Business & Tech

Residents Get an Incentive for Shopping Local

Marty Markowitz Kicks Off Third Annual "Shop Brooklyn" Holiday Campaign

Friday, November 26th, marked the kick-off of the third annual "Shop Brooklyn" campaign. Now, through December 24th,  participating businesses will offer discounts and bonuses  for residents who shop local during the holidays.

Shops of Lewis Avenue (SOLA), along with other small businesses along the Lewis Avenue corridor, will display "Shop Brooklyn" placards in their store and decals in their windows to show their participation in the annual campaign.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz started "Shop Brooklyn" three years ago to help support the local economies of the neighborhood during the recession.  The campaign also aims to illustrate the uniqueness and diversity of Brooklyn's many shopping districts, highlight the merits of buying local, while provide an incentive for people to shop local during the holidays and encourage residents to continue shopping during the year.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

"Local mom and pop stores add flavor, spice, and color to a neighborhood," said Markowitz. "The campaign will help Brooklyn's economy, allow retailers to hire and retain local employees and keep the tax-payer dollars in New York City."

More than 500 businesses are participating across 37 Brooklyn neighborhoods, including Bed-Stuy, Clinton Hill, Cobble Hill, DUMBO, Fort Greene, Park Slope and Prospect Heights.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Markowitz kicked off the campaign last week with a visit to Lewis Avenue, reinforcing a renewed interest in the commercial corridor as an important destination, not only for tourist, but also people who live in the area.

"Let's face it: Bed-Stuy is the soul of Brooklyn," said Markowitz. "Bed-Stuy is undergoing a revitalization, as far as quality of life. And Lewis Avenue represents what's going on in Brooklyn — a little bit of the old and a little bit of the new."

Monique Greenwood — owner of , a popular bed and breakfast on McDonough Street — ten years ago bought up most of the property that make up SOLA today. She was selective about the type of business she leased to back then, seeking business owners with products and services that would have a positive impact on the neighborhood's quality of life.

"There's a wonderful energy on this particular block of Lewis Avenue," said Greenwood. "From the start, we were looking for stores that speak to who we know are neighbors to be. These businesses have beautiful spaces, great service and excellent food. And it has trickled down to the additional blocks on Lewis Avenue; they're all compliments.

"We also have a very strong merchants group. We are working together to sustain not only our businesses, but also the community in general. And so that's what's really special about Lewis Avenue."

"Shop Brooklyn" also will help bring attention to the new Bed-Stuy Gateway Project, which is aimed at improving another one of Brooklyn's busiest business districts, at the intersection of Fulton Street and Nostrand Avenue.

Lloyd Porter, owner of Bread Stuy, a coffee shop on Lewis Avenue, said it's great to see the interest come back to the area, but the neighborhood had been a strong and viable community for a while, just waiting on the resources.

"It's great to see the interest come back, and now were getting a little more press. But we've been holding it down for a minute," said Porter. "We can't take for granted the efforts that were always here. There was coffee shop here four years before we even got here. So we pay homage to the people who were here before us and we set the pace for those to come."

Porter says Bread-Stuy will offer a daily special of one dollar off of a coffee and muffin combo, if you mention "Shop Brooklyn."

Aside from Akwaaba Mansion and Bread-Stuy, other participating stores in "Shop Brooklyn" include Peaches Restaurant, Tin City Drug & General Store, Marlene's, Holiday @ Home, House of Art, Therapy Wine Bar, Ma and Pa Soul Food, Chaz Accessories, L & H Market, Saraghina, Little Red Boutique, Lewis Gallery and others.

For more information about "Shop Brooklyn" and to see a full list of participating stores, go to www.ishopbrooklyn.com.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here