Now view the Get Local! Guide to East Village Shops through our interactive map!
7/14: #EastVillageLoves Launch Party
A very special launch of our #EastVillageLoves campaign, designed to encourage locals and tourists alike to shop small, independent businesses, particularly those affected by the March explosion on the corner of 2nd Ave. and 7th St.
Jimmy’s No. 43
43 East 7th St (2nd & 3rd Ave)
Tuesday, July 14, 7-9PM
Neighbors. Networking. Support for locals, by locals.
First round of drinks is free!*
*ID will be required for those who wish to be served alcohol.
RSVP
About East Village Tuesdays The East Village Tuesdays meetup series is designed to bring together residents of the East Village in the hope that socializing, sharing and supporting one another will lead to a stronger, more informed community. Our East Village Tuesdays series is presented by the East Village Community Coalition’s Host Committee, dedicated to creating enjoyable and informative events throughout the community on behalf of the EVCC.
6/24: Preserving Local, Independent Retail Roundtable
In June 2015 the East Village Community Coalition released Preserving Local, Independent Retail: Recommendations for Formula Retail Zoning in the East Village, an analysis of the the growing presence of chain stores in the lower Manhattan neighborhood. These stores are changing the landscape of the neighborhood by altering the shopping choices from independent to mass-market retailers.
Three possible methods of formula retail zoning are proposed within the report. These options — aimed at informing decisions by East Village policy makers — have been crafted using case studies, legal suggestions and pre-existing zoning frameworks from other parts of the country. Join us to learn more about the proposals and ask questions about efforts to block the proliferation of chain stores in New York State and beyond.
The Preserving Local, Independent Retail Roundtable is presented as part of our Get Local! campaign launched in 2006 to promote a diverse retail mix of independent stores that reflect the neighborhood’s character and serve its population.
RSVP
Light refreshments will be provided.
REPORT: Preserving Local, Independent Retail
The EVCC announces the release of Preserving Local Independent Retail: Recommendations for Formula Retail Zoning in the East Village.
The East Village is known for its colorful history of immigration, art, music, community advocacy and grassroots movements. Over the years the community has been home to a variety of artists, writers, and political activists — each group playing a significant role in shaping the neighborhood and creating the unique place that exists today. Today the East Village is one of New York’s most diverse neighborhoods, made up of residents from a variety of backgrounds and of various economic means.
Retail in the East Village has predominantly been made up of small, independent, local businesses. The small storefronts found throughout the neighborhood have provided affordable, low-risk opportunities for small business owners and local entrepreneurs. Today in the East Village a shift can be seen from independent stores to chains or franchises as well as from small storefronts to those with larger footprints. These stores are changing the landscape of the neighborhood by altering the shopping choices from independent to mass-market retailers. The expansion of these chains creates even more challenges for local, independent retailers.
Like many in other municipalities, the EVCC has determined that the presence of chain businesses can be detrimental to community character and local economies. Preserving Local, Independent Retail is presented as part of our Get Local! campaign launched in 2006 to promote a diverse retail mix of independent stores that reflect the neighborhood’s character and serve its population. Three possible methods of formula retail restriction zoning are proposed within the report. These options — aimed at informing decisions by East Village policy makers — have been crafted using case studies, legal suggestions and pre-existing zoning frameworks from other parts of the country.
As trends of gentrification and homogenization continue in New York, with respect to both the built environment and retail landscape, a timely solution is needed to preserve the individuality of the city’s neighborhoods. Placing restrictions on formula retail establishments via zoning amendments provides a path to preserving the rapidly changing East Village. Creating an East Village Special District using our framework will emphasize the importance and uniqueness of the community. Contact us to learn how you can help us create the Special Retail District the East Village needs.
Download your copy of the Preserving Local, Independent Retail Report
East Village Consumer Survey Results
In the fall of 2014 the EVCC enlisted the help of the JGSC Group to conduct the East Village Consumer Survey as a way to better understand why people visit the East Village. The slideshow highlights key findings from the survey.
[pdf-embedder url=”https://evccnyc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/EV-Consumer-Survey-Results-Slideshow.pdf”]
FINDINGS:
- We learned that the most important initiatives are:
- Retain existing businesses
- Attract independent stores and boutiques.
- The least desired initiative is to attract national retailers. Fewer than 2 percent of all respondents feel this is very important.
- Respondents expressed a low level of satisfaction cleanliness and litter control (22%). This response was consistent among residents (regardless of their length of residency) and non-residents.
- Among all respondents the most mentioned reason for not visiting more often is that merchandise prices are too high (46%).
- Among all of the goods and services offered respondents identified 7 categories that were selected most frequently as reason they would visit more often:
- Independent retail stores and books were selected by two-thirds of all respondents.
- Recorded music, specialty foods, crafts and hobbies, housewares, and grocery store were selected by one-half of all respondents.
- Noticeably absent from the preferred selections were clothing and accessories stores, drinking establishments (9%), and national retail stores (5%).
- The most valuable source of information is the East Village blog site EVgrieve.com, which was described as very valuable by 71 percent of all responses.
Retail Diversity in the East Village
Over the course of three days in August 2014, EVCC staff and volunteers walked every block of the East Village in an effort to catalog the ground floor use of each building in the community. The data provides a snapshot of the retail landscape in the East Village from summer 2014.
Overview
The East Village has 1750 total storefronts. The data shows concentrations of retail and services along the avenues, St. Marks Place, E. 9th and 4th Streets. The retail and service options disperse east of Tompkins Square Park.
Drinking Establishments + Food Service
In total Drinking Establishments and Food Services make up 35.8% of all East Village storefronts
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Retail
There are 362 retail stores in the East Village. The highest concentrations are along 1st and 2nd Avenues, as well as East 7th and 9th Streets and St. Marks Place.
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Local Services
There are 249 local service establishments in the East Village. They are fairly well spread through the district; however, a decline in offerings can be seen in the eastern part of the district.
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Chains
There are 63 chain store establishments in the East Village. The majority of these are located on Third, Second, and First Avenues as well as 14th St.
- Food service establishments (Starbucks, Subway, etc.) account for 35% of the chain stores within the East Village
- Banks account for 21% of the chain stores within the East Village
Vacancies
At the time of the survey there were 196 storefront vacancies within the East Village, or an 11% vacancy rate.
The full presentation of the data can be seen here. [pdf-embedder url=”https://evccnyc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CB-3-Retail-Diversity-Presentation.pdf”]
The East Village Merchants Association Launches “East Village Loves”, A Campaign To Support Merchants Affected By The East Village Blast
“East Village Loves” will highlight the East Village merchants affected by the tragic Second Avenue blast and emphasize that they are now fully open for business.
Independent entrepreneurs in the East Village in conjunction with the East Village Independent Merchants Association (EVIMA) have announced the launch of “East Village Loves,” a campaign created to highlight local businesses in the East Village. Utilizing the #eastvillageloves hashtag, the campaign will call for New Yorkers to shop in the East Village and support the establishments most affected by the blast.
On March 26th, a devastating explosion and fire leveled three historic buildings at the corner of Second Avenue and East 7th Street tragically claiming two lives, destroying dozens of homes, and displacing several businesses both temporarily and permanently. Over thirty-eight establishments lost business due to barricades, blocked traffic, emergency operations, and a broader avoidance of the site by visitors.
In the wake of these events, neighborhood business leaders, local elected officials and the East Village Independent Merchants Association (EVIMA) have rallied to celebrate that the East Village is here and open for business. Nearly all businesses affected by the blast have re-opened on Second Avenue and East Sixth Street, East Seventh Street, and St. Marks Place, and regular vehicular and foot traffic has resumed.
Now is the perfect time to visit the East Village, to support the places that have been difficult to access and to find new favorites among a widely diverse retail and food landscape.
Through “East Village Loves” merchants, residents, and visitors can share their favorite East Village spots and the types of industries that they love most. The campaign is a celebration of the rich, diverse, and historic neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, characterized by a concentration of mom-and-pop establishments that are becoming less common throughout the city.
The campaign will have a presence at major public events associated with Lower East Side History Month in May, including the 39th Annual Ukrainian Festival from May 15th through 17th.
The campaign’s chosen slogan commemorates the vintage shop Love Saves the Day, made famous by the 1980s film Desperately Seeking Susan. The inimitable shop closed its reign at the ill-fated corner of Second Avenue and East 7th Street in 2009.
#SaveNYC
Consider joining #SaveNYC, a grassroots, crowd-sourced, DIY movement to protect and preserve the diversity and uniqueness of the urban fabric in New York City.
As our vibrant streetscapes and neighborhoods are turned into bland, suburban-style shopping malls, filled with chain stores and glossy luxury retail, #SaveNYC is fighting for small businesses and cultural institutions to remain in place.
The mission is to bring attention to the plight of Mom and Pop, and to lobby state and city government to implement significant and powerful protections for small businesses and cultural institutions across the five boroughs of New York City.
The devastation has been overwhelming. Protecting what remains will require a multi-pronged approach. First steps:
• To raise awareness, the #SaveNYC website gathers video and photographic testimonials from people everywhere who love New York and want to see its diverse culture and heritage protected. The group tweets and posts on Instagram with the hashtag #SaveNYC, and run a Facebook group.
• The first political objective is to pass the Small Business Jobs Survival Act (0402-2014). This bill will make it possible for small businesses to negotiate fair lease renewals with landlords, thus stemming the tide of mass evictions and catastrophic rent hikes.
3/5: Solutions to Save Small Businesses: A Community Forum
Judson Memorial Church
55 Washington Square South
Thursday March 5th, 7pm – 9pm; Doors open 6:30pm
Join neighbors, local business people, and a panel of experts to save and protect the small businesses that are the lifeblood of our community.
The City Council on January 22, introduced a new resolution calling upon Albany to pass legislation establishing a property tax credit for commercial landlords who voluntarily limit rent increases upon renewal. Only landlords who “volunteer” to participate will be given tax breaks as incentives to not rent gouge tenants. The opposite option, the Small Business Jobs Survival Act, (S.B.J.S.A.). regulates the lease renewal process by giving rights to business owners equal to landlords to negotiate fair lease terms, and the right to 10 year leases. If both parties can not mutually agree on lease terms, the bill calls for Arbitration.
Which of these is the best solution? Or is there a better solution?
Landlords now have all the rights, rights to determine the destiny of owners, their workers, and the destiny of the character and culture of an entire community. Because the gateway to the American Dream has been locked, the key freely handed to big Real Estate, many feel it is time to throw a ‘life line’ and ‘empower’ our struggling small businesses now drowning in a sea of greed.
Panelists:
Sung Soo Kim – Former Chair: Mayor’ Small Business Advisory Board
Alfred Placeres – Founder, NYS Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Jenny Dubnau – Spokesperson for The Artist Studio Affordability Project
Jack Segan – Community Affairs Representative for Jetro Foods
Robert Perl – President of Tower Brokerage
Mark Crispin Miller – Professor of Media Studies; Critic of NYU overdevelopment
Moderated by Lincoln Anderson, The Villager Editor-in-Chief
Sponsored by The Villager and Village Independent Democrats
Visit TheVillager.com and VillageDemocrats.org for details
2014 EVIMA Holiday Gift Guide
