NYC: Small businesses to support in NYC during the holidays
By: Katherine Kam
The day after Thanksgiving I wake up to an inbox full of emails about Black Friday deals, Cyber Monday specials, and even texts from friends and family telling me what sales I should take advantage of. While the deals may seem sweet, they fuel excessive consumerism and support large corporations that are polluting our planet. EcoCart found that during Black Friday 2020, consumers spent over $9 billion, making it one of the most polluting days of the year. Online shopping is projected to create almost 400,000 tons of carbon emissions this year.
This year, consider supporting your local small business. Local businesses return 52% of their revenue back to their local economy, compared to 14% from chain retailers. Shopping local also cuts emissions from transporting goods directly to consumer doorsteps.
With nearly 3,000 New York City businesses permanently closed since March 2019, a lot of the unique storefronts that make New York City special are rapidly disappearing. Replacing them are national chains like Starbucks, H&M, and Uniqlo.
Instead of purchasing from large online retailers this season, here are some small NYC businesses you can support:
1. Strand Bookstore
828 Broadway. Strand Bookstore is an independent bookseller in NYC since 1927.
2. Niconeco Zakkaya
263 East 10th Street
Niconeco Zakkaya is a Japanese stationary store in the East Village that started as an Etsy shop and opened its storefront in August 2019.
3. The Sockman
99 St Marks Place
The Sockman has been selling (mostly) socks in St Marks Place since 1983.
4. Casey Rubber Stamps
322 East 11th Street
Casey Rubber Stamps sells every kind of rubber stamp and if it isn’t available, you can place a custom order to have one made.
5. Bluestockings
116 Suffolk Street
Since 1999, Bluestockings has been a worker-owned community space and bookstore.
6. The Little One
150 East Broadway
The Little One was opened by NYC natives, Eddie Zheng and Olivia Leung, in 2017 and sells Japanese inspired desserts.
7. Veniero’s
342 East 11th Street
Italian immigrant Antonio Veniero opened this bakery in 1894, making it one of the oldest family-owned Italian bakeries in NYC.
8. Grandma’s Place
84 W 120th Street
Grandma’s Place is a boutique toy store owned by Grandma Dawn, a retired NYC educator dedicated to enriching the lives of children.
9. Dan’s Parents House
239 City Island Ave
Dan’s Parent’s House is an antique shop on City Island that started when Dan Treiber and his wife tried “as a joke” to sell some of their old things and ended up turning it into a business
10. Wing on Wo & Co
26 Mott Street
Wing on Wo & Co is the oldest operating store in Chinatown. Open since 1925, they sell porcelain and cultural goods.