SMALL BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN
JAMAICA WORKING TO STAY AFLOAT
3
QUEENS WEEKLY, MAY 3, 2020
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 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
Businesses are basically shut down. There are very few businesses that
are open in the area that are offering pickup and delivery services. We
never could’ve conceived a situation like this.
Hope Knight
Executive director of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation
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