percent of Manhattan office workers will return by year's end with an estimated 75 percent expected to return full time in the future.

You can find all the grim results in the 67-page report here.

A small business SOS

Save Our Storefronts, a coalition of East Village merchants and community members, recently launched a petition that will help lobby for fair rent relief for NYC small businesses.

We are facing the catastrophic loss of thousands of small and micro businesses, the economic and social cornerstones of our communities.

New York is on PAUSE, but the bills have not paused. The rent has not paused. NOTHING has paused except our ability to survive. Without rent relief, untold numbers of storefronts will shutter. For good. Communities will lose vast numbers of jobs, essential services, vitality and more.

We will lose the very fabric of our city.

You can learn more and sign the petition at this link.

Curb your enthusiasm: A look at more East Village businesses with their doors back open

[Trash & Vaudeville, 7th Street]

Back on Monday, EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared a sampling of the East Village businesses that were back open for curbside sales as part of the blessed Phase 1.

In this sequel post, Stacie shares a few more of the retail operations up and running again (and yes — several businesses here had been open previously, including Sunny & Annie's and Book Club)...


[Sunny's Florist, 6th Street]


[Downtown Yarns, Avenue A]


[Limited to One, 10th Street]


[Bali Kitchen, 4th Street]


[The Juicy Lucy kiosk, 1st Street]


[East Village Acupuncture, 2nd Street]


[Sunny & Annie's, Avenue B]


[Book Club Bar, 3rd Street]


[VorteXity Books, Avenue A]


[Red Gate Bakery, 1st Street]


[Kolkata Chai Co., 3rd Street]

Previously on EV Grieve:
East Village businesses reopen their doors for curbside pickup

East Village businesses reopen their doors for curbside pickup

[Gizmo, 1st Avenue]

As part of NYC's entry into Phase 1 last Monday, retail outlets are OK'd for limited operations — mainly curbside pickup of purchases.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy walked around the neighborhood and shared a sampling of the East Village businesses open (with social distancing and other safety protocols in place)...


[Casey Rubber Stamps, 11th Street]


[Azaleas, 2nd Avenue]


[Meg, 9th Street]


[Love Thy Beast, 5th Street]


[Exit9, Avenue A]


[Lancelotti, Avenue A]


[Jane's Exchange, 3rd Street]


[SneakEZ, 9th Street]


[White Trash, 5th Street]


[an.mé, 9th Street]


[Alphabets, Avenue A]

Reminders: This workshop will offer free legal resources for East Village small business owners

Reposted from Jan. 30

Several local organizations are joining forces to provide small business owners in the East Village with free legal resources during a workshop this week at Book Club on Third Street.

Via the EVG inbox...

Many small businesses and commercial tenants have concerns about non-rent charges and how they impact the bottom line.

Cooper Square Committee, East Village Independent Merchants Association (EVIMA) and Brooklyn Legal Services will bring free legal resources to neighborhood businesses and commercial tenants.

Join us for one or both of our upcoming sessions on non-rent charges. Lawyers will be available after each session to do one-on-one consultations.

Bring your commercial lease and your questions!

Morning and evening session available:

Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 9 a.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Book Club
197 E. Third St. near Avenue B

Workshop next week will offer free legal resources for East Village small business owners

Several local organizations are joining forces to provide small business owners in the East Village with free legal resources during a workshop next week at Book Club on Third Street.

Via the EVG inbox...

Many small businesses and commercial tenants have concerns about non-rent charges and how they impact the bottom line.

Cooper Square Committee, East Village Independent Merchants Association (EVIMA) and Brooklyn Legal Services will bring free legal resources to neighborhood businesses and commercial tenants.

Join us for one or both of our upcoming sessions on non-rent charges. Lawyers will be available after each session to do one-on-one consultations.

Bring your commercial lease and your questions!

Morning and evening session available:

Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 9 a.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Book Club
197 E. Third St. near Avenue B

A call to expand the boundaries of the proposed special business district in the East Village

On June 7, Community Board 3's Economic Development Committee hosted a public forum to discuss a proposed special district in the East Village "to encourage retail diversity and promote small and independent businesses."

Under the proposal, the special district would be 14th Street to Houston; Second Avenue to Avenue D as well as St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (Read a PDF about the proposal here. You can read recaps from the meeting here and here. Read REBNY's reaction here.)

The borders of the proposed district didn't sit well with some members of the East Fifth Street Block Association, who plan on discussing the topic during the public speaking section of tonight's full CB3 board meeting.

According to an email via the Block Association, streets between the Bowery and Second Avenue should be included in the proposal:

The East 4th Street Cultural District, which is between Bowery and 2nd Avenue, is a cultural hub. Having chain stores at its western approach would destroy its sense of context and historic place.

With the Bowery’s west side above Houston protected by the NoHo Historic District, it would be irresponsible and degrading to the East Village’s sense of historic place to have major gateway at Bowery become the sole repository for these awful chain stores. That would give a negative first impression of this wonderful neighborhood.

Second Avenue is not the gateway to the East Village. The Bowery/Third Avenue is the gateway to the East Village, and all of it should be included in the EV Special Zoning District.

The full CB3 meeting is tonight at 6:30, PS 20, 166 Essex St. between East Houston and Stanton.

Reminder: Public forum set to discuss special business district in the East Village

As we reported last week, Community Board 3's Economic Development Committee is hosting a public forum on Wednesday evening to discuss a proposed special district in the East Village "to encourage retail diversity and promote small and independent businesses."

Find more details via a Q-and-A on the CB3 website on the issue. Or last week's post.

Here's a flyer that the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation created for the event...



The meeting is Wednesday from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Sirovich Senior Center, 331 E. 12th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Public forum set to discuss special business district in the East Village (27 comments)

Public forum set to discuss special business district in the East Village

Community Board 3's Economic Development Committee is hosting a public forum on June 7 to discuss a proposed special district in the East Village "to encourage retail diversity and promote small and independent businesses."

Here's more via a Q-and-A on the CB3 website on the issue:

Why a special district in the East Village and why now?

CB 3 has experienced a dramatic loss of small “mom & pop” businesses in the past 10+ years, and a resulting decrease in the diversity and affordability of local goods and services. Driven by a combination of high commercial rents and real estate taxes, competition from an over-proliferation and concentration of destination nightlife businesses and national chain stores who can afford exorbitant rents, and a lack of daytime foot traffic, the loss of small businesses has been sustained in recent years.

What are the goals of a special district in CB 3?
• preserve the unique, individual character of our neighborhoods
• facilitate a diverse, affordable, and appropriate mix of retail and service providers that meet local needs
• encourage daytime businesses that do not have a disruptive effect on residents
• support existing businesses serving local needs
• limit the ground floor presence of inactive street wall frontages
• promote strong and affordable neighborhoods that are inviting to all New Yorkers, especially families

How will a special district affect certain uses?

The special district is not meant to push out existing businesses and nightlife establishments. Rather, the effort is to strike a balance and create a level playing field for small businesses. In the current proposal, eating/drinking establishments, banks, and chains would have restrictions on maximum total size (2,500 square feet) and maximum street wall width (25 linear feet). They would also be prohibited from combining storefronts across separate buildings.

Additionally, there would be restrictions on how much of a block’s street frontage can be occupied by a particular use — for example, no more than 25 percent of any given block’s street frontage can be occupied by eating/drinking establishments and there cannot be more than 1 chain store or bank per block.

I am thinking of opening a business in the East Village that does not meet the parameters of the special district. Does your current proposal take exceptions into consideration?

In the current proposal, applications for exceptions will require a mandatory review process and referral to the Community Board for a recommendation.

Based on the current proposal, where will the special district be located?
• 14th Street to Houston; 2nd Avenue to Avenue D (excluding N/S sides of Houston and 14th)
• St Marks between 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue

The meeting is Wednesday, June 7, from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Sirovich Senior Center, 331 E. 12th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Anna has left the East Village after 22 years

Anna has packed up and left 11th Street between First Avenue and Second Store.

The womenswear boutique has moved to Christopher Street in the West Village...



Per the Anna Facebook page: "We're thrilled to share that on May 1st we will be merging with our dream store, Fairlight, at 13 Christopher Street in the West Village. Looking forward to seeing you all in our new space!"

Designer Kathy Kemp first opened Anna in 1995 on Third Street near Avenue A. Anna relocated to 11th Street in 2012. (Read more about Anna and Kemp in this Out and About feature from 2014.)

With Anna's departure, there are now three of four consecutive storefronts sitting empty on this block of 11th Street... Odin and Pas de Deux closed earlier this year...

About the East Village Small Business Forum tomorrow

Via the EVG inbox today...


[Click to go big]

Small business owners/employees are asked to please RSVP by calling Steve Herrick of Cooper Square Committee at 212-228-8210 or by emailing steveh@coopersquare.org. Please put “Small Business Forum” in the subject line.

The East Village Holiday Shopping Night — is tonight (and today)

[Photo last month on East 9th Street via Steven]

The East Village Independent Merchants Association (EVIMA) is hosting its second annual Holiday Shopping Night tonight.

Nearly 20 shops are taking part in the event ... and with some discounts for shoppers. Here's the list via the EVIMA website... (and these deals are good all day, not just this evening...)






There's also a free holiday party at Ballaro (no Taylor Swift xmas song requests please), 77 Second Ave. between East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street, from 6 to 9 p.m. (You can RSVP here.)

EVIMA is an offshoot of the East Village Community Coalition.

Gale Brewer's plan to help save small NYC businesses

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer released a report today titled "Small Business, Big Impact: Expanding Opportunity For Manhattan Storefronts." (Find a PDF here.)

Per the Daily News:

Brewer is proposing legislation to give small businesses a one-year break before they get booted from their spaces. Under the plan, the city would create a mediation program that would kick in when a store nears the end of its lease.

If the landlord and tenant don’t reach a deal with the help of a mediator, the landlord would be required to offer a one-year lease extension with a rent hike of no more than 15%.

“The city can — and must — do more to help small businesses survive,” Brewer said.

Other ideas from Brewer include ... via Gothamist:

Finding a way to "condo-ize" more storefronts (basically allowing tenants to buy space, as there are federal funds for small businesses to do this); create "low-intensity" commercial districts in areas that have skyrocketing rents (this would be allowing some commercial businesses to open on quieter streets); and helping small business owners navigate the thicket of various city agencies.

Shop local tonight

Via the EVG inbox...

Shop local in the East Village tonight. The East Village Independent Merchant Association (EVIMA) is hosting the East Village Holiday Shopping Night, with more than 20 participating local merchants providing promotions and discounts for shoppers from 6-9 pm. A complete list of all participating stores and their deals can be found here.

In addition, the East Village Community Coalition will be holding a community holiday party and teen gift drive for the Women’s Prison Association in their offices (143 Avenue B, in the Christodora House) tonight from 6-10. Suggested gifts include: gloves, scarves, beanies, clothing (including winter coats), movie gift cards, lotions and fragrances (most popular item for girls, sunglasses, earphones and headphones, jewelry, watches, wallets, handbags and messenger bags, backpacks, NY teams merchandise (Mets, Yankees, Nets, Knicks, Rangers, Giants, Jets).

Parlor turns 20

Parlor, the hair salon at 102 Avenue B near East Seventh Street, is celebrating its 20th anniversary tonight from 7:30 to 10:30.

Proprietor Gwenn LeMoine told us that they'll be pizza from her neighbors at Gruppo as well as cocktails, makeup artist Rudy Miles … and music via Hannah Thiem.

"We would love all of our neighbors to come to celebrate to thank them for a wonderful 20 years," LeMoine said.

Exploring 2 like-minded small shops on East 6th Street

As the holiday shopping season gets underway... EVG contributor Stacey Joy takes a look at two women-owned, side-by-side boutiques on East Sixth Street near Cooper Square ...

Handcrafted Mosaic Lamps (208 E. Sixth St.), with the tagline “Make the Sun Jealous,” features Turkish mosaic-style lamps, lights and candleholders. It is owned and operated by Melissa Benovic, who makes certain that each lamp is run on LED lights and that prices remain affordable.



I spied a beautiful rainbow-colored candleholder made for tea lights at $60 as well as a crave-worthy blue hanging glass lamp at $110. This shop is tiny, maybe 325 square feet, with a beautiful layout and Melissa could not have been warmer or more accommodating. Amazingly knowledgeable about all things lamp-related, I didn’t want to leave the shop! It is especially welcoming in the dark, early winter cold.







Hours are flexible, but traditionally open Monday through Saturday, from 1 to 8 pm.

--

Nomad Vintage, also at 208 E. Sixth St., is owned and operated by Katie McDonnell, and is a small shop crammed full of her hand-selected vintage treasures.



Textiles, shoes, fabrics, dresses and all manner of vintage jewelry and accessories can be found here. Katie was kind enough to show me some of her favorites ... and I was excited to see a sweet velvet cape perfect for early winter walks, some Vivienne Westwood heels that I could never walk in but would love to own, and batik shirt that looked vaguely Moroccan.







Pieces here tend to be slightly more high-end, with accompanying price tags. The patchwork denim and flannel cape I liked was tagged at $225. Hours here are also flexible (and some days by appointment only) so please contact Katie to make sure the shop is open before heading out that way.

Always happy to see small local businesses succeed, Melissa and Katie both spoke about their love for the neighborhood and the people in the area.