This past Saturday, March 24th, was “,” when three local businesses joined together to bring Bed-Stuy residents a complete evening of entertainment.
For just $25, residents could enjoy a drink at , watch a play at the and then relax in a lounge setting or dance the night away at the , all to encourage patronage of the neighborhood’s local businesses.
How many of you attended?
Supporting local businesses is at the cornerstone of the community’s economic development. Without this critical support, local merchants are forced to close their doors. Also, businesses that come and go quickly discourages future businesses from opening in their place, diminishing the economic viability of a neighborhood.
Many vibrant and exciting new restaurants, grocery stores and apparel stores have opened in Bedford-Stuyvesant. And many residents express a great deal of enthusiasm for shopping local and reinvesting their dollars back into the community. Yet, local businesses in Bed-Stuy continue to struggle.
Why is this?
Is it because there still are not enough options in the neighborhood that squarely meet the needs of residents? Or perhaps residents shop less frequently in general because of financial stress caused by the recession? Or is it simply out of habit for residents to travel outside of the neighborhood and shop in other stores?
Take our poll, and let us know in the comments.
