Thinking Like a Business Journalist

Volunteer with the Mission

Wanting to be more involved in Baruch’s student life, I accepted an invitation to join Sigma Alpha Delta. Wanting to be more involved in community life, I joined the volunteer committee and that’s how I found the New York City Rescue Mission.

The NYC Rescue Mission have been feeding the hungry and providing hope to New York’s poorest residents since 1872. Every day more than 500 meals are served three times per day and 150 bags of grocery handed out from the food pantry. It also serves as a home to men who are in need of shelter and also offers a recovery program for those that have hit rock bottom and need to get their life in order.

There is an expansion project in the works, so that the Mission can offer their services to women also. Director of Development, Tom Hall, says there should be three more floors, 18 months from now, that will hold 250 beds. Thirty beds will be set aside for single women in need of emergency shelter and will now serve as a transitional residential program for all in need, not just men.

According to Joe Little, the Director of Community Relations, the expansion project is being funded by a wealthy donor who died recently and left a majority of her estate to the organization and a fundraising venture chaired by Kathy Lee Gifford.

As a nonprofit, most of their help and food comes from volunteers, charities and other organizations willing to lend a hand. Food Bank for NYC and City Harvest are among the top food donors, while Trader’s Joe and similar businesses offer what they can also.

Volunteers are a major part of the program and are present for serving meals, helping in the learning center or the offices. Serving meals to the residents and the men and women that walk in from the streets is a humbling experience. The members of the Brooklyn based Jehovah Will Plumbline Ministries have been doing this every third Saturday of every month for the last five years. Pastor Judy Duncan-Hackett and her team were on hand as usual in November, on the weekend before Thanksgiving, serving loads of food to everyone.

The Thanksgiving banquet that Joe has been promoting so long finally came to fruition and it was successful.

Businesses on Broadway

The Bed-Stuy area has been commercially successful, despite economic stresses and increased criminal activities, and of its many shopping districts, the Broadway strip is one of the most vibrant. The block is home to businesses from Granite Street to Weirfield Street and each business is experiencing its own varying degree of success. This could be related to the J/Z trains that stop on Halsey and Chauncey streets or the growth in young professionals and homeowners.

During the project, I have come to the realization that most of the businesses have been in the community for years, staying in families or simply switching owners without losing its value. Long time Bed-Stuy resident, Sherry and her daughter-in-law, Kerry, think the shopping strip is successful because the businesses have been a part of the neighborhood for very long time and have become staples in the community. This can be an advantage to these businesses as they gain longtime and loyal customers and a steady source of revenue. However, the younger and newer businesses aren’t doing too badly either. KNS Hair Express Corp. has only been open for one year and already it has its own clientele, including Sherry. Washington Mitchell, owner and manager, says this is his third business and the success so far is encouraging.

Ike John, manager of Broadway Pigeons & Pet Supplies, thinks that business in the neighborhood has only just started booming since the 1977 blackout that last for three days and damaged many of the older businesses. The sole pet store stands out on a block packed with delis, laundromats, beauty stores and fast food restaurants. “No one else seems to be interested in the pet business,” said John. The store only sells birds and pigeon feed and some cat litter, but it doesn’t affect business at all, as he said there are many pigeon owners in the neighborhood. “We are keeping our head above water, so I’d say that is successful. Pigeons are an addiction, you can’t just have one and what many people don’t know is that Bushwick, actually Brooklyn, has the most pigeon flyers in the state.”

The sudden flourish can also be a by-product of the booming housing market in the area. On my walk around the neighborhood, there were many “open house”, “for sale” or realtors’ signs on the many brownstones and buildings. Even John is planning on buying his second house in the neighborhood just so he can begin raising pigeons again, supporting both the housing market and the businesses that surround him. While I only saw one closed business on the block, there were many new businesses celebrating their grand opening or proclaiming to be coming soon.

The small family businesses seem to be thriving as well as the big chains that can be found further down on the block. What is surprising is that even without a chamber of commerce or a business association that they are members of, the businesses support each other during community events and many of them even work together. Melena Davidson, owner and director of New Pride Day Care Center says she has been on the block for seven years and the last time she tried creating a carnival for her children, most of the businesses pitched in to help in some form. Williams’ business donates bikes to children at PS 5 and John and Henry, an avid pigeon flyer, exchange their services.

By: Angelica Proano

Fifth Ave. known as the high-end fashion shopping district of Manhattan, is one most visited Avenues of this city. In the upper district of Fifth Ave., there are stores such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Tiffany & Co, BCBG, Michael Kors and others many like these, but as for the Flatiron district of Fifth Ave., the businesses still remain high-end mixed with your regular H&M retail store. The Flatiron district is very famous for the flatiron building because of its unusual architect. Boutiques of the high-end business are located in this district as well as superstore business such as Home Depot. Many tourists visit this district a lot as well as for locals, these customers help maintain many of the businesses in the Flatiron district.

I did my research on the block before Madison Park and the Flatiron building, 22 street. Walking through 22 and 23 street, you can see many shoppers, many people with shopping bags rushing by to get from store to store. Just by this image one can assume that this shopping district is very vibrant and seems to be doing very well especially in this spiral economy that we live in. After talking to the managers of the stores I interviewed, all of them have said the same: Traffic is low, but they are maintaining, and through the holiday season it gets even better.

The first store I went into was a skin care/beauty type of business, called L’Occitane. Walking in, there are many shoppers; the store is practically filled especially with the complimentary samples. Ivica Jeras, the manager says that even though the traffic is low, they are still maintaining and able to attract new customers with their complimentary samples and great customer service. Talking to the manager alone made me feel so welcome to be in the store and made me want to buy from them. The next store I approached was BCBG Maxazria, this is the second boutique that they have on Fifth Ave., and it is smaller compared to the first one. I was unable to talk to any of the employees and being able to talk to the manager was not even a question. By the looks of it, the store was not flooded with customers; there were at most four customers during my time in the store. BCBG is a high-end store and by having a smaller boutique they are still able to profit even with low customer traffic.

Solstice sunglasses boutique and Aerosoles shoes were the next stores I visited on this 22^nd Street block. For both stores the customer traffic was very low. The managers seem to agree as well with the traffic being down but they both claim that they have their days and that it mostly depends on the weather. Despite the holiday season, these businesses have not seen much improvement on their profits and customer traffic. The last retail business I attempted to interview was a women’s clothing store, Eileen Fisher. The manager was in a rush and there were many customers in the store. Even though I was unable to do an interview with the manager one of the employees mentioned that the customer traffic has been good especially for the past months with the sales they have going. Without much luck on getting an interview by the manager of the Chase bank location, I did learn that previous to it being Chase, it was the Bank of New York, which Chase bank had bought out during the 2008 economy crisis.

Whether it’s the weather or the holiday season there are different reasons on why the customer traffic can decline or incline. Just by the looks of it, in my opinion I assumed that this district was doing great in customer traffic, but I only did a census of one block with 6 different retail stores. Traffic may be low, but they are still located on one of the most expensive avenues, the infamous Fifth Avenue.

Click the title to view the slide show. Thanks! (technical difficulties)

Slide Show
Ownership Table

There is an interesting (and maybe odd) mix of stores and businesses along this strip. There are a few places with the gates down and one place for lease, 215. So, here’s a little inside info about the unrecognizable store names. Atmos, which is a store that originated in Tokyo, carries an array of sneakers for people who have a passion for collecting them. Jimmy Jazz carries “urban wear” for both men and women. Portabella is a men’s store that sells an amazing variety of men’s suits and shoes. Orva is a shoe store that carries brands like Uggs and Puma.

While surveying the stores, most employees were very leery of giving out the slightest information. And in most cases, employees and even managers had no idea who owned the store or how long the store has been in business. The stores were barely occupied. Sprint and Starbucks were the only store that had more than 10 people in them. Talking to pedestrians was also difficult. Most wanted to disclose their outrage over how Harlem is changing and no one wanted to give their name. However, there were a dew helpful people along the way.

Crystal (whose last name mysteriously disappeared from my notes), an account consultant at Bank of America gave insight into BOA’s initiatives and marketing strategy. “We are part of the Community Reinvestment Act. We have products tailored specifically to the needs of people in this community based on demographics. Our products ranges from accounts offering to loans.” A manager in Duane Reade (who would not state her name: shocking right!), revealed “Duane Reade leases the space from a church. (She cannot remember the pastor’s name but referred to him as “big daddy”).” A city records search revealed that once upon a time Bishop SC Madison had the deed to the space. He died in 2008. And even if her information is somewhat inaccurate, the laugh received from her facial expressions and the story she told was priceless.

What was learned through independent searching for more information about the beaten up/seemingly on the road to revitalization strip is that the bakery, Crumbs will be filling in the vacant space at 215, the former site of McDonalds. The construction site at 261 will house a Red Lobster and one block east on Lenox Avenue, Whole Foods will be up by 2015. Also, 243 is on the market for $24.5 million and the listing states it will be delivered vacant. This is the same building that houses Orva, GameStop and Portabella.

So, even with Mayor Bloomberg’s rezoning of the area in 2008 to allow for higher buildings and high priced condos going up all around, West 125th is still struggling to find its place.

Fort Hamilton Parkway runs from Bay Ridge to Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Running through several communities, the Parkway alternates between a few vibrant stores and altogether abandoned blocks. Culturally speaking, the Borough Park region of Ft Hamilton is known to have a strong Hasidic community presence. “There’s been a huge Asian influx into this neighborhood… over the past five years…” notes Phil Penta, part-owner of 3 Guys from Brooklyn, a green grocer located on Ft Hamilton at 65th.

The diverse population makes Borough Park an interesting business area on which to focus. Penta explained that since the Asians began moving into the area, many old shops have closed and they have taken over the spaces for their own. He expressed this influx has made it difficult for him to maintain business. “They’re good customers, but they also tend to stay at their own markets… So it’s been bad, to say the least.”

Focusing on the Parkway stores between 58th and 60th streets, Penta’s cry proves true in that Asians own every one of the 14 shops in 2 blocks. Toys & Gift is a toy store offering all of the toys you’d find in FAO Schwarz, however owners won’t find the giant revenue pool here on Ft Hamilton. Toys & Gift replaced a bar and has been in business for a little over 1 year. “Business is pretty good sometimes, others it is ok,” the clerk explains. By strict observation however, it’s quite rare to see a full shop at any time of the week. While pinwheels and train sets chug in the window front, business on this strip is not at all flourishing.

Next door at the Laundromat, the woman greets in perfect English, “Hello! How are you today?” As soon as the visit becomes a matter of journalistic inquiries, her language barrier kicks into gear as she explains in perfect English, “Sorry, I don’t speak English, I don’t understand what you’re saying.” This doesn’t seem like a strategic way to treat a local customer and reporter. It’s safe to assume shop owners on this strip already have their loyal customers, and perhaps they expect nothing more.

At Lucky Star Grocery, a young Asian clerk laughs at the question with a blunt, “business sucks.” Evidently, as there was not one customer shopping. D&D Nail Supply at the end of the block is great for a bottle of polish ½ cost of retail, however it is a wholesale store for nail salons. The clerk explains most of their customer base is nail salons.

There are 3 discount variety shops between 59th and 60th street, all essentially selling a slue of well, extremely random goods, most of which are the same as their competitors. With a wavering consumer base to begin with, it’s a wonder 3 store owners make any significant source of profits.

The only bar on the strip, KINGS is mysterious to say the least. While it’s open until all hours of the night throughout the week, the view of its bland white façade is never obstructed by a line of customers. Even when peeking inside, the crew seems to be a small number of regulars, never crowded. KINGS seems like an insider-only place, in which case, their revenues are questionable.

Tengu, the 2nd restaurant on the block has excellent food, however the space itself is usually never at full seating capacity, perhaps this is due to their 34 violation points as of July 2012. The 1st restaurant, Spicy Pot, has a far lesser violation rating of 13 as of January 2012 with only one of the four critical violations Tengu received.

Overall, Ft Hamilton between 58th and 60th is pretty dead in the ways of business, all with a small market and an even smaller variety of goods. In Manhattan, a nail salon can be found next to a department store, which is next to a candy store, sitting atop of a real estate office. In Borough Park, a shopper is lucky to find anything they might be looking for. Though it is a Parkway, it is very much a neighborhood, and employees should understand that introducing themselves to establish relationships with their customers would serve their otherwise slow marginal businesses well.

Click here for a census report.

By: LaToya Bowlah

Positioned between John F. Kennedy Airport and Manhattan, the Jamaica District stop on the E-train is overlooked by tourists traveling from the airport to the Big Apple. With a growing business district saturated with both large chain stores and niche stores, Jamaica is increasingly worth the detour.

“Many tourists from the Caribbean, shop on the Ave (Ave is common slang for Jamaica Avenue,)” said a Jamaica local, Tiffany Williams. She explained that the stores, most being small businesses, offer bargain deals and unique items that you could not find anywhere else. Although Jamaica is saturated with tourists from the Caribbean, “it’s worth a stop off the E-train for all tourists,” she said.

Williams explained that by stopping on Jamaica Avenue tourists would get a taste of one of the many subcultures within New York. “The Ave also has the regular franchises too,” she said

Since 2000, the presence of franchises in Jamaica has been steadily increasing, making the local shopping district, more appealing to visitors. Particularly dense with commercial enterprises is 160th street on Archer Avenue to Parsons Boulevard, where commuters exit off the E-train.

Adjacent to each other with little loitering room in between is, Carver Bank, Golden Krust, Subway, Dunkin Donuts and Popeye’s Fried Chicken.

Carver Bank is a non-profit banking corporation and Rose Charles manages the branch located on 160th street. While the bank has been in business for 60 years, Charles explained that the Jamaica branch, has been open for five to six years, and is performing well.

Alex Rojani, has owned the Zagat rated, Dunkin Donuts Franchise, on the same block since it first opened in 2010. It shares a compound with the Subway franchise, which has been opened, an owned by Louis Keen for seven years. According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, on July 12, the franchises received a shared grade “A” on their inspection and incurred one sanitary violation of, “food contact not being properly maintained.”

Moving in the direction of Parsons Boulevard, next to the Dunkin Donut and Subway compound is Popeye’s Fried Chicken. Noted for Louisiana-style fired chicken, this Popeye’s Fried Chicken is managed my Phillip Ye who has been the manager for one year now. According to the inspections conducted by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, this franchise received a grade of “A” and also incurred one sanitary violation. A hand washer was not provided near the food preparation area and toilet room. Under the sanitation stature, hot and cold water as well as soap and a hand-dryer are necessary to enable, “cleanliness of employees.”

The last store between 160th street and Parsons Boulevard is Golden Krust, a Caribbean Bakery and Grill. The same owner has owned this franchise, since its origin in the Jamaica district. Currently owned by Seabright Ventures, LLC, this Golden Krust has been serving their signature patties to customers since 2001.

These chain stores in Jamaica are a recent development but compliment the shopping district as a whole. Based on the data collected from the businesses located between 160th street to Parsons Boulevard, the current storeowners are also the original storeowners of the stores since its origin in the neighborhood. This shows an overall positive outlook for such businesses in Jamaica. The stability of these businesses is a predictor of longevity and continued growth in the community for years to come.

Church Avenue in Brooklyn is a popular main street shopping line for local residents of the surrounding neighborhoods of Flatbush/Ditmas Park, East Flatbush and Prospect Park South. The shopping avenue which spans from 36^th  street to about E. 98^th street is particularly a big hit with the West Indian and African population of the  surrounding areas since many of the businesses are of Caribbean and African ancestry and provide respective products including groceries, restaurant and beauty services. In fact, if you take a stroll along Church Avenue you can hear the friendly shouts and conversations, in various caribbean dialects, from shoppers as they bustle along with bags filled with products.

To see a census of the stores click Census_of_Stores

This main shopping avenue has been the home to many shops for over decades. One can find shoe stores, men and ladies clothing, discount stores, Korean and Latin grocery stores and delicatessens (deli’s) just to name a few.

Bobby’s Department Store, a discount retailer, has been on Church Avenue for over 30 years

Lately there have been changes to some stores. On Church Avenue between E. 16^th and E. 18^th streets there have been newly opened stores within the past three weeks, and renovations while other vendors face challenges. Thankfully, this section of the avenue, like most other sections, was not affected by Hurricane Sandy.

On this one-block stretch there are about 20 businesses. These include 99 cent City variety store, Dunkin Donuts, H&R Block, Cohen’s Fashion Optical which opened two weeks ago and Bobby’s Department Store which has been at its 1601 and 1628 church avenue locations for 36 years. The Department store has two stores across from each other and people flock from all over Brooklyn to shop at Bobby’s, a discount retailer of a variety of products ranging from detergent, to electronics to home wares and baby clothing.

In the past year, Bobby’s has renovated and expanded its store at 1628 church ave. to house more products and make the shopping experience easier since the store is always crowded. This is a good sign. It suggests that commerce in the area is steady if not rising.  Most of these stores have remained present on this block for 7, 10 and 20 years and new stores are moving in. But while some stores are seeing progress others are facing challenges.

Barry, owner of Barry Accessories which sells African DVDs and CDs says things aren’t easy. Barry has been at his location for 7 years. Recently his business got a face-lift  Barry Accessories shares a part of Cohen’s Fashion Optical’s lot along with S&A Perfumes and Watches.

The newly opened Cohen’s Fashion Optical on Church Avenue and E.18th street.

When Cohen’s took over the lot, they redesigned the building canopy and Barry benefited from the new, sleek, gray and white canopy. However, he said that the downside is that the canopy isn’t as long over the sidewalk as it used to be so now it doesn’t cover his products and protect them from rain when he lays them out on the sidewalk and he has no money to fix it. When asked if he thinks things are going to get better for him he replies with a saddened shake of his head, and says he doesn’t know. With African movies now streaming online it is impossible to tell if Barry Accessories will see a brighter day.

Other businesses however are doing well and the area seems to be doing well. New stores have opened, some stores are renovating while delis have extended open grill hours to cater to demand. The area seems to be prospering and those stores that are facing challenges, such as John’s Stores. which is a combination of two stores, ( like Bobby’s) and has been on the block for a number of years is re-strategizing, downsizing and focusing on only a select few products. John’s Stores used to be a convenience store and always has a line for the New York Lottery, but now, the store is focusing on its lottery sales and has done away with shelf products and packaged goods. The aisles and shelves have been stripped and there is empty, constructive space in the store. ( a representative for John’s Stores was not available for comments).

As the holidays lure around the corner, shoppers continue to flock to Church Avenue, to Bobby’s Department store and also to 99 cent City to purchase home items to decorate for the season.

Click below to view photos of the local shops

http://portal.sliderocket.com/CTPNP/ChurchAve-Stores

Home of the Mets, Flushing has New York’s multi-ethnic Chinatown, and is characterized by self-sufficiency, entrepreneurship, and thriving culture. Flushing or Queen’s Chinatown as many call it, is vibrant, always busy, and is the largest Chinatown in New York City. With many bubble tea places, Asian restaurants, Chinese bakeries, and shopping for stationary, books, and music, Main Street/ Roosevelt Avenue are always busy. A very diverse area, Flushing supports many different types of communities, and has many hidden gems. With a much more suburban feel than Manhattan’s Chinatown, Flushing
With immense density, each block has an average of 20-30 business, comprised of shops, stalls, and business such as spas and jewelry stores located on several floors, entrepreneurship thrives among immigrants. The neighborhood’s diversity is everywhere—with shops, churches, bodegas, and different types of ethic stores and restaurants. A particularly thriving Chinese community, McDonald’s and Burger King also have Chinese signs alongside the logos.
For foodies, Flushing is a great place with much authentic Chinese, Korean, and Indian cuisine to choose from. With several Pho places, Korean BBQ, Dim Sum, and Asian super markets, the common hole in the wall joints tend to be the most popular. Bubble tea, which is a sweet and milky tea, served hot or cold, often with tapioca balls or other toppings is a popular treat in Flushing. On Main Street, almost every other shop is a Bubble tea place, and it’s very common to see people walking around with bubble tea in their hands, or bubble tea on the train. There are also many very small Chinese bakeries, which have many cheap and quick eats.
Appealing to a large demographic of people, Flushing also has a very large Macy’s right on Main Street, which is regularly open until 10PM, and is always busy. The Flushing Mall on Main Street has ice cream shops, book stores, discount stores, and jewelry stories, phone accessory stores, restaurants, household goods, Chinese imports, and much more. Interestingly, almost each block in this neighborhood has 2-3 stationary stores, which seem to always be busy with people of all ages- from children to adults.
Although the neighborhood is not as “hip” as Williamsburg, Brooklyn, or Astoria, Queens, it is extremely successful, and branded by liveliness and culture. Flushing can be considered an exemplary model for entrepreneurship and small business ownership for immigrants in New York City. A truly great place, Flushing has a quintessential narrative for potential.

Presentation of photos: http://portal.sliderocket.com/CTSEN/2E87E9EF-E9B3-47F0-8BA1-5D594D9AB739
Spreadsheet (also attached): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AoPHKWzmABxydEowV093Z2RHZW5pQW5yeW9qSERLbGc#gid=0