BY BEN VERDE
As temperatures drop and
New York City braces for its
fi rst big snowstorm of the season,
a Prospect Lefferts Gardens
restaurant has transformed
its outdoor dining
patio into a thriving holiday
market, giving local craftspeople
a space to hawk their wares
in person.
Fjolla Sheholli, the owner
of Honey Badger, a “wild to
table” dinner-only eatery on
Fenimore Street near Flatbush
Avenue, said she thought
it was the best way to make use
of her spacious outdoor dining
setup during the day while the
restaurant is closed.
“Since we’re not open during
the daytime, I thought,
‘What is the best thing we can
do?’ said Sheholli. “Maybe to
use it with some local community
artists.”
Starting the weekend of
SHOPPING
Dec. 11, local artisans have
set up shop in the individual
dining cabins Honey Badger
has erected. In place of
charging rent, Sheholli, who
in years past has helped purchase
Christmas presents for
local families in need, is asking
the artists to donate a portion
of their sales to a community
fund for purchasing
gifts, and has also launched
a GoFundMe to further those
efforts.
“People can come and sell
and make something during
these uncertain times, while
the rest can support them, and
COURIER L 26 IFE, DEC. 18–24, 2020 PS
BROOKLYN
it’s going to go back to the community
and to a good cause,”
she said.
The holiday market isn’t
the only initiative Honey Badger
has taken during the ongoing
coronavirus pandemic.
In the spring, Sheholli and
a team of volunteers helped
provide daily meals to over
60 homebound seniors in the
neighborhood.
“Community plays a key
part in supporting the business,”
Sheholli said.
Honey Badger’s outdoor patio
is also uniquely suited for
the market, with a number of
individual dining huts that
are easily converted into holiday
market stalls, complete
with air fi lters and heaters.
During its premiere weekend,
the market was host to
vendors selling candles, tshirts,
jewelry, and soaps.
Honey Badger sits next door
to Les’ Blooms, a fl orist who
is selling Christmas trees
and wreaths, which Sheholli
said has drawn foot traffi c to
the space and created a holiday
market feeling through
the small commercial strip on
Fenimore Street.
“With the snow this week
it’s really going to feel like one
of those holiday markets,” she
said Tuesday.
To market, to market
Prospet Leff erts Gardens eatery selling local gift s
Honey Badger Holiday Market,
67 Fenimore St. near
Flatbush Avenue in Prospect
Lefferts Gardens, Dec. 18-20,
Noon-5 pm.
NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN
ANNUAL
Caribbean Life's Annual Impact Awards recognizes the
achievements and contributions of outstanding individuals
of Caribbean background who have created the most
impact in their respective career fields — from the arts, to
advocacy, entrepreneurship, and much more. By
establishing themselves in these lanes, they’ve helped
continue opening the path for incoming immigrants and
inspiring generations to come.
Submit your nomination
www.CaribbeanImpactAwards.com/Nominate2020
or call Amanda Tarley at 718 249 9640
Sponsored by
Some of the wares at the Honey Badger holiday market. Fjolla Sheholli
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