Mom & Pops of Brooklyn

On the edge of Sunset Park in Brooklyn, there is a small Chinese bakery called Lung Sing that is owned by a Chinese immigrant family. The Yeungs opened up their bakery in 2006 in hopes to achieve the American dream of running a successful business. Business owners Mr. and Mrs. Yeung have asked that their full names be left out of the article. A special thanks to Ka Ho Yeung for translating.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Ricky Kuang has always been interested in technology. He wasn’t only interested in the new games that people were playing with on their gameboys but technology like computers and security cameras. Young Kuang decided that one day he would open up a technology store.

His dream came true in early 2013 when he opened up Element Box in Brooklyn to provide computer services to the New York and surrounding areas. They also have a second store in the heart of Chinatown Manhattan.
“I’ve always had a passion for technology and I wanted to help people with their computer problems.” Said Kuang.

A simple general computer repair cost roughly $65 depending on the problem of your computer. Element Box strives to provide service to their customers in the neighborhood. Their goal is to provide in-depth professional services for their customers, which is something that Kuang believes big corporations lack.
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Social media is a way that people can communicate, share information and create content for others online. I intend to use social media to promote my blog by using popular words as my blog titles. My blog post will show up on google searches which will allow for traffic to flow through my blog. I plan to also ask the small businesses that I have written a post about to put my blog link on their website. This will put my blog out there so that more people will know about it.

I want to reach many individuals, companies, organizations and societies that will be able to help me promote my blog. Some of them are:
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– Small business commissioner Torres-Springer provides superstorm Sandy victims on Coney Island with grants as part of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. (Brooklyn Eagle)

– Outrageous rent at Court street is causing businesses to move elsewhere. (Brooklyn Eagle)

– Federally funded Hurricane Sandy loans program approve 30 businesses for grants. (NY Daily News)

– Growing chocolate businesses growing in Brooklyn. (Crain’s New York Business)

– Pizzeria Patrizia’s plans to open at Kips Bay where two other brooklyn pizzerias have failed before. (Crain’s New York Business)

             
The store opened in November of 2011 owned by Chau’s friends. Chau and Kuang bought the store and became owners in July of 2014. They plan on changing the name of the store to Chau Down Café. The name change will allow them to create a new image for themselves in the neighborhood as they try to build a reputation with the customers. The café is located in a prime location of DeKalb Avenue and Hudson Avenue. The café is only four blocks away from superintendent school Brooklyn Tech and literally across the street from private college Long Island University.

“The area is good. The traffic is really good.” said Chau, “it’s mainly high school kids that are attracted to bubble tea and there isn’t any other bubble tea place around here.”

Childhood friends Philip Chau and William Kuang grew up together in Brooklyn New York. They always dreamt of owning a business together. After studying business management and finance in Brooklyn College, Chau took a generous loan from his aunt and teamed up with Kuang to buy a business known today as Celebritea Café.
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Located in Bay Ridge Brooklyn is a small Mexican food restaurant that pops out with its teal exterior walls and bright blue frames. There is a main door used for entrance and exit but also a larger door that owners Luis and Veronica Felipe open in the summer time to allow the crisp air to roam through the restaurant. Inside the restaurant are more bright colors. The left wall is painted a bright blue but the right wall is painted an outstanding orange. Small novelty items such as sombreros and dolls fill the store as it provides the Mexican culture that surrounds the store. When Veronica is cooking, the savory smell of the meat grilling completely takes over the restaurant and teases my nose as if I wasn’t already hungry enough.

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I had just bought my first real bike from Target. I paid for it with my own hard earned money that I saved up all summer working for my dad’s contracting business; sweeping dusty floors and painting stuffy, windowless rooms. It was a Schwinn Men’s Trail way 28” Hybrid bike that cost me roughly $250. Not even a day of riding the bike and there was something wrong with it. I had noticed that one of the tubes of my back tires was popping out. I looked for the closest bike shop around my house and then it hit me.

I had always passed Farrara’s Cycle Shop on my way to the N train station on 20^th avenue without even taking a second glance. However, living in this neighborhood for about 10 years allowed me to remember this small vintage bike shop across the street from the train station. I pushed my bike over to Farrara’s Cycle Shop where I was greeted friendly by owner Bob Farrara. I entered a small store with numerous amounts of different bike parts laying around. I explained my problem and showed him the bike.

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As I walked into the small Norwegian store in one of the oldest neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Bay Ridge, I could smell this distinct sweet aroma in the air. Store owners Helene Bakke and her daughter Arlene Rutuelo of Nordic Delicacies frequently use the spice cardamom in their baked goods. Their Kransekaker which is a traditional almond cake decorated with candies and Norwegian style waffles, which are to die for; are just a few of the numerous baked good available at this store. Nordic Delicacies also sells their “finger-licking”, famous lamb ribs and their “don’t knock it till you try it” fish pudding made with fresh cod.

As I noticed the decor in the store, my eyes were ready to pop out of my head. Scandinavian decorations in conjunction with their culture filled the store. The vibrant colors of red and blue flew freely amongst the store. Directly through the front door, customers can expect to be drawn to the food display case filled with all types prepared foods. Next to the display case is another display case but with small gifts and items. Nordic Delicacies sells authentic Norwegian cook books, assorted Norwegian style napkins, and even an electric iron to make your own delicious cookies. This store is located on 3^rd avenue between Bay Ridge Avenue and Ovington Avenue. Simply hop on the next R train and get off at Bay Ridge Avenue. The store is only a block away from the train station.

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Mom & Pops of Brooklyn is a blog site created to bring readers information about small businesses in one of the greatest cities in America. In a world where big corporations rule the business industry, numerous mom and pop shops around Brooklyn strive to survive and stay in business. This blog will provide small business owners with the opportunity to share their success stories. Small business owners will be able to share their rich history with readers. Articles will be filled with details on the shop and of the business. They will also include quotes from conducted interviews. This blog will provide small business owners with a voice.