March is Women’s History Month — a time to recognize the amazing contributions of women throughout history and in contemporary society. In honor of celebrating women this month, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite women-owned businesses along our South Brooklyn route that you can support, not only in March, but all year round.
?Corlears Hook
Sky Ting Yoga
Owners: Krissy Jones + Chloe Kernaghan
The first Sky Ting Yoga Studio was opened in Chinatown by founders Krissy Jones and Chloe Kernaghan in 2015, inspired by art, design, and the rich culture of diversity of downtown New York. The focus at Sky Ting Yoga is to offer the highest quality of yoga possible in a beautiful space and environment.
What piece of advice would you give to women looking to start their own business in New York City?
“When starting something you have to be super clear about what you’re looking to create and what you believe in. When working from a place that is honest and true to you, your product has a better chance of flourishing!”
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Sky Ting Yoga – 55 Chrystie St, New York, NY 10002
Dimes
Owners: Sabrina De Sousa + Alissa Wagner
An eclectic, yet minimalist space with health-conscious Californian-style fare. Their vibrant, healthy plates and carefully designed brand provide more than just dinnertime needs to hip, artsy New Yorkers. They now have merch, a deli, a market, and catering.
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Dimes – 49 Canal St, New York, NY 10002
Maryam Nassir Zadeh
Owner: Maryam Nassir Zadeh
Iranian-born Maryam Nassir Zadeh opened her boutique in 2008, but it wasn’t until 2012 that she launched her own in-house collection of womenswear, shoes and accessories. Now, Zadeh produces vintage-inspired pieces with a modern update. In 2020 she even expanded to menswear, her inspiration came from how she would incorporate “mens” clothing into her own look.
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Maryam Nassir Zadeh – 123 Norfolk St, New York, NY 10002
Coming Soon
Owners: Helena Barquet + Fabiana Faria
Coming Soon is a furniture design + gift shop founded by Helena Barquet and Fabiana Faria in 2013. They curate, create and sell beautifully designed things for the home that make perfect gifts for loved ones or yourself. Their collaborative approach allows them to source, fine-tune and experiment in a way traditional retail stores cannot, and lends itself to a warmer, more welcoming experience.
What piece of advice would you give to women looking to start their own business in New York City?
“Don’t take anyone for granted, always try to support other women and be fearless.”
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Coming Soon – 37 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Dirt Candy
Owner: Amanda Cohen
Dirt Candy is a veggie-forward restaurant from the mind of award-winning chef, Amanda Cohen. At Dirt Candy, dinner is an experience of the raw and the cooked, the bold and the beautiful, full of roaring fire, tableside grilling, strange broths, and dishes that are both deceptively simple and staggeringly complex. Their menu changes regularly, serving a single tasting menu that changes seasonally.
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Dirt Candy – 86 Allen St, New York, NY 10002
Bluestockings Cooperative
Owner: Kathryn Welsh
Bluestockings Cooperative is a collectively-run activist center, community space, and feminist bookstore that offers non-judgemental resource research and provides a radically inclusive place for all genders, cultures, expansive sexualities, and identities. The cooperative has been located on the Lower East Side for over 21 years, serving as a sanctuary for NYC’s overlapping queer communities. Bluestockings has evolved from a women’s bookstore to a feminist community center whose work is rooted in care and mutuality.
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Bluestockings Cooperative – 116 Suffolk St, New York, NY 10002
MiMi Cheng’s
Owners: Hannah + Marian Cheng
After not being able to find cooking like their Mom’s, Hannah and Marian Cheng opened Mimi Cheng’s in the summer of 2014, making Taiwanese dumplings by hand everyday. They use fresh organic ingredients, extra virgin olive oil, and non-GMO sunflower oil. Their mom, Mimi, taught them to never take shortcuts and three locations later, they are still sticklers on making food the right way.
What piece of advice would you give to women looking to start their own business in New York City?
“Don’t be afraid to do something that you have zero experience in. Like most things, you will learn quickly by doing. Experience is the best teacher so get your hands dirty. Also, ignore the naysayers that you will definitely meet; what they say is a reflection of themselves, not you.”
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MiMi Cheng’s – 380 Broome St, New York, NY 10013
Lovely Day
Owner: Kazusa Jibiki
Lovely Day is a little cafe in Nolita that serves Thai-inspired food. It’s got a unique vibe with flower print wallpaper, red leather booths, and an old-timey cash register behind the bar. You’re guaranteed to have a good meal for a good price, and that sure makes for a lovely day to us.
What piece of advice would you give to women looking to start their own business in New York City?
“You don’t have to try to work like a man, or someone else whom you are not. You can be a woman entrepreneur and still relax about it. I feel that I’ve been helped by lots of nice people to run Lovely Day. I think what’s important is to have a good communication, be sincere and fair to your staff and vendors. Also, making sure your customers are happy.”
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Lovely Day – 196 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012
?Brooklyn Army Terminal
Kimchi Kooks
Owner: Kate Kook
In 2015, Kate Kook and her son, WooJae Chung, established Kimchi Kooks in Brooklyn, New York. While growing up in Seoul, Kate’s grandfather owned the then well-known Kŭmbong Brewery that produced cheongju, a high quality rice wine, from early 1920s until the late 1960s. Kate has since perfected her own traditional Kook recipes that feature the Classic Kimchi and the Original White Kimchi.
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Kimchi Kooks – 119 Bay Ridge Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220
?Pier 6
Picture Room
Owner: Sandeep Salter + Sarah McNally
Sandeep Salter recognized an opportunity for a shop selling affordable artwork, so she partnered with Sarah McNally to open Picture Room. Picture Room sells work by emerging and established contemporary artists, as well as rare prints, posters, artists’ books, and art publications.
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Picture Room – 117 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201
?Pier 11
McNally Jackson Books
Owner: Sarah McNally
McNally Jackson Books at The Seaport offers plenty of diverse reads in the two floor, historic Schermerhorn Row building, built in 1811. Windows overlook the cobblestones and armchairs anchor each room. Don’t forget to stop for a drink at the ground-floor bar and café after you find your next read!
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