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Small business districts are thriving in New York City Against the odds, small business districts are thriving in New York City
(about 7 hours later)
“This is the center of the community,” says Sudesh Tarbinder amid the vibrant saris and tunics imported from India and Pakistan. She opened Nandini Fashion in Jackson Heights, Queens, with her husband Kumar less than two months ago. Located a 30-minute subway ride from midtown Manhattan, the surrounding shops sell similar imported pieces, as well as hijabs, scarves and a dizzying array of wedding ensembles encrusted with intricate beadwork.“This is the center of the community,” says Sudesh Tarbinder amid the vibrant saris and tunics imported from India and Pakistan. She opened Nandini Fashion in Jackson Heights, Queens, with her husband Kumar less than two months ago. Located a 30-minute subway ride from midtown Manhattan, the surrounding shops sell similar imported pieces, as well as hijabs, scarves and a dizzying array of wedding ensembles encrusted with intricate beadwork.
The density of stores in the area draws shoppers from New York City’s five boroughs and suburbs – even tourists. “And the competition is good,” Tarbinder adds. Her husband seems less enthusiastic. “There’s competition,” he says, barely taking his eyes off the iPad playing a classic Bollywood movie as he eats lunch. “But you have to do it.”The density of stores in the area draws shoppers from New York City’s five boroughs and suburbs – even tourists. “And the competition is good,” Tarbinder adds. Her husband seems less enthusiastic. “There’s competition,” he says, barely taking his eyes off the iPad playing a classic Bollywood movie as he eats lunch. “But you have to do it.”
Fluctuating real estate values, immigration patterns and shifting consumer needs dictate where shopping districts organically crop up and disappear. Manhattan’s once-thriving camera district is now gone, as many consumers have ditched cameras for iPhones. Little Italy’s cluster of Italian food shops? Reduced to a handful geared toward tourists as Italian immigrant numbers have dwindled. Parts of the Flower District, once overflowing with greenery, have been razed to make way for luxury housing and hotels. Because of prohibitive rents, chain stores like H&M, Topshop, Zara and Uniqlo have replaced the cavernous and creaky district of fabric stores that once lined lower Broadway in SoHo.Fluctuating real estate values, immigration patterns and shifting consumer needs dictate where shopping districts organically crop up and disappear. Manhattan’s once-thriving camera district is now gone, as many consumers have ditched cameras for iPhones. Little Italy’s cluster of Italian food shops? Reduced to a handful geared toward tourists as Italian immigrant numbers have dwindled. Parts of the Flower District, once overflowing with greenery, have been razed to make way for luxury housing and hotels. Because of prohibitive rents, chain stores like H&M, Topshop, Zara and Uniqlo have replaced the cavernous and creaky district of fabric stores that once lined lower Broadway in SoHo.
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Despite the predominance of multinational chain stores populating prime real estate in Manhattan and most US city centers, districts made up of individually owned shops do exist, and some historic clusters manage to hang on. One street over from Nandini Fashion is the boutique DTNY – which stands for “Different Touch New York”. Its logo bears a striking resemblance to designer Donna Karan’s DKNY logo. The Bangladeshi proprietor, who goes by Sweety, hurries around her shop, accommodating customers examining bolts of imported fabric as fans blow hot summer air around the store.Despite the predominance of multinational chain stores populating prime real estate in Manhattan and most US city centers, districts made up of individually owned shops do exist, and some historic clusters manage to hang on. One street over from Nandini Fashion is the boutique DTNY – which stands for “Different Touch New York”. Its logo bears a striking resemblance to designer Donna Karan’s DKNY logo. The Bangladeshi proprietor, who goes by Sweety, hurries around her shop, accommodating customers examining bolts of imported fabric as fans blow hot summer air around the store.
Sweety opened DTNY in the neighborhood eight years ago because the surrounding jewelry shops and beauty parlors geared towards South Asian shoppers allow one-stop shopping for her customers. “People can shop very late here,” she says.Sweety opened DTNY in the neighborhood eight years ago because the surrounding jewelry shops and beauty parlors geared towards South Asian shoppers allow one-stop shopping for her customers. “People can shop very late here,” she says.
Mohammed Uddin’s tiny Makka Gifts Center around the corner specializes in hijabs, scarves, tunics, and various Islamic items. Uddin, also from Bangladesh, sits in his basement office and says he appreciates that some customers speak his native language. But retail is not all rosy in Jackson Heights, according to Uddin. Unlicensed street vendors sell similar products – inferior to his, Uddin says – at reduced prices because they don’t pay taxes or a license fee. “How can I compete?” Uddin says. Another store owner reports a number of neighborhood residents who sell fabric and saris cheaply out of their apartments by skirting taxes.Mohammed Uddin’s tiny Makka Gifts Center around the corner specializes in hijabs, scarves, tunics, and various Islamic items. Uddin, also from Bangladesh, sits in his basement office and says he appreciates that some customers speak his native language. But retail is not all rosy in Jackson Heights, according to Uddin. Unlicensed street vendors sell similar products – inferior to his, Uddin says – at reduced prices because they don’t pay taxes or a license fee. “How can I compete?” Uddin says. Another store owner reports a number of neighborhood residents who sell fabric and saris cheaply out of their apartments by skirting taxes.
Thriving districts are not limited to immigrant enclaves like Jackson Heights, Russian-heavy Brighton Beach, or Harlem’s Little Senegal. There are clusters based on specialized products for sale, from restaurant supplies to vintage mid-century furniture.Thriving districts are not limited to immigrant enclaves like Jackson Heights, Russian-heavy Brighton Beach, or Harlem’s Little Senegal. There are clusters based on specialized products for sale, from restaurant supplies to vintage mid-century furniture.
Atlantic Avenue in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, is known for high-end shops that focus on mid-century furniture. Elegant chairs and tables by Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen and George Nelson dot store windows and corners.Atlantic Avenue in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, is known for high-end shops that focus on mid-century furniture. Elegant chairs and tables by Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen and George Nelson dot store windows and corners.
“When I first opened here, people said it wouldn’t last,” recalls Sohrab Bakhshi, owner of City Foundry, which opened in 2000. At that time, the mid-century furniture business was in Manhattan. Atlantic Avenue had a concentration of antique stores selling undesirable items, like dark Victorian furniture, brass beds, stained glass and small figurines.“When I first opened here, people said it wouldn’t last,” recalls Sohrab Bakhshi, owner of City Foundry, which opened in 2000. At that time, the mid-century furniture business was in Manhattan. Atlantic Avenue had a concentration of antique stores selling undesirable items, like dark Victorian furniture, brass beds, stained glass and small figurines.
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Rather than floundering, City Foundry has expanded into two additional storefronts in the past 15 years. Mingling with Bakhshi’s mid-century pieces is a mix of vintage industrial pieces, science laboratory gizmos, modernist ceramic lamps and one-off oddball items like an old Kendo mask.Rather than floundering, City Foundry has expanded into two additional storefronts in the past 15 years. Mingling with Bakhshi’s mid-century pieces is a mix of vintage industrial pieces, science laboratory gizmos, modernist ceramic lamps and one-off oddball items like an old Kendo mask.
Most of the old antique stores on the radically gentrified Atlantic Avenue have closed, but a few remain, like the mammoth Horseman Antiques that rebranded itself as mid-century. Since City Foundry first opened, a number of similar mid-century shops followed suit — though saturation forced some to close. Even the home goods stores that popped up are now peppered with mid-century and vintage items.Most of the old antique stores on the radically gentrified Atlantic Avenue have closed, but a few remain, like the mammoth Horseman Antiques that rebranded itself as mid-century. Since City Foundry first opened, a number of similar mid-century shops followed suit — though saturation forced some to close. Even the home goods stores that popped up are now peppered with mid-century and vintage items.
Bakhshi doesn’t see the other stores as a threat. Instead, he credits them with attracting even more stylists, designers, dealers, architects and regular furniture shoppers that “do the block”.Bakhshi doesn’t see the other stores as a threat. Instead, he credits them with attracting even more stylists, designers, dealers, architects and regular furniture shoppers that “do the block”.
While a few of Manhattan’s historic retail districts are merely surviving, the Diamond District continues to flourish. Jewelry stores with sparkling window displays line 47th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues. There are double parked armored vehicles, UPS trucks and a police presence.While a few of Manhattan’s historic retail districts are merely surviving, the Diamond District continues to flourish. Jewelry stores with sparkling window displays line 47th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues. There are double parked armored vehicles, UPS trucks and a police presence.
The sidewalks are a colorful mix of Hasidic Jews in full regalia, business men, tourists, and giddy couples. A handful of old men wearing fedoras and baggy suits look like characters in a 1940s film. High profile shoppers like boxer Floyd Mayweather make regular appearances.The sidewalks are a colorful mix of Hasidic Jews in full regalia, business men, tourists, and giddy couples. A handful of old men wearing fedoras and baggy suits look like characters in a 1940s film. High profile shoppers like boxer Floyd Mayweather make regular appearances.
It’s a tightknit, shrewd and secretive ecosystem of friendly competitors who work as retailers, wholesalers, diamond cutters or setters, pawnbrokers or street hawkers, among other professions tucked away in the buildings above the storefronts.It’s a tightknit, shrewd and secretive ecosystem of friendly competitors who work as retailers, wholesalers, diamond cutters or setters, pawnbrokers or street hawkers, among other professions tucked away in the buildings above the storefronts.
How can any storeowner or wholesaler differentiate himself from the next? “It’s a question of trust,” says one long time storeowner who didn’t want to be named. “People get reputations.”How can any storeowner or wholesaler differentiate himself from the next? “It’s a question of trust,” says one long time storeowner who didn’t want to be named. “People get reputations.”
He notes that despite the abundance of stores selling similar glittering jewels or watches, his clients return because they trust him. “If you are reliable, you build a clientele.”He notes that despite the abundance of stores selling similar glittering jewels or watches, his clients return because they trust him. “If you are reliable, you build a clientele.”