Supporting Small Businesses

Village Preservation works to support, promote, and protect small independent businesses in our neighborhoods. We do this through our Business of the Month Program and our Annual Village Awards. We have advocated for businesses facing unfair evictions or rent hikes. And we advocate for legislative measures that would help to maintain small businesses. This includes the Small Business Jobs Survival Act, which would require landlords to offer up to ten-year lease renewals to commercial tenants if mutually agreed upon or arbitrated terms can be reached, as well as zoning regulations that would restrict chain stores in certain locations.

Small Business, Big History

See our map below for stores participating in our Small Business, Big History program, connecting these locations with stories about their building, street, or immediate vicinity. (A full-screen map is available here.)


Business of the Month

Nominate a business for our “Business of the Month” program here, and spread the word about some great local businesses.

Celebrating 100 Businesses of the Month

On February 24, 2023, Village Preservation named its 100th Business of the Month, a milestone for the program that started in 2014 highlighting the many terrific stores we’re fortunate to have here in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. In honor of that milestone, we produced this video spotlighting some of those amazing businesses. Enjoy!


Welcome New Businesses to the Neighborhood

Updates

  • February 27, 2023

    Celebrating One Hundred Businesses of the Month

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  • December 6, 2022

    Expanding Our ‘Small Business, Big History’ Map and Program

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  • November 17, 2022

    Calling for Full Public Input and Review for Open Restaurants Plan

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  • August 5, 2022

    New Report: ‘Crisis and Adaptation: Storefront Trends 2019–2021’

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  • May 9, 2022

    Welcoming New Small Businesses to Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo

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  • April 15, 2022

    Hailing Local Small Business Heroes Who Helped Capture Subway Terror Suspect

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  • March 16, 2022

    Village Awards Nomination Extended to March 21!

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  • July 28, 2021

    Explore Local Small Businesses and Discover Big Local History

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  • July 15, 2021

    City’s Proposal for Permanent Outdoor Dining Begins Public Review Process

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  • March 3, 2021

    Rallying for Small Businesses Relief

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  • January 12, 2021

    Explore More Local Small Businesses With Big History!

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  • December 4, 2020

    Small Business/Big History Program Expands – More Stores, More Stories

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  • November 13, 2020

    Supporting Small Businesses

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  • September 25, 2020

    90% of Restaurants Can’t Pay Rent — Save Our Storefronts (SOS)!

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  • August 19, 2020

    Join Us: Support the ‘Save Our Storefronts’ Campaign and Legislation for Small Business Relief

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  • May 19, 2020

    Business of the Month: Newsbar Café, 107 University Place

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  • October 6, 2019

    Latest on restricting chain stores in the East Village

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  • September 1, 2019

    Village Preservation Update on CB3’s Resolution Supporting Special Retail District

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  • July 2, 2019

    Op-Ed: Small Businesses and Landmarking Can Help Each Other

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  • July 1, 2019

    News Update on Restricting Chain Stores in the East Village

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  • May 19, 2019

    Update on the proposal for an East Village Special Enhanced Commercial District that would restrict chain stores in our neighborhood

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  • April 19, 2019

    Small Stores Thrive in Landmark Districts

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  • April 15, 2019

    Study Finds Landmarked Sites Have Lower Retail Vacancy Rate

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  • January 16, 2019

    Village Preservation Update on CB3 Meeting on Special Retail District

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  • November 16, 2018

    Village Preservation Update on Special Retail District

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  • October 25, 2018

    Huge Turnout at City Hall Hearing for Small Business Jobs Survival Act

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  • January 22, 2018

    Saving Our Small Businesses

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  • July 11, 2017

    Starbucks on Avenue A? Rally this Thursday!

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