Iconic Bed-Stuy Wellness Store Fights To Stay Open After 52 Years

BED-STUY, NY — A beloved Bed-Stuy wellness shop and bookstore that has long educated and supported the local community is fighting to stay open—and an online fundraiser may give it a chance to survive.

Nicholas Brooklyn, located on Fulton Street between New York and Brooklyn avenues, has been a cornerstone of wellness in the neighborhood since the 1970s.

For more than five decades, it has offered a blend of culture, healing, and empowerment through books, herbs, oils, and community events.

Today, the store is run by single mother and business owner Monique Nicholas, who is determined to sustain her family and the store’s 52-year legacy.

“I carry both my family and this 52-year legacy on my shoulders,” Nicholas said. “I am doing everything I can to keep it alive and growing.”

Over the years, Nicholas Brooklyn has become more than a store. It serves as a sanctuary, hosting events that raise awareness, foster education, and empower the community, while also giving emerging entrepreneurs space to grow and be seen.

Now, Nicholas is calling on the community to help ensure the store can continue serving Brooklyn for generations to come.

In a GoFundMe post, Nicholas shared that inflation has driven up costs across the board, making it increasingly difficult to stay afloat.

She noted that operating expenses have climbed sharply, online competition has intensified, and a new store just a few doors down now offers many of the same products and services Nicholas Brooklyn has built its reputation on over decades.

“All of this has created a perfect storm,” Nicholas wrote.

She hopes to raise $80,000 to stabilize operations, cover critical repairs, and ensure Nicholas Brooklyn can continue serving the community for years to come.

So far, the fundraiser has brought in nearly $18,000 in just one month since it launched.

“Because of your generosity, I have already been able to pay off two major bills totaling nearly $18,000,” Nicholas said. “That is not small. That is real relief. That is movement. We still have four large outstanding bills to tackle, but we are making progress—and that is because of you.”

Nicholas Brooklyn, at 1396 Fulton Street, is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.