Beyond the Storefronts: Creatives on Grand Street

Behind Grand Street’s vibrant storefronts, many individuals and groups run their own creative businesses. Without a typical storefront, these Grand Street businesses go unnoticed by foot traffic along the street. We want to take this opportunity to highlight a few artists who live and work on Grand Street.

Amberink

Amber Nicole

Amber Nicole is the founder of Amber Ink Creative Studio, a small photography business located on the upper floors of the behemoth of a building that is 750 Grand Street. Amber also works alongside the head photographer of the space, Timothy Ireland of Ireland Studios, while producing her own creative endeavors.

A long-time New Yorker, and seasoned photographer, Amber is eager to draw clients from the surrounding Williamsburg neighborhood. Her passions lie in set building and building creative environments and experiences for her clients. More recently, she has started to experiment with mobile sets that she has brought as a pop-up to McCarren Park and Central Park. Amber’s unique approach to the photographic experience goes far beyond typical head shots or posed fashion sets. With a wide range of clients who span distances geographically, the new goal is to attract more local people, and create beautiful images and experiences for fellow Brooklynites.

Check out Amber’s work here, and follow her on instagram @_amberink_.

Owley

Owley is a group of local filmmakers and documentarians based on Grand Street, who have collaborated with the BID on multiple projects. Their most recent video with the BID was award winning, “Alor a Azucenas el Perfume del Bario”, documenting the creation of our most prominent mural, bringing a little piece of Puerto Rican culture to Grand Street. Other projects include Chris Jehly X 98 Bushwick: “Internal View”(2019) and Grand Street - All Flavors of Life (2019). These videos are respectively about artist Chris Jehly’s mural work and an overview of businesses and culture on Grand Street. This past winter, Owley created a beautiful montage of the big New York City snowstorm on Grand Street and in the East Williamsburg neighborhood. You can check it out here.

Owley’s community-oriented work brings a beautiful expression of life on Grand Street as well as individuals and communities beyond. We’re so excited to see their future productions! Be sure to follow them on instagram at @ow.ley to see their extensive body of work.

Francesca Romana Caputo

Francesca is a resident of Grand Street, and also one of our Board Members! An Italian native, Francesca moved to the US and is an interior architect specializing in restaurant design, retail and commercial projects. She has been helping the hospitality and lifestyle industry dream big since 2004, with designs that seamlessly weave together a client’s vision, the genius loci (spirit of the place), and the brand’s culture into something entirely new.

Interior design of Black City Cafe in Baku, Azerbaijan. Sourced from francescaromanaraputo.com

She has been living in Brooklyn for over 9 years and working in Hospitality Design for over 15 years. As a creative, her projects span internationally, and her thoughtful design allows her clients visions to go above and beyond. Be sure to check out her design work on her website! On the side, she also creates beautiful custom cards that she markets on the Instagram account, @nanicards.

As a member of the Grand Street community, Francesca is just as thoughtful and involved. She is always communicating with us about ways that we can achieve our mission and make our neighborhood the best that it can be.

Timothy Ireland

Sourced from Irelandstudios.com

Another creative in 750 Grand Street, Timothy Ireland is the founder and CEO or Ireland Studios a creative agency specializing in content strategy and creation through photography and video. His stunning product and commercial photography is featured in a variety of magazines, websites, and other media platforms. With major clients such as TRESEMME, Clinique, Samsung, Mercedes his knack for brand recognition and creative marketing is apparent.

Timothy also runs Kid Focus Photography, a children and family focused photography studio. Check out Timothy’s work here, and follow him on instagram at

Wade and Leta

Wade Jefree and Leta Sobierajski are a dynamic duo of artists residing on Grand Street. As a pair, they create bright and eclectic artwork and provide creative services for an impressive list of clients. Known for their abstract, colorful installations, branding schemes, and photography, their “quirky” designs spread life and creativity throughout their art direction.

Wade is a designer and art director is from Australia; and Leta, a graphic designer from Upstate New York. Together, the couple spans mediums to collaboratively create their art, and have fun while doing it! Their diverse portfolio of projects and services spans from major branding campaigns, to a series of self portraits or installations such as their contribution to the Seaport District Sea Sculptures at the South Street Seaport. Additionally, they’ve spoken and presented their work at a variety conferences around the world and continue to spread life and color through their work every day.

Be sure to check out their amazing work on their website and follow them on instagram @wadeandleta @wadejeffree @letasobierajski

Wade and Leta with their Seaport District Sea Sculptures Installation. Sourced from wadeandleta.com

Strutting Mutts Opens at 624 Grand Street

Owner, Paul Minigiello

The storefront at 624 Grand Street has been pet and dog oriented for quite some time. So, when the space recently opened up for rental, long time dog care professional Paul Minigiello felt it was a “no brainer” and jumped on renting the space for Strutting Mutts. A local resident, Paul and his partner co-run he business, and have been walking and boarding dogs for the North Brooklyn Community for over seven years. He’s excited to now take his business to the next level with a dedicated commercial space.

Walking down Grand, one can’t hep but notice Strutting Mutts’ new bright blue and pink facade. Behind the cheery exterior, the dog care facility offers daycare and boarding, with plans to expand their walking services. At some point they hope to add a groomer to their team as well!

We are excited to welcome the Strutting Mutts family to Grand Street! Be sure to stop by for all your dog care needs, we’re confident your pets will be in good hands.

Grand Street Cleanup Day!

It’s time for some Spring cleaning on Grand Street! Join us on Saturday May 15th from 11AM-1PM for the Grand Street Cleanup Day and E-Waste Recycling Event. We will be meeting at the corner of Manhattan Avenue and Grand Street, with coffee and a free T-shirt for the first 30 volunteers to arrive!

Our plan is to start at opposite ends of the district, Bushwick Ave and Union Ave, and have each group clean towards each other until they meet in the middle. Some of the target areas we’re working on are trash pickup, tree pit trash removal, cleaning our tree guards and any other tasks that may come up. All cleanup supplies will be provided.

For E-Waste recycling, please stop by between 11AM-1PM to drop off any small and medium size electronic waste items. If you are planning to dispose of large electronic equipment please email us at info@grandstreetbk.org to arrange a time to drop it off at our office.

Come out, volunteer, clean, green, and get to know you’re neighbors! We’re so excited to see you all out there, and to get things on Grand in tip-top shape.

Adopt-A-Tree Returns to Grand Street!

Two of last year’s awesome volunteers!

After last year’s success of Adopt-A-Tree on Grand Street, we are excited to announce the return of our awesome volunteer-based, tree stewardship program. This year, we are back and better than ever with some upgrades to the program. With many neighbors expressing interest in adopting a tree, we are adding some new workshops, and guidelines to help us expand our volunteer programming and network.

In addition to weekly waterings, participants will be asked to attend three brief workshops hosted by the BID, in May, July, and October. At each workshop you will learn about the pits, be given tips on what you can do to best care for them, and receive materials and goodies to help you along the way.

Please fill out this form to participate. We are so excited to welcome all of our new participants and to reconnect with our previous volunteers! Pit assignment will be first come first serve, and we will be giving priority of tree pit locations to our returning volunteers.

There are over 85 tree pits in our district (on just 6 blocks!)—and the process of planting perennials has been years in the making. It started three years ago and with received funding from Borough President Eric Adams Council Member Antonio Reynoso, the BID has been able to place tree guards in our previously unprotected tree pits. With each new tree guard installed, the BID is able to team with The Horticultural Society of New York to plant perennials native to Brooklyn.

Our collection of Brooklyn-native perennials includes “Purple Tears” switchgrass and “Wood’s Blue” asters. These choices were intentional to bring Brooklyn wildflowers back to our streetscape, but even as native flowers it can be difficult to survive the city summer. Sidewalk heat, pollution, litter, and our beloved neighborhood dogs misusing the pits can inhibit growth and require plantings to be tended with extra care.

Our trees do tremendous work in combating some of the above factors—the trees within the Grand Street BID district alone save the City over $5000 a year draining water, removing smog, and conserving energy. Pin Oaks, Japanese Zelkovas, Kentucky Coffeetrees, and Swamp White Oaks all find a home on Grand Street—and many of our trees are young and newly planted. Similar to our perennials, it can be difficult for a young tree to make it on a city commercial corridor.

Adopt-A-Tree Today! Help us steward our awesome trees, meet our neighbors, and beautify our community. We look forward to the coming months with you all!

Taste of Jerusalem Opens at 812 Grand Street

Grand Street BID welcomes it’s newest restaurant, Taste of Jerusalem to 812 Grand Street! Owner, Monir Naji is an East Jerusalem native, bringing years of experience in the cuisine and restaurant industry of his city to all of us in Brooklyn. Monir previously worked in construction, and transitioned back to the food industry when the opportunity to open his own restaurant arose. The space at 812 Grand has been in limbo for a few years, and the ultimate decision to close allowed Monir to snag this awesome storefront. His passion for food led him through his career transition, and is seen in the fresh and flavorful dishes he serves.

The space may be small but is packed with warmth and the smell of fresh Israeli cuisine. An open counter setup provides a welcoming atmosphere and allows customers to choose toppings and chat as they select their dishes. Not to mention the fresh shawarma and rotisserie chickens rotating on a spit in the background, and the extra large, freshly fried homemade falafel. Monir takes pride in the freshness of his food, which is all Hallal! In addition to platters and sandwiches, there is an assortment of fresh baked goods including baklava, spinach and cheese pies, mamoul, and rice pudding.

If you get the chance, be sure to stop by Taste of Jerusalem and try some of Monir’s incredible food, we’re pretty sure you’ll get hooked!

Small Business Wonder Women

March is Women’s History Month! Nearly 30 business improvement districts (BIDs), neighborhood associations and merchants’ groups from New York City’s five boroughs are coming together this month to honor Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. The focus is women-owned small businesses in the city, which have been particularly hard hit during the pandemic.

The Grand Street BID is excited to participate in this celebration of women owned and led businesses. Throughout the month we will be featuring these amazing women on our Instagram using #smallbusinesswonderwomen. Each post will highlight the women and their teams, and give some background story and a quote about their experiences as business owners and leaders. Keep an eye out on our social to learn more about these strong leaders within our community.

This collage is only a handful of the women led businesses on Grand Street, but we are always in awe of them and their impact on our community!

From left to right: Yummie O, Founder and CEO of Yummy Extensions; Angela, Owner of Mint Brow and Beauty; Francesca Romana Caputo, BID board member and interior architect and designer; Catherine Como, owner of Hair by Catherine; Tiffany and Rebecca, partners and owners of Crystal Lake; Master Olga, United Xtreme Taekwondo; Kelly, co-owner of Ammazzacaffe; Aura, owner of Empire Locksmith; Erin Barr, Owner of Hour Rose Salon; Sarit Rueda, owner of Alcatraz Flower Shop

Alita Cafe Opens at 797 Grand Street

Grand Street’s newest coffee shop is now open! We’re excited to welcome Alita Cafe, which may be be small in size, but has no shortage of good coffee, good food, and good friends. Partners, Alejandro Ceballos and Paolo Maliksi are native New Yorkers who met in music school. Many years later the two friends have transitioned from music to coffee. Paolo owns Regalia, a small roasting company in long Island City, and wanted to find a space to serve his own coffee, along with baked goods and sandwiches. Hence, Alita was born.

Homemade Biscuits!

The partners are excited to start serving the community, aiming to satisfy the idea that “people are always seeking comfort.” Reflected in the cozy interior, homemade menu, and even the name, which is short for Abuelita (Grandmother in Spanish), the Cafe achieves the perfect atmosphere for those seeking warmth. Especially in lieu of this challenging year.

Storefront locations on Grand Street stood out to Alejandro and Paolo as they saw other coffee shops on the corridor attracting a lot of business, and creating a sense of community. The space’s previous tenant, Lula Bean, was included in that observation. Return of another Cafe in Lula Bean’s place is filling a void felt by locals after their closure.

Alita’s in-house menu is filled with sweet and savory, pastries, cakes, and their famous biscuits! As the Cafe continues to get up and running they will be adding more items to the menu, including focaccia sandwiches. Stop by to try some of these delicious treats and local brewed coffee. A warm welcome and good neighbors will be waiting to greet you.

How-To Valentine's Day on Grand Street

February is here, and we’re hoping to help you make this gray month a little brighter! With Valentine’s day right around the corner, the guide below lists specials, deals, and the best spots to shop! There are an abundance of ways to spread love this Winter season, whether you are doing something special with a significant other or partner, spending time with friends and family, or most importantly showing love for yourself! Check out “How-to” Valentines Day on Grand Street for all the inside tips.

For some quick Ideas for outdoor dining and gifts make sure to reference our Outdoor Dining Guide and Guide to Gifting on Grand Street!

Check out our #SmallBusinessSweetie campaign to learn how you might be able to treat yourself for free on Grand Street!

Specials and Deals

We will be updating this section throughout the month! Keep your eyes peeled for any Valentine's Day specials, promotions or deals at our local shops!

Primp and Polish Book an appointment

BK Jani Click here to reserve!

Crystal Lake Email crystallakebk@gmail.com to reserve a seat!

A festive window display at Alcatraz Flower Shop

Flowers

Flowers are a Valentine's day staple. Start off the month by gifting someone you love with a floral surprise. Or make some room on your coffee table, and treat yourself to a gorgeous bouquet to brighten your space.

Alcatraz Flower Shop Grand Street's newest flower shop may be small, but is overfowing with beautiful flowers and plants. Whether you want to purchase a single flower, a bouquet, or inquire about their amazing custom arangements, owner and florist Serit can do it all! Check out some of their flowers here.

Flores De Valle Choose from an extensive selection of flowers, and coloful, decorative arrangements at this long standing flower shop.

Wine, Dine, and Desert

Nothing says love like food. Grand Street has it all, from delicious dishes to bottles of bubbly, and sweet treats! Dine out or treat yourself or someone you love to a night in. Below are just a few of Grand Street's restaurants and desert spots that can spark some ideas to find the perfect Valentine's day vibe for you.

Wine

Check out Blue Angel Wine and Spirits or Fongs Liquors for a bottle of wine, bubbly, or cocktail ingredients for a festive evening in.

Philomena's Did you say date night? Philomena's warm atmosphere is a great space to spend an intimate evening. Try one of their many creative cocktails or stop in on Wine Wednesday and share a bite to eat.

The Clonard This cheerful spot is Grand Street's newest pub. With ample table space and a cozy bar in the back its a great spot to spend time with friends or someone special.

Dine

Ammazzacaffe Grand Street's Michelin rated Italian Restaurant is the perfect place to have a romantic evening. Dine in their heated backyard or get it to-go! You can even purchase whole bottles of wine with your takeout order. Go to their website to make reservations, order, or purchase a meal kit!

Dar 525 This Mediterranean staple has heated outdoor dining as well as takeout. Share a declicious platter with someone you love or order for yourself! They also have happy hour from 5-7 on weekdays, with wine specials galore. Order and look at their menu here.

Koko's One of Grand Street's newest restaurants is the perfect spot to share some bites over a unique cocktail. Happy hour is 4-7 daily, and they even have weekend brunch! Enjoy their carefully curated ambiance this season. Head to their website to see the menu.

Thip Osha Also takeout only, Thip Osha's elevated Thai dishes make for an excellent date night or solo feast. Click here to order!

Desert

Yummy Tummy's Kitchen This tiny bakery is serving up beautiful holiday treats like heart shaped brownies, chocolate covered strawberries, cake pops and more! Get something sweet for your sweetie or for anyone you love. These delicious deserts will say it all.

Sweets for a sweetie at Grand Morelos!

Grand Morelos This diner and bakery is serving up delicious sweets, pastries and more! Check out their full case of baked goods right as you walk in the door. Stop by today or order online.

Porto Rico Porto Rico's best kept secret is their deserts, located right on the front counter. Stop in for some chocolate covered fruits, candies, and baked treats!

Nail design from Spa Ella II

Grooming and Self Care

Hour Rose Salon Make an appoinntment at Hour Rose Salon for a trim, color, or completely new look!

Hair By Catherine Catherine can help you get glam and feeling good with a cut and color. Book an appointment with her to fix up that quarantine hair.

Yummy Extensions Treat yourself to Yummy Extensions famed hair styles, inlcluding some of the highest quality, wigs, extensions and more!

Stop by Groomers and Pomade or Beard Barberia for a fresh cut, touch up and shave! Have yourself looking and feeling great during this dreary month.

Primp and Polish Nothing makes you feel fresh, clean, and beaitiful like a mani-pedi. Make an appointment with Primp and Polish for a mini spa day, or purchase some of their nail care products!

Spa Ella II Spa Ella II specialized in custom tips and nail design. You'll be looking and feeling glam in no time!

NYC BIDs Partner to Spread Love

Forty Neighborhood Associations Band Together To SHOW THE LOVE To Small Businesses for Valentine’s Day!

Grand Street BID is participating in this citywide campaign: Sweethearts Shop Local…Be a #SmallBusinessSweetie. In what may be a first, more than forty neighborhood organizations representing New York City’s five boroughs have joined forces to deliver messages of love and support to small businesses throughout the city, all in time for Valentine’s Day. Each of the participating neighborhood associations will customize its Valentine’s Day Sweethearts Shop Local program throughout February, to its own neighborhood, with the common messages:

♥ Shop local

♥ Order direct

♥ Write a positive review

♥ Shout out on social media

♥ Buy a gift card

♥ Send a love letter

To celebrate Sweethearts Shop Local, take a look at tips for being A Small Business Sweetie and check out our How-to Valentine’s Day on Grand Street. Also, Grand Street BID will be hosting two different programs to spread love on the corridor!

Love Your Local Purchasing Pop Ups will be happening on the last three Wednesdays of February! 2/10, 2/17, and 2/24. As a part of our organization's unique programming, we are planning to stop by many of our shops on Wednesdays between the hours of 2-4pm and will pay for customers’ purchases! Whether that is buying someone a sandwich or drink, paying for a load of laundry, or a manicure. We're hoping to spread some love and help our neighbors support our businesses. Be sure to come out and shop on those days to potentially receive a purchase!

To compliment our purchasing spree, we will be hosting valentine making at two of our local bars! We will be embracing the elementary school version of Valentine’s Day, where anyone or anything can be your valentine! Stop by to write a card to a local business, your best friend, or even your pet!

Wednesday, February 10th we will be in the heated backyard at Blinky’s! Join us for a horror themed Valentine’s celebration with a movie on the big screen, special drinks, and lots of craft paper and stickers!

Wednesday February 17th we will be in the backyard at the Bushwick Country Club, celebrating a belated Valentine’s Day and continuing to spread love for the month of February with candy and cards.

Be a Small Business Sweetie

In the spirit of the month of love, we want to show our small businesses that we care. With reduced business because of the pandemic, constantly changing regulations, and cold weather, it’s more important than ever to give support to local shops and to each other. As a part of the city-wide “Small Business Sweetie” campaign, below are a few simple ways to love your local, and be a #SmallBusinessSweetie. Additionally, look at our How-To Valentine’s Day on Grand Street guide to make your holiday extra special. Let’s continue to spread love to our businesses and community!

Customer review for Chongkho Thai restaurant on Grand Street

Write a positive review Reviews are the gateways into a small business. They are usually the first things people check out when making a choice about where to eat, drink, purchase necessities, and recieve services. If you have a favorite business or have a good experience somehwhere, make sure to leave a positive review! It will help to bring in more customers and is an easy and free way to show that you care.

Spread the word! Let your friends and family know about the businesses you love most! Recommendations are one of the best ways to encourage others to patron new places.

Tagged post of Taco Edition, showing some love for their food.

Call direct for delivery Delivery services and apps often take a cut of the profit and charge extra fees for businesses to deliver. Try calling the restaurant directly when placing a takeout or pickup order, to ensure they are recieving 100% of your purchase. Of course there are expections, so you can also check in before you order to make sure that calling direct is an option.

Give a shoutout on social media In a primarly remote world, social media has become an integral way to communicate with, and market small businesses. Make sure to tag small businesses in your posts, pin their location, and use their hashtags to spread the word through social media. Go out of your way to create a post or story if you have a good experience!

Sign up for newsletters If a business you like has a newsletter or email list, be sure to sign up! This way you will be updated on any speacials, deals, or events they may be promoting. It's a great way to help local shops expand their network.

Buy a giftcard Purchase a giftcard to spread love to your community! This will help support businesses and will also make someone you love happy. Check out our Guide to Gifting on Grand Street for a full list of gifting ideas and links.

Keep shopping local Keep resisting the urge to shop online with coporate retailers and servicers! Check out the businesses in your neighborhood for all your needs. Many now have e-commerce options if you do not have the time or ability to go in person.

Takeout Tuesdays! Brookyn Donates has been promoting "Takeout Tuesday", which encourages those who are able, to order out every Tuesday (or one day each week!) Check out their featured restaurants as well as our business directory to try new places and support restaurants!

A couple Grand Street residents sharing info about local businesses!

A Guide to Gifting on Grand Street

Happy Holidays! Below is a guide to the businesses on Grand Street that offer gift cards, memberships or subscriptions available for purchase. Give the perfect gift this year by shopping small on Grand Street! Even after the holidays are over, you can use these offers to gift for any occasion.

Additionally, if you’re not able to make it to Grand Street in person check out our businesses with e-commerce! Click here for a full list and links to the online shops.

Eating and Drinking

Duck filled ravioli at Ammazzacaffe

Ammazzacaffe Treat someone you love to an amazing Italian meal! Call or purchase in-store.

BK Jani Purchase a BK Jani giftcard online today Who wouldn't want a savory burger from this neighborhood staple?

Dar 525 Call or purchase a gift card in store for that person who can't get enough of Dar 525's incredible Mediterranean cuisine.

Crystal Lake Give the gift of cocktails and good eats by direct messaging Crystal Lake or ordering a gift card in-store! They also have awesome gift baskets with special wines, liquors and other treats.

Mercadito by Eleva and Portenas A care package subscription offered by Eleva is the perfect gift this holiday season! They offer 3, 6 and 12 month plans which includes two deliveries of coffee each month. 10% of proceeds then go towards community building efforts in Nicaragua. Sign up on their website! E-gift cards are also available here!

Fresh baked goods from Mercadito!

Masa Empanadas A little goes a long way at Masa Empanadas. Treat someone to an abundance of empanadas by purchasing a gift-card in-store!

Desy's Clam Bar Call or purchase a gift-card in store at this cozy Italian restaurant.

Mad for Chicken Their name says it all! If someone you know is mad for Mad for Chicken, call or purchase a gift card in-store.

Bahia Stop by Bahia to purchase a gift card and treat someone to their amazing Salvadorian specialties.

Porto Rico We all love our coffee. Who wouldn't want a gift card to this cafe wonderland? Call or purchase in-store. Porto Rico not only has an extensive selection of coffees and teas, but the accessories and machinery to go with it!

Blue Angel Wine and Spirits Call or shop in-store to give the gift of fine wines and liquors this season! Blue angel also has a creative selection of pre-mixed cocktails.

The Big Whiskey Our neighborhood whiskey bar offers gift cards! Call, or email to inquire about purchase.

Self Care

Spa Ella II Spa Ella II offers gift cards! Purchase in-store to treat someone to some expert nail care.

Primp and Polish Primp and Polish has an online gift card program that can be used for a spa say or to purchase their line of nail-care products. You can find all their products and gift cards on their website.

Hair By Catherine Stop by or call Hair by Catherine to purchase a gift card for some of fabulous cuts and color. Cards will be e-mailed to the recipient.

Hour Rose Salon Shop online for an Hour Rose Gift card and give the gift of a gorgeous hair makeover today!

Clothing and Supplies

Fresh off the Press Is there a creative person in your life who wants to learn to screen print? or print their own designs on various pieces of apparel? Direct Message or ask in-store about a gift card from Fresh Off the Press!

Raggedy Threads Purchase an E- Gift Card or stop by this funky second hand store! A sustainable gift choice this season.

Brooklyn Brickhouse Vintage Grand Street's newest thrift store has awesome outfits for all occasions. Call or stop by the store to purchase a gift card from this unique second-hand shop!

King Kog Brooklynites are crazy for bikes! Get a gift card to King Kog to help your loved ones purchase a new bike or piece of eqiupment from this neighborhood institution. Call or purchase in-store. Online cards coming soon!

Fitness Memberships and Classes

Willyb Crossfit Purchase a membership for yourself or someone else at Willyb Crossfit! They have a selection of 5 different membership types to choose from, so you can stay fit in the way that fits your lifestyle.

Absolute Power Fitness Absolute Power Fitness is community-centric gym with extensive equipment and classes. A membership to this local fitness hub will make a perfect gift for the holidays!

Nieves Latin Dance Studio The gift of dance will bring cheer to this unpecendented holiday season! Nieves offers in-peron, private, and virtual dance classes for people of all ages. Purchase a class or set of classes today!

Grand Street BID Holiday Raffle

The Holiday Season is here! We know this year has been unusual in many ways, and that this holiday season is going to be a bit unconventional. To spread some love with our Grand Street community we are hosting a raffle for a magnificent prize basket filled with items purchased from our shops in the BID. Including, wine, coffee and tea, t-shirts, self care products, gift cards and more!

To enter, all you have to do is create an Instagram post of how you’re spending time on Grand Street! Tag @GrandStreetBID and use #LifeisGrand. 1 post = 1 Entry. It can be a photo of you and a friend eating or drinking at our bars and restaurants, our streetscape, a shop you really like, a neighbor, a walk through the BID or anything else! Get creative! We’re just excited to see how everyone is spending their time in the BID and to support local businesses with our prize basket.

The raffle is open to entries until New Years Day, and we will choose a winner on January 2nd. Start snapping away!

Celebrating Small Business Saturday on Grand Street

Grand Street BID is hitting the streets again this year to celebrate Small Business Saturday! With all the adversity this past year has brought to our communities, it is now more important than ever to support our small businesses.

We will be setting up a table this Saturday, November 28th outside of Mac & PC store and Alcatraz Flower Shop at 648 Grand Street from 12pm to 2pm. Stop by to check out Shop Small promotional materials such as stickers, buttons, pennant flags, tote bags, and more for passersby. The pop-up will also include a prize wheel with the opportunity to win merchandise from the BID.

Grand Street BID Executive Director Erin Piscopink says, “Grand Street is a unique commercial corridor in North Brooklyn that has retained it’s authentic neighborhood atmosphere, in large part because of the large presence of small businesses that have always found a home in our district. We are proud to celebrate the dedication that our merchants have for our community and the diversity of our 100+ small businesses that makes our street special.”

We are also hosting an Instagram raffle! To enter, post photos of how you are spending the holiday season on Grand Street. Tag @GrandStreetBID and use #lifeisgrand in your post. The Grand prize will be a gift bag full of goodies purchased from our shops in the BID! Items will include, wine, coffee, t-shirts, self-care products, gift cards and more! The raffle will be open from Thanksgiving day until New Year’s Day. One post = one raffle entry, and the winner will be announced on January 2nd, 2021!

Behind the Scenes at Blinky's

Blinky’s Bar is coming soon at 609 Grand Street! This new neighborhood hangout is taking over the location of Noorman’s Kil, a long-time Grand Street establishment. New owners, Rhoades Hughes and Jose Valenzuela, have transformed the space into a warm and inviting atmosphere, ready to welcome the Grand Street community through its doors. This behind the scenes, sneak peak of the time, work, and love these guys put in to their new space will get you excited to sip and snack with them at the upcoming opening!

Rhoades and Jose have been friends since 2004, and for a period of time both lived in the Grand Street neighborhood where they became regulars at Noorman’s Kil. They often expressed interest in one day buying the bar. Then, this past year amidst the pandemic, the time came and the two partners negotiated a transfer of ownership, upon which Blinky’s was born.

Booths and interior decor were hand crafted by Blinky’s owners and team, with repurposed materials from the old bar.

Backyard space is big and beautiful! The team is continuing to get it up and running before they open.

Blinky’s is a unique space. Designed and built by the owners with the help of friends and family, the interiors are constructed with wood and materials from the preceding bar. New upholstery was sourced from their neighbors at Estilo Upholstery across the street.

A collaborative effort, the team let the space dictate the design as they built it. They successfully achieved a simple and light setting, transforming the storefront to be more open and inviting. When you enter, the soft blue paneling and seating is warm and enticing, and is complimented by the wooden booths, bar top, and painted shelving. Impressive reuse of old materials on the interior is not only sustainable, but an exemplary practice of preservation and conservation in light of the 100+ year old building the bar resides in.

Blinky’s time capsule cleverly hidden within the bar’s infrastructure. Let them know what else they should add!

Clearly a special place, the team building process behind the creation of Blinky’s dictates the community oriented feel fostered by the new ownership. The new bar will offer a variety of drinks, some snacks, and good vibes. There is also a spacious backyard perfect for socially distanced gathering! Although the exact opening date is only tentatively in the beginning of December, due to the evolving regulations surrounding the pandemic, the team is there every day getting things ready. Stop by to say hello! The door is always open.

Who is Blinky you ask? She’s Rhoades’ cat.

PPP Loan Forgiveness for Small Businesses

PPP Loan Forgiveness is here!

While many businesses who received the loans will be eligible for 100% loan forgiveness, you must apply for loan forgiveness. If you need help navigating the process, you should check in with your lending institution and/or sign up for a free financial or legal consultation that the BID secured through our partners at Start Small Think Big.

Many local businesses received funds through the PPP (Paycheck Protection Program), a loan that was part of the CARES Act that provided up to 2.5 times your average monthly payroll costs in order to keep employees on the payroll.

These loans will be forgiven if they have been used for eligible expenses. There is a possibility for up to 100% loan forgiveness if the funds are used for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. (A particular portion must be used for payroll. That amount varies based on when the loan was made). In order for full forgiveness, the employer must maintain or rehire employees to retain employment level. The amount of the loan that is forgiven will be reduced proportionately by the reduction of number of employees and of wages.

Read the full explanation and FAQ from the SBA Here

To receive loan forgiveness you must fill out an application. To make the process easier, SBA recently released a simpler loan forgiveness application for PPP loans of $50,000 or less.

Each financial institution acting as a lender has their own PPP forgiveness processes, so make sure to check in with your specific financial institution.

Click Here for SBA PPP Loan Forgiveness Application in Spanish

Mac & PC Store Comes to Grand Street

MacPC Store recently opened at 648 Grand Street. Owner, Juvensio Castillo, has been repairing computers and phones for 21 years. He opened the original MacPC store ten years ago in Ridgewood, Queens, and is excited to open the second location of the computer repair store on Grand Street! Juvencio realized that many of his customers were traveling to Ridgewood from East Williamsburg for repair services. Upon finding out that the storefront at 648 Grand was up for rent, he decided to jump on the opportunity.

Computer repair is becoming a more vital service, as the pandemic caused an enormous surge in people working from home. The past few months months have been critical for Juvencio’s clients. As people rely more heavily on personal computers and electronic devices for their livelihood, crashes and malfunctions are more detrimental than ever. A lot of people came to MacPC store with computer damages that made it difficult for children doing remote learning, and for people working from home. A main challenge for many customers during this time is affording repairs. So, Juvencio thought about how to help them.

Owner of MacPC Store, Juvencio Castillo

To address the problem of affordability, Juvencio is working above and beyond to help his customers, and lend a helping hand to the neighborhood. He started the fundraiser #everyonecanrepairdevices. Through a GoFundMe, MacPC Store hopes to generate a goal of $10,000 which will be used to provide free repairs for those who are unemployed or have limited income. For now, repair priority will be for smartphones and laptops. MacPc Store, with your support, will be able to collect and buy supplies, and provide free labor to assist people in need. Consider donating today to help MacPC Store in their mission to help the community!

MacPC specializes in Mac and PC repair and maintenance, but also provides detailed interior work including soldering for computer panels and other electronics. They have a long standing relationship with Mac and additionally sell their products such as iPads, certain laptop models, chargers, phone cases and other accessories. Stop by MacPC on Grand Street today!

Eleva and Porteñas Partner to Open Mercadito

Eleva Coffee teamed up with Porteñas to open two Mercaditos! Located at 557 Lorimer, and the original Eleva Coffee location at 649 Grand Street, these small markets will offer Eleva’s direct trade coffee along with Porteñas one-of-a-kind gormet empanadas.

Brought together during the COVID crisis, the collaboration between Eleva and Porteñas is now bringing a variety of community minded, and ethically sourced drinks and treats to East Williamsburg. “Customers can stop by for a cup of freshly brewed coffee, while watching the hypnotizing rhythm of the empanada maker.”

Eleva Coffee, Yerba Mate Teas, and pantry items To-Go

Emilio Baltodano and co-owner Raffaello Van Couten’s well established Eleva Coffee, has several location in NYC and is distributed nationwide. Additionally, Eleva has raised $60K in funding and facilitated three infrastructure improvement projects in the coffee-farming communities of Peñas Blancas, Nicaragua, and Santa Palencia, Guatemala.

Founded in 2019 by three Argentinian women, Porteñas has built a devoted following. Their mission is to grow and support the diverse local community. During the peak of COVID-19 in NY, the founders worked with World Central Kitchen, founded by chef José Andrés, to serve meals for health care workers. And, after only 16 months of operations, Porteñas has been awarded the prestigious Red Backpack grant by Sara Blakely, along with grants by Facebook, NYC Small Business Solution, and the US Chamber of Small Businesses.

Stop by either location to check out this dream team! They’re offering items to bring home or to eat on the go. For your fridge, you can purchase from a variety of coffee products, frozen empanadas and Alfajores made from scratch, along with Yerba Mate teas and Fuego Mate. On the go? Have a fresh baked empanada, croissant, churro and anything from the espresso bar!

New Mural Brings Messages of Positivity to Grand Street

Grand Street got it’s newest mural last weekend! Commissioned by the Nieves Latin Dance School, the striking piece by artist, Andres Medina is located at 670 Grand Street on the side of Nieves’ storefront. For a while, owner of the dance studio, Wil Nieves, had been seeking a solution to the graffiti that had overtaken a previous mural. After receiving multiple proposals from several artists, Nieves commissioned local artist and friend, Andres Medina, for the placemaking project.

Bright and dynamic, the painting is calligrapher and illustrator, Andres Medina’s first ever large scale mural. Mr. Nieves was hoping to commission a piece that is not only dance oriented, but also community oriented in response to current events including the pandemic, police brutality, racial inequity and resulting social unrest. The calligraphic style of the piece is a trademark of Medina’s artwork. Central imagery of shaking hands within the medallion and the surrounding words are meant to evoke a “universal, positive and inspiring sentiment.”

The mural’s intent to represent hope for the future is clearly captured through Medina’s design. This eye-catching piece is a stunning addition to the streetscape and demonstrates the strength of the Grand Street community. Andres Medina is a long time friend of the Nieves Latin Dance Studio and used to teach classes there. His creativity spans multiple mediums and as he is now mostly focusing on visual art, the timing of Mr. Nieve’s commission was serendipitous, enabling the creation of the mural.

Just as the mural emphasizes cooperation and collaboration, the dance school creates a similar atmosphere within the community. Nieves specializes in Salsa Dance for all ages and also offers courses in Bachata and Cha Cha Cha. This Latin studio has been bringing people together through dance for years at their locations on Grand Street and in the Bronx. In light of the pandemic, the studio also offers online courses.

We’re so excited about the newest addition to our public art scene! Make sure to stop by and check out the mural, and maybe sign up for some salsa lessons while you’re there.

Hair By Catherine Opens at 584 Grand Street

Grand Street welcomes our newest business, Hair by Catherine! Owner, Catherine Como, is a Williamsburg native with an extensive background in hair care and treatment. After working in the hair industry for almost 20 years, she decided to open her own storefront in the neighborhood she was raised in. Upon deciding it was time to open a salon, Catherine was thrilled to find out that the space at 584 Grand was available!

After beauty school, Catherine worked under several stylists before starting her own practice about three years ago. Hair by Catherine has a loyal client base who has followed her throughout her career and comes with glowing reviews of Catherine’s services. She specializes in color, color correction and chemical treatments such as highlights, color for gray coverage and keratin treatments. Committed to healthy hair, her products include organic haircolor and even a non toxic keratin treatment, carrying three different brands of organic hair care in the salon!

Catherine’s clear passion for her craft and dedication to her clients manifests in the care and time she put into her new storefront. She is excited about the location on Grand Street and to build her business as she continues to get the salon up and running. Not only does she love the great new space with big windows and tons of natural light, she’s also close to home. Support local businesses and make your next hair appointment with Catherine today!

Film Festival Winner: Grand Street BID’s “Olor a Azucenas, El Perfume Del Barrio”

This past week, Olor a Azucenas, El Perfume Del Barrio (The Scent of Lillies, the Perfume of the Neighborhood) received the “Best Spirit of Puerto Rico” Award at the Rincon International Film Festival in Puerto Rico! The short film was commissioned and curated by the BID, produced by OWLEY, and documents the the installation of the community mural at 609 Grand Street completed by Don Rimx and for which the film is named. This placemaking project encompasses the mural’s prominence as a symbol of Puerto Rican heritage and entrepreneurship in the Williamsburg neighborhood and Brooklyn at large.

RIFF is the largest film festival in Puerto Rico, and Olor a Azucenas, El Perfume Del Barrio was chosen the winner out of over 200 other shorts films. With categories ranging from Documentary to Comedy to Drama, the Spirit of Puerto Rico is a niche section of the program highlighting films that embody the essence of life on the Island. The film was also accepted into the ENFOQUE Film Festival in Puerto Rico and Art of Brooklyn Film Festival, in Brooklyn, NY.

The colorful mural on Grand Street was painted by Puerto Rican street artist, illustrator, and muralist Edwin Sepulveda "Don Rimx" Cruz. Don's style of painting is conducted "The Puerto Rico way" and illustrates a flower vendor famous to San Juan, Puerto Rico who is holding a large arrangement of beautiful azucenas—white lilies—the image of the vendor represents the hardworking small business owners of Grand Street who come from different cultures and places to pursue their goals and dreams. As the vendor walks through the city, he calls out “azucenas” and the distinct scent of the flowers radiates around him. A known figure in the community, people can hear and smell him as he arrives.

The figure is interwoven with ancient beads in tandem with a rounded wooden frame as a tribute to the ancestors who were here before us. The vibrant colors, variously angled bricks, and window elements represent the uniqueness of the surrounding Grand Street neighborhood - a representation of each person's own vibrancy and hue they give off from the life they build. Together, these elements symbolize the community, perseverance, unity, sharing, and love of the Grand Street community and how so many cultures come together to thrive in the same place they call home.

Throughout the installation of the mural, Don Rimx and Owley’s process became a community affair. Many gathered in the parking lot where the artists were set up to hang out, share stories, dance, and watch the painting come to life. This community-centric process emphasizes the mural’s symbolization as "a cultural bridge". As stated in the film, “Once you start seeing the process, that’s when you make the real connections.”

We are honored to have worked with OWLEY, Don Rimx, and all our of our neighbors in the generation of both the mural and the film. We are also grateful for project funding from Council Member Levin, without which the installation would not have been possible. If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to watch this award-winning film that beautifully shows the intersection of culture, art, and community on Grand Street.