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Looking to support some great women-owned businesses? These are 16 shops and businesses we love in the city right now.
Women's History Month celebrates amazing women who changed history and strong female leaders, but it also is the perfect time to sing the praises of women who are creative, tough and brilliant. That's why we are highlighting 16 women-owned businesses in NYC this month. It takes a lot to run a business and when you're a woman, it arguably takes more. From homespun earthenware and high-fashion streetwear to perfectly shaped brows and craft beer, it’s clear that talent runs aplenty in this town. New York City is home to a plethora of women-owned businesses worthy of your wallet. Below are just some of our favorites.
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LeAnn Darland and Tara Hankinson opened their first taproom in Williamsburg in March 2021, serving up refreshing, fruit-forward beer as well as cocktails, wine, and snacks in the evenings and coffee and tea in the mornings. It has both indoor and outdoor seating as well as draft and canned beer to go. You'll want to keep an eye on its Instagram for new beer releases, pop-ups and giveaways.
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Kayli Kunkel opened Earth & Me in Astoria, Queens when she lost her job and grabbed at the opportunity to offer a place where people could shop from sustainable brands to help reduce waste and live more thoughtfully. Earth & Me buys from small-batch makers which means lower prices, less packaging, and smaller overhead. Kunkel says she hopes to educate people on a zero-waste lifestyle because she believes that is "what it takes to make a change in environmental norms and policy—sustained grassroots pressure."
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The iconic bookstore that boasts 18 miles of books and a mammoth collection of more than 2 million discount volumes is actually owned by a woman, Nancy Bass Wyden. She is among the third generation of Bass’ to run the store and inherited it from her father. If you spend enough time here you can find just about anything, from that out-of-print Victorian book on manners to the kitschiest of sci-fi pulp.
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Fishs Eddy the eccentric and eclectic dishware store was co-counded by Julie Gaines in 1986 as a small shop selling plates rescued from restaurant suppliers. Gaines has led design collaborations with NYC artists big and small and often uses the storefront’s windows to display progressive and feminist support messages. Walking into this Flatiron spot feels as if you’ve just stumbled upon the best stall at the flea market. Worn-wood shelves support stack upon stack of assorted rainbow-colored dishes, mismatched vintage china, toile teapots and other kitschy kitchenwares. The amazingly cheap price tags make it worth battling the often-pressing crowds to stock up on assorted flatware and glassware, including oversize stemless martini glasses, elegant champagne flutes and Italian-style painted wineglasses.
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Co-founded by CEO Rebecca Parekh, THE WELL is a holistic medical wellness center that combines fitness, nutrition, beauty, and mental wellness, all under one roof. This 13,000 square foot space offers a holistic approach to health. "I knew I wanted to bring that integrated [wellness] experience to NYC in a way that was easy-to-navigate and filled some of the gaps that our traditional healthcare options lack," Parekh said about creating THE WELL. It has a full-service spa with steam, sauna and relaxation areas, a robust medical practice, organic restaurant and foot rub lounge, three yoga, fitness and meditation studios and a library with innovative weekly programming. It's a one-stop-shop for wellness.
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If you've heard of those early, 6am dance parties, you'll be happy to know that Daybreakers was founded and is owned by Radha Agrawal. Daybreakers brings joy and life to New Yorkers' lives before the sun even pops up over the skyline. (Daybreakers will be closing out their national tour at Brookfield Place, the only NYC location, on March 30 from 6-9 am.)
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When Daisy Wang graduated from Parsons School of Design, she couldn’t find comfortable, non-gimmicky Asian streetwear she wanted to wear. So she made them herself. Dubbed “modern chinoiserie,” Dawang pairs American and Chinese aesthetics for clothes you truly want to be photographed in — like a super ruched midi skirt and open fly sweatpants. Catch Dawang duds on Instagram’s coolest influencers and at indie fashion market Flying Solo.
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For years, Claudette Flatow taught cooking classes out of her small kitchen in the Rockaways. Her business eventually grew to Cuisine By Claudette, a health-conscious brand featuring fresh smoothies and homemade baked goods. Reopening after Hurricane Sandy’s flooding was the hardest part, but now, Claudette and her sons are thriving with two brick-and-mortars and three in-gym smoothie bars. When you go, peep their vegan menu and try the fried oyster mushroom sandwich!
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If you’re going for cute, and we mean, putting-cupcake-confetti-in-your-hair cute, then you might just vibe with Sherbet with Sprinkles. Denise DeNicola started crafting barrettes, necklaces, rings and pom-poms as “a way for me to send a little part of myself” to school with her two daughters. Now, the Staten Island-based Etsy shop is rife with holiday-themed duds from pastel Easter bunny hair clips to tiny felted leprechaun hats for St. Patrick’s Day!
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Shaping brows was always just a hobby for Yulisa Guzman, but after getting licensed and training with celebrity brow artist Kelley Baker, it took a higher form. Not only does she make “brow goals” a reality in the Bronx, but she creates a nourishing Browmergency oil to accompany her artistry, alluring clients from all across the city to experience how “lovely” their brows can truly be.
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We all know: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. No one knows that better than Tracy Soloman, a granola guru who creates gourmet, gluten-free blends full of nuts, fruits and spices, available on her website. These aren’t just your plain ol’ oats. For those who crave comforting autumnal vibes, she’s got Fall Back, a mapley mix reminiscent of your favorite season. Or if you want a kick, try Say Olé, a nutty concoction with Mexican spices.
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With each earth-toned vessel carved and textured by hand, when you’re buying pottery from Camille Beckles, you know you’re getting something one of a kind. Her “perfectly imperfect” pieces landed her a West Elm collaboration in February. But if you have your eyes set on that glazed tumbler set or stack of speckled plates, don’t wait—Camille’s drops sell out quickly. Watch her website near the end of March for her freshest work.
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Sundays’ owner Amy Ling wants nail care to be self care. Booking an appointment in one of her spaces gets you away from the hustle and into a tranquil state of mind. You even have the option to listen to a guided meditation during your service. Not only is the Sundays experience gentle on your mind; it’s gentle on your nails, too. Their cruelty-free line of products — including their signature polish and soy polish remover — are all non-toxic.
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Knitters, unite! No, really. On India Yasmein’s Instagram, you can connect with other needle-wielders during her “Sip & Knit” live streams. Yasmein sells her fashionable creations, with very New York-centric names, on her website and at Astoria’s The Brass Owl. Her Bac N Brooklyn and Please Tri Beca beanies are great for riding out the rest of winter… or perhaps you’ll want to cop a coverup for summer. And if you wanna DIY one of her designs, she offers patterns, too.
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Enroll your little one in Cara Buffalino-Silman’s virtual cooking classes, and you’ll have a mini chef on your hands. By teaching children the connection between cooking and food, the founder of Fresh Made NYC says she encourages creativity, curiosity and individuality. (Added bonus: your kid will be able to bake bomb breadsticks.) Offering kids’ classes and camps, special events like birthday parties and even adult classes, there’s something tasty for everyone.
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At Gone To The Dogs, Jennifer Wong and Santos Agustin are looking to make change — not just for your dogs, but for the planet. Sourcing their products from recycled, reclaimed or renewable materials, the owners also put NYC to work, working with Custom Collaborative marginalized craftswomen the opportunity for a fair wage. Put your pooch in a turtleneck, or treat him with a shumai dumpling toy — a portion of all proceeds go toward animal shelters.