Small businesses in downtown
Jamaica working to stay afl oat
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
The streets in the heart of
downtown Jamaica nowadays
are quite empty, as people
continue to stay at home to
mitigate the spread of the
coronavirus.
“It used to be a bustling
transportation hub where people
pick up all forms of transportation,”
said Hope Knight,
executive director of the
Greater Jamaica Development
Corporation. “There were a lot
of developments in the works
as well, but there’s none of that
today.”
One of Queens’ three regional
business districts,
downtown Jamaica is home to
a variety of civic and cultural
institutions, while its bustling
transportation hub serves as
a major gateway to New York
City.
It is also home to a dynamic
mix of national and independent
local businesses and a variety of
retail and food services.
However, since the coronavirus
first struck in New York
City, most small businesses in
the area have been impacted,
according to Knight.
“Businesses are basically
shut down. There are very few
businesses that are open in the
area that are offering pickup
and delivery services,” Knight
said. “We never could’ve conceived
a situation like this.
Some landlords are asking
for rent and there have been
layoffs of staff.”
For Dawn Kelly, owner of
The Nourish Spot — a neighborhood
juice, smoothie and
salad bar — business has been
“magnificent.” The store has
remained open offering curbside
pickup service and customers
can receive their packages
via DoorDash, GrubHub,
Postmates or Seamless.
“In the bible, there’s a scripture
that says God establishes
you for such a time as this.
Well, I believe this is the time,”
Kelly said. “People realize that
remaining healthy and maintaining
a healthy lifestyle and
diet inoculates your body from
disease, and so, people are
really trying their best to
eat healthier.”
Kelly opened The Nourish
Spot, located at 107-05 Guy
R. Brewer Blvd., in March
2016 with her two children,
Jade Duncan, 29, and Owen
Duncan, 31.
Of their seven employees —
who are high school seniors —
two opted to stay home in fear
of contracting the virus. Her
current employees have been
working at the store since the
beginning of the crisis.
“They come to work and put
on a mask and gloves to make
food for our clients, in spite
TIMESLEDGER | 2 QNS.COM | MAY 1-MAY 7, 2020
of the fact that they’re heartbroken
over the fact that they
won’t be able to experience
their senior year,” Kelly said.
“Them coming to work provides
a sense of normalcy that
keeps them mentally okay.”
Overall, Kelly is grateful
for the support of clientele and
local elected officials during
this unprecedented time.
“We’ve created a rapport
with our clientele, and I had
regulars before the virus hit
New York City,” Kelly said.
Now, I have new regulars that I
know will continue to count on
as Nourishers,” Kelly said.
In the meanwhile, Kelly is
awaiting to hear whether or
not she’s been approved for a
loan under the Paycheck Protection
Program (PPP).
“I’d rather apply for it and
have the money saved just in
case I need it,” Kelly said.
According to Knight, many
small business owners are interested
in the PPP, a $349 billion
loan designed to provide
a direct incentive for small
businesses to keep their workers
on the payroll during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The Small Business Administration
will forgive loans
if all employees are kept on the
payroll for eight weeks and the
money is used for payroll, rent,
mortgage interest, or utilities,
according to the SBA website.
In early April, the first
round of PPP approvals left
many small businesses without
funds. Now, small businesses
are getting a second
chance at a financial lifeline
as an additional $310 billion
in government loans roll out
April 27.
The GJDC has been assisting
small business owners by
redirecting various governmental
programs and organizations
that provide grant
funding to small businesses.
They have also been distributing
information on social
media, webinars and zoom
meetings, while also anticipating
the needs of businesses
when the economy reopens,
Knight said.
“For small businesses, once
they’re open, we really do have
to support them,” Knight said.
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@
schnepsmedia.com or
by phone at (718) 260–4526.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, The Nourish Spot in Jamaica has been providing delivery
and curbside pickup for customers. Courtesy of Dawn Kelly/The Nourish Spot
We never could’ve conceived
a situation like this.
Hope Knight
Executive director of the Greater
Jamaica Development Corporation
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