NYC Small Businesses Hit Winter Slowdown

NEW YORK, NY— One week after a winter storm slowed foot traffic across the City, neighborhood shop owners say they are still feeling the financial impact, even as the its new small business commissioner promises to ease bureaucratic pressure.

At Village Supplements in East Village, manager Ashton Negrin said the store did not close, but revenue dropped as customers stayed home.

When nearby storefronts shutter, he said, customers notice which businesses remain.

“Winter is a hard time for many people. Village Supplements can be a highlight in someone’s day,” Negrin said. “We’re that place where everyone knows your name.”

At Gaia Masala & Burger in Astoria, an employee said the restaurant also opened during the storm.

“I’m not sure why we opened,” she said. “But our owners wanted us to.”

She said business was steady, but slower than usual.

The experiences come as Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed Small Business Services Commissioner Kenny Minaya with a mandate to reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of New York City,” Mamdani said in announcing his broader agenda.

He has directed city agencies to review thousands of regulations and identify ways to reduce and streamline fines and fees.

Minaya said his priorities will focus on making it easier to start and operate a business in the five boroughs.

“As the son of immigrant small business owners, I know firsthand the challenges that our entrepreneurs face,” Minaya said.

For shop owners navigating unpredictable weather, fluctuating sales and rising costs, the promise of streamlined rules offers cautious optimism.

In the meantime, they continue unlocking their doors.

“It’s all about being able to serve the community,” Negrin said. “And we’re happy to have the opportunity to do so.”