Bronx BIDs provide hope for businesses
BY STEVEN GOODSTEIN
Coronavirus is not just affecting
people’s health – it
is also greatly affecting the
Bronx economy and its local
businesses.
In the midst of the pandemic,
businesses across the
Bronx, New York City, New
York state (and the country,
for that matter) have closed
down indefi nitely, and are uncertain
when they will once
again open their doors to customers.
As a result, local business
improvement districts across
the borough have stepped forward
to provide support these
businesses who are in dire
need of assistance during this
diffi cult economic period.
“A lot of the business in this
area has been decimated, to be
honest,” said Cary Goodman,
executive director of the 161st
Street BID. “This BID was
started in 2009, so although we
didn’t experience the impacts
of 9/11 or the Great Recession
of 2008, this is still unlike anything
many of us have ever experienced.”
Goodman explained that
many of the bars in his area
are only open approximately
85 days throughout the year,
during most of the Yankees
baseball season.
He said that local bars such
as Billy’s, Stan’s, The Dugout,
Vega Alta Sports Bar, Yankee
Twin Eatery and Yankee Tavern
rely almost entirely on the
baseball fans who venture to
Yankee Stadium during the
season.
Retail stores selling Yankees
gear and merchandise,
such as Sammy’s Fashion and
S&A Sports are also stuck in
limbo – and stuck with the inventory
as a result. According
to Goodman, many retail
stores in the area underwent
renovations in the past few
years.
Since a shortened baseball
season or even a cancelled
baseball season is a possibly,
Goodman said that this
will be a waiting game, since
so much of the business from
the 161st BID’s area depends
on the sport. He is expecting a
drop off in business at least for
April and May.
However, he mentioned
a few solutions for the 161st
Street BID’s businesses, including
the NYC Employee
Retention Grant, in which the
city will pay up to $27,000 in
cash to impacted businesses
who have four or fewer fulltime
employees and have lost
25 percent of their revenue,
in order to avoid layoffs. He
added that small NYC Small
Business Services, led by
commissioner Gregg Bishop,
would provide interest free
loans to businesses in need.
According to the Morris
Park BID, businesses providing
essential services, such
as grocery stores, hardware
stores and pharmacies will
MPBID’s supplementary sanitation team disinfecting and sanitizing street amenities.
Photo Photo courtesy of the Morris Park BID
stay afl oat, but will have signifi
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,40 MARCH 27-APRIL 2, 2020 BTR
cant revenue deceases compared
to the period before the
COVID-19 pandemic began.
There are several NYC Small
Business Services programs
that have been launched to
provide support, including
the Employee Retention Grant
and the NYC SBS Continuity
Loan Fund, offering zero interest
loans up to $75,000 for
businesses with fewer than 99
employees and that lost 25 percent
of revenue.
“Clearly, all businesses
have been affected, some very
drastically – but it’s too early
to say if any of the businesses
will close down for good,” said
Dr. Camelia Tepelus, Morris
Park BID’s executive director.
Tepelus said that a big factor
in this scenario will be the
relationship between the business/
commercial tenant and
the landlord, and if any substantial
rent relief will be negotiated,
either on a voluntary
basis, or as a mandate from
the city, state or federal government.
Tepelus added that the Morris
Park BID has been taking
action in the last two weeks
by having their supplementary
sanitation team disinfect
and sanitize street amenities
that are most likely to be
touch by pedestrians, such as
public furniture, mail boxes
and trash cans, and have also
provided 24/7 available phone
service for concerned business
owners and residents.
Additionally, to convey a
message of hope, strength and
resilience, the MPBID decorated
the BID’s storefront window
with a lit rainbow.
“Never in the history of
NYC and the country has
their been a similar situation
as this, where an entire economy
would be mandated to
stay closed for safety reasons,”
Tepelus said. “However, corridors
such as Morris Park Avenue
have over 100 years of resilience.
We have businesses
that have been serving the
community for decades, often
multiple-generations of the
same family.”
“BIDs provide real, boots
on the ground essential services
– and in Morris Park,
small businesses and property
owners should know that
the Morris Park BID is here
for them,” she added.
The Belmont BID’s businesses,
including retail, pharmacies,
restaurants and pastry
shops, along with cultural
institutions such as universities
and hospitals have also
been affected.
“Our store aisles are the
sidewalks – and many of our
businesses depend on the pedestrian
foot traffi c,” said
chairman Peter Madonia of
the Belmont BID.
When asked about the likelihood
of these neighborhood
businesses being closed down
for good due to the circumstances,
Madonia said that
will depend on the longevity
of the business and how long it
has been established.
“Unfortunately, the businesses
at risk in this scenario
are the new ones that are just
starting out,” he added.
Madonia added that some
of the businesses in the area
are shipping and scheduling
curbside pickups for customers.
“This is an area that has
survived several tough times
– from the 1918 Infl uenza pandemic
to World War II and the
1977 Blackout,” he said. “Although
the impacts from those
incidents seemed to be shorter
term, I’m confi dent that when
the dust settles, we can continue
to promote and get customers
back. Unfortunately,
it seems like we will have to
tread water and stay afl oat until
then.”
MPBID’s supplementary sanitation team disinfecting and sanitizing street furniture.
Photo Photo courtesy of the Morris Park BID