Local mom and pop shops are more than
storefronts we pass every day.

The bodegas, hardware stores, book sellers and nail salons are the lifeblood of Lower Manhattan and the engines that make the Big Apple the vibrant city it is. This holiday season, the Downtown Alliance has launched a marketing campaign reminding us that shopping small makes a big impact.

Your holiday purchases have far-reaching benefits – they actually enrich our neighborhoods by driving economic growth. According to the NYC Department of Small Business Services, for every dollar spent at a neighborhood retailer, 70 cents stays in the community.

And it’s never been easier to shop locally. According to the EDC, the melting pot of New York City was home to a record 183,000 small businesses in 2023. Among those, the great diversity we see is a reflection of the people who start them –
over 40% of small business owners are women, and four in 10 owners are foreign-born.

For nearly three decades, the Downtown Alliance has championed our neighborhood entrepreneurs. We have supported over 230 small businesses through grant and technical assistance programs, and provide many neighborhood services. Today, there are approximately 1,100 small businesses operating in our district. Some are new to the neighborhood. Some, like our 35 legacy enterprises, have been serving our community
for 25 years or more.

This holiday season, we can show our appreciation for their contributions. Whatever you’re looking for, chances are you can probably find it locally. Our neighborhood’s small business owners and operators are here to help. Join the Downtown Alliance in making a conscious effort to shop local beyond Small Business Saturday. That’s the way to guarantee that the heartbeat of Lower Manhattan continues to thrive for generations to come.

Because big cities run on small businesses.

-Jessica Lappin, President of the Downtown Alliance

………………………..

Sponsored by the Downtown Alliance