We recently highlighted the voices of elders who persevered through the pandemic, including a 73-year-old who took his business savvy to another level. He was one of many who pursued entrepreneurship during Covid. While some of those small businesses opened during that challenging time are no longer operating, here are a few that are still going strong. From bookstores to food stalls, these ventures not only adapted to the new normal but also thrived by meeting the needs of their neighborhoods in unique ways.
Kuih Cafe
A Chinatown gem, Kuih Cafe opened in Feb. 2020. The café, owned by Veronica Gan and her family, introduces New Yorkers to traditional Malaysian desserts known as kuih (rice-based confections). Gan, originally from Kuala Lumpur, started baking these treats to reconnect with her roots and share the flavors of her homeland.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic — for instance, not qualifying for most federal relief programs because it was new — Kuih Cafe has become an authentic sweet spot. You can find traditional kuih flavors and unique fusions of Malaysian and Western desserts: padan, ube, blue pea flower, and coconut plum sugar are just some of the kuih ingredients in classic cupcakes, cheesecakes, and mousse cakes.
Visit Kuih Cafe at 46 Eldridge Street in Manhattan.
Friday – Sunday 12 p.m.- 6 p.m.
Email at kuihcafe@gmail.com.
Follow on Instagram at @kuihcafe.
Evelia’s Tamales
Evelia Coyotzi’s dream of owning a restaurant became a reality on March 7, 2020, with the opening of Evelia’s Tamales in Queens. The restaurant is an homage to Coyotzi’s humble beginnings, selling a variety of Mexican dishes such as tamales, quesadillas and tortas. Her journey began with selling tamales from a food cart on the corner of Junction Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue in Queens, braving the cold winters and police hassling.
Coyotzi, originally from Tlaxcala, Mexico, began selling tamales to send money to her mother and son. Despite the challenges of street vending, she persevered, and now her restaurant serves as a testament to her hard work.
Read more about Evelia’s Tamales.
Visit Evelia’s Tamales at 96-09 Northern Blvd, in Corona, Queens.
Hours: Mon-Fri 5 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Sat-Sun 5 a.m.-10 p.m.
Order online here.
Call at (718) 255-1189.
Email at eveliastamales@gmail.com.
Gone to the Dogs
Gone to the Dogs may seem like an ordinary pet store, but each product sold has been meticulously selected. Months into the pandemic, in June 2020, the pet shop launched online. In October, a brick-and-mortar store opened in Park Slope. Owners Santos Agustin and Jennifer Wong pride themselves in knowing how all of their products were made, who made them and with what materials.
After working in the fashion industry and becoming disillusioned with its unsustainable and unethical practices, friends Agustin and Wong decided to create a business that aligned with their values. Gone to the Dogs was born out of their love for dogs and a desire to provide ethically sourced, eco-friendly products for pampered pooches.
The store sells apparel, toys, leashes, collars and more, providing information about the origin of each product and in some cases even the person who made it. With items ranging from hand-knit alpaca sweaters made by Peruvian artisans to leashes crafted from reclaimed rock climbing ropes, Gone to the Dogs offers a unique shopping experience for conscientious pet owners.
You can get 15% off if you shop on Women’s History Month.
Read more about Gone to the Dogs.
Visit Gone to the Dogs at 103 7th Ave. in Brooklyn.
Hours: Mon to Sun 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Call (201) 375-3471
Email at info@gonetothedogs.co.
Follow on Instagram at @gonetothedogs.co
Nose Best Candles
Nose Best Candles blossomed from a boozy Halloween night in 2019, where friends Brittany Furnari and Cristian Abbrancati playfully brainstormed business ideas. The pair both found themselves out of work during the pandemic. Inspired by synesthesia (when your brain processes sensory input through multiple senses, such as tasting colors or feeling sounds), the duo taught themselves how to make candles with YouTube videos.
Nose Best Candles launched on July 10, 2020, selling out of their first batch of 144 candles within an hour. Their unique approach includes curated Spotify playlists and cocktail recipes to accompany each scent, creating a multi-sensory experience.
Read more about Nose Best Candles.
Visit Nose Best Candles at 96 Knickerbocker Ave. Unit 111 in Brooklyn.
Hours: Fri.-Mon. 12:30-7 p.m.
Follow on Instagram at @nosebestcandles_
Yu and Me Books
Yu and Me Books opened in Chinatown in Dec. 2021, after a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes inspired founder Lucy Yu to fill an unmet need. “It was just terrible to see, and I wanted to create a space for people that look like me, and people that look like my mom and grandma to come in and see stories that resonate with them,” she told Epicenter NYC.
Yu, a chemical engineer, sought to build more community through coffee, books, and beer. Her dream bookstore would carry a larger selection of Asian and Asian-American writers than others in the area.
Since opening, Yu and Me Books has become notable at uplifting Asian voices. It’s also the first queer Asian-American business of its kind based in NYC. From its diverse shelves and book clubs to its intimate record listening sessions, the bookstore-café-bar continues to fulfill its Covid-era mission. Read more about Yu and Me Books.
Visit Yu and Me Books at 44 Mulberry St in Manhattan.
Hours: Tues, Wed, Sun: 11 a.m.- 7 p.m., Thurs-Sat 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Email Yu and Me Books at info@yuandmebooks.com.
Call (646) 559-1165.
Follow on Instagram at @yuandmebooks.
