Welcome to all subscribers! I'm very late with the Mayhem that is Mercantile, it’s been a busy couple of weeks. I’ll get right to all the entrepreneurial endeavors happening in and around New York City.
But before we start, please welcome Mercantile Mayhem’s new sponsor, Welcome to Chinatown!
EVERYTHING PRETZELS AT ELBOW BAKERY
Elbow Bread is known for its bialys, schmaltz and scallion rolls and babka among other goodies, located on the Lower East Side. Elbow and the spice company extraordinaire Burlap & Barrel got together and made something. In the photo below, I admit, it looks like a little blob (I was having quasi heat stroke issues) but it’s a “everything pretzel” made with Burlap & Barrel’s new Everything Bagel Crunch.
Burlap & Barrel recently launched Everything Bagel Crunch that is a jumble of sesame seeds, blue poppy seeds, garlic, onion, salt pearls with a touch of caraway and cumin. Zoë Kanan, co-owner and baker at Elbow, fashioned pretzels and hot dog buns for a three-day Everything pretzel and hot dog experience. That particular collab has come and gone, but Everything Bagel Crunch is alive and well, as are Elbow’s sweet and savory pretzels, among the other baked goods. Perhaps it calls for a little DIY version at home.
MONTE’S FINE FOODS
I spotted PJ Monte in the East Village, driving his old school limo and crew to a Knicks party. And no, Monte does not rent out his limo for events.
Monte comes from some serious hospitality lineage. We are talking Monte’s Venetian Room in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, frequented by the infamous Rat Pack, owned by his great grandparents Angelo and Filomena Montemarano. The family business continued to Gurney’s Inn in Montauk and then Upstate New York.
During the pandemic, Monte launched a jarred tomato sauce based on his family’s recipe. The jarred sauce, officially known as Monte’s Fine Foods, sells in across the US including Whole Foods (even the one in Gowanus, close to where Monte’s Venetian Room once operated) to The Locavore Variety Store.
In addition to the sauce, other food items, plenty of merch can be found at Caffe Monte on Mulberry street, along with espresso and other specialty drinks.
SEMMA HOSTS A MEET & GREET FOR FURHAN AHMAD
I wrote about candidates running for Assembly District 66 and what they’d do to help independent businesses in the last newsletter, which included candidate Furhan Ahmad. Semma hosted an event for Ahmad recently. Roni Mazumdar, the founder and CEO of Unapologetic Foods asked him a few questions and yes, hors d'oeuvres were passed around and they were phenomenal.
Mazumdar asked Ahmad, who has been a firefighter, policeman and EMT worker in New York City, why he’s running for Assembly and his priorities.
Ahmad grew up in Elmhurst, Queens, his father was a taxi driver. When Ahmad, who is of Pakistani descent, mentioned that his uncle owned Shaheen Sweets in Queens, there was an audible gasp of appreciation and recognition from the crowd. Shaheen Sweets was a place for the community, where newly arrived immigrants often went when they were looking for an apartment, or how to get their drivers license, among other bits of New York City information.
Ahmad is basing his candidacy on whet he saw and experienced on thousands of 911 calls as an EMS worker, NYPD and FDNY, some gruesome and heartbreaking. He think issues around mental health and homelessness are paramount for the city. “I’m here for people who fall through the cracks,” he said, adding, “When you care for those who are forgotten, we all thrive.”
When he joined the FDNY, he was, in his words, “not received with open arms,” being a Pakistani, Muslim in the wake of September 11th. “My name put fear into peoples’ hearts,” he said, getting comments like, “infiltrator,” and “who the hell are you?” However, he stayed, eventually colleagues started to ask questions about his culture, and fast forward, he has scores of older Italian and Irish American pals and he even learned to make make the most amazing lasagne.
Mazumdar was born in India and grew up in the Bronx, his dad was a traffic cop among other jobs. When he opened Adda in Long Island City with Chef Chintan Pandya, it became wildly popular (it’s since moved to the East Village) and earned rave reviews. They now co-own several restaurants as part of Unapologetic Foods, which have a collection of James Beard Foundation Awards and Michelin stars.
As the name might suggest, Mazumdar and Pandya are known for their regional cuisine from various parts of India, and do not “Euro-centric-ize” the dishes. “We are not afraid to put those snails on the menu that we forage with grandma after the monsoon,” Mazumdar said at the event when explaining Unapologetic Foods to the crowd. (I can’t remember if I tried to order Chicken Tikka Masala—so sue me—when I went to Adda years ago, but whatever I ate it was delicious.)
And speaking of delicious, as in extraordinary, the Semma’s appetizers made by Chef Vijay Kumar, were absolutely outstanding. One might think, how good can hors d’oeuvres be? They can be fantastic!
ROVING KNIFE SHARPENING TRUCK, THE TRADITION LIVES!
I was roaming around on the Upper East Side and came across the marvelous Green Point Knives truck. Ryan White chose to shift careers, from production to knife sharpening, after he had a kid, because didn’t want to be away from home chunks at a time.
Green Point Knives, yes, sharpens knives, and they also sell Japanese Kikuichi knives. When someone came by to ask about sharpening one of his knives, he also asked about bulk sharpening because he volunteered at a local soup kitchen. White said he’d do it for free, he sharpens all FDNY and soup kitchens’ knives for free. Green Point Knives is a worker-owned business, which is not always the easiest transition to make, but many businesses are finding a way to make the worker-owned structure work.
You can find the truck schedule on their Instagram.
CENTER FOR AN URBAN FUTURE: HELPING INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES
The Center for an Urban Future (CUF) had an event last month called “Bolstering NYC’s Mom-and-Pop Small Businesses.” It started with a conversation between Jonathan Bowles, CUF’s Executive Director and the city’s new “Mom-and-Pop Czar” Delia Awusi. (I interpret “mom and pop” as any independent business, from an old school bodega to a boutique.)
The event got off to a “rousing” start, it was noted that business closures have recently outpaced openings in the last quarter. I actually love when agency officials are forthright and don’t sugar coat reality.
Awusi is going to address: access to financing, ensuring business owners understand the complexities of commercial leases, procurement and contracts. She wants to make government less burdensome, especially regulation from different agencies.
The following panel included Council Members, Gale Brewer, Selvena Brooks-Powers, Elsie Encarnacion and Shanel Thomas-Henry. They pinpointed issues like hefty violation fines for incorrect roll down gates and the expensive fees for outdoor dining permits. They cited how mental health, sanitation and drug use negatively impacts storefront businesses, for both owners and customers.
Thomas-Henry said there needs to be free and more accessible resources, better information about CDFIs. Encarnacion thinks the city should provide more pilot programs, opportunities like seasonal markets for entrepreneurs to test business ideas.
Brewer went on a roll, she said the city needs to get rid of the CRT tax, New York City needs a more systematic tourism strategy, business owners want grants, not loans, frivolous fines by the health department for something like a tilted sign, “Oh, come on!” She added that empty storefront are a blight, but she’s not sure taxing the landlord is a good idea.
The second panel included Randy Peers of the Brooklyn Chamber, Vic Lee of Welcome to Chinatown (yes, that one!), Justin Rodgers of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, Pedro Suarez of the Third Avenue BID in the South Bronx and Jessica Walker of the Manhattan Chamber. They interact with small business owners daily. First, it’s a given that inflation and tariffs continue to wreak havoc on small businesses.
They had many ideas to help bolster storefront businesses, the entire event can be watched here. But briefly, I’ll highlight a few points below.
Suarez business owners need regulation education, help with the rampant opioid use, like having physicians on the street 7 days a week. Incentivize property owners to activate vacant spaces.
Peers, of the Brooklyn Chamber, said that we are in a small business crisis. Government needs reduce fines and fees. Nobody is going to die if every haircut price is not on every barbershop mirror, for example. Address underwriting criteria for loans. Allow short term rentals again.
Lee succession planning is needed for generational businesses, tax incentive for an independent landlord to keep legacy businesses in place. Agencies need to communicate with each other.
Walker and her Manhattan Chamber staff wrote a “State of NYC Small Business” report last month and they graded the general landscape as a C-, she said many business owners think it’s worse. She is asking the city council to do an economic statement before passing legislation.
Rogers from Queens said that a new bus route had reduced foot traffic and sales by 30% to 40%. A stipend of some sort to help mom and pops purchase needed technology like ipads or other basics.
I hope at some point a panel, here or elsewhere, will include an actual independent business owner. It’s helpful to have their experiences and perspectives in the mix.
THE LENGTHS ONE ENTREPRENEUR WENT FOR OUTDOOR DINING PERMIT
In my last newsletter I wrote about a panel of candidates running for Assembly who discussed how they would help small businesses. There was lot’s of discussion about “cutting red tape” and in passing I mentioned Helen Zhang, the owner of Ziggy’s Roman Cafe, has been documenting her epic quest for an outdoor dining permit on Instagram.
After I posted, I coincidentally met her that day or the next! And I must give her props. Zhang was in the audience of the Center for an Urban Future’s Bolstering NYC Mom and Pops event (mentioned above) and afterwards approached Randy Peers of the Brooklyn Chamber.
Several hours later in a completely different part of town at the Small Business Month Expo, I meandered into a panel discussion room, and there was Zhang sitting in the audience, in front row. The panel was about outdoor dining and she soon had the mic in her hand, asking the panelists questions. According to Steven Picker, it can take five to six months for an outdoor dining permit, others said it can take a year. How is this possible?!? After the panel, Zhang discussed matters further with Picker, Kenny Minaya and Andrew Rigie.
As I was putting my newsletter together, I DMed Zhang to see what the status is, lo and behold, Ziggy’s Roman Cafe has an outdoor dining permit.
THE WILD WORLD OF KNICKS MERCH
I roamed around downtown during the Knicks parade and it was a sea of orange and blue Knicks merch, on bodies or being sold. Many of these entrepreneurial vendors worked overnight, replenishing their stock in the Bronx and then arrived downtown at 5am.
The vendors were in a good spirits, likely due to the excitement of the Knicks win and the revelry of the crowds. Or maybe it was because they were making money hand over fist.
THE FTC AND 17 STATES WILL SUE AMAZON NEXT YEAR
Are you sue Amazon curious? If so, Stacy Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR) and author Danny Caine talk about about the FTC/Amazon case and possible outcomes, which you can see here. It’s slated to go to court in March 2027. If you own a small business and want to sign a letter of support for the lawsuit written by Small Business Rising, you can find it here.
SIYAN WONG & SURE WE CAN: MAKE IT TEN CENTS
Imagine if those hard working entrepreneurial can collectors we see pushing carts of cans or balancing huge bags attached to a stick across their shoulders throughout the city, could double their income. That is what would happen if the redemption price per can/bottle was ten cents, rather than five cents.
In May there was a pop up in Chinatown’s Columbus Park with Sure We Can offering ten cents per can/bottle to canners. It demonstrated what the proposed Bigger Better Bottle Bill could do for canners. The original Bottle Bill became law in 1982 and the redemption price of five cents per can/bottle has not changed since.
The pop up was followed by a conversation with canners, Sure We Can employees and artist Siyan Wong, who painted a series on canners that were on exhibit at Welcome to Chinatown.
FOOD SERVICES VS RETAIL VS BIT O’ BOTH
Packaged food entrepreneurs have said that it’s exhilarating to walk into supermarkets, from Whole Foods to specialty shops, and see their product selling on the shelves. While selling retail can be glitz and glam in the visibility department, it can often be the opposite in the profitability department, unless a product is selling at high volume.
Food service is another path some food entrepreneurs take. Their products might end up on the plate of someone dining at a university, museum, hospital or a corporation’s cafeteria. Food services is often a steady, lucrative and high volume client for food entrepreneurs.
Slow Money NYC had a panel discussion with businesses that are active in food services this week at Santander in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Panelists included Anna Hammond, founder and CEO of Matriark Foods, Michael Webster, founder of Tory Hill Dining, Michael Bello of Compass USA and Brittney Trevisan of Thompson Hospitality; moderated by Kobla Asamoah of Slow Money NYC.
Some food businesses sell to both, generating income through a food service client, while simultaneously selling products on supermarket shelves. Selling products at supermarkets can be more of a marketing strategy than a source of revenue.
I found Matriark Foods interesting and no, it’s not just because Anna Hammond was wearing a Marimekko shirt. (Yes, I spotted it, and later asked her if she has any Finnish blood, no she doesn’t, but obviously she has excellent taste!) Matriark uses upcycled ingredients for vegetable sauces, concentrates and purees, which are typically sold to food services. However last year Matriark launched three jarred tomato sauces in retail shops like Whole Foods.
PRIVATE EQUITY BACKED BAGELRY
Somehow I missed this New York Times article back in April. It’s a story aka cautionary tale about private equity’s impact on the long established world of bagels. The article by Julia Moskin can be read here (gift article).
Thank you to Mercantile Mayhem’s sponsor Accompany Capital in New York City. Accompany Capital is a CDFI and helps micro and small businesses with loans and free financial services. Please read about Accompany Capital here.
Thank you to Small Business Majority, one of Mercantile Mayhem’s sponsors. Small Business Majority supports and empowers small businesses across the US with a focus on public policy. Please read about the organization here and visit their finance resource platform Venturize.
Thank you to Welcome to Chinatown, Mercantile Mayhem’s new sponsor located in the heart of Manhattan’s Chinatown. Welcome to Chinatown bolsters independent AAPI businesses in the neighborhood and beyond through free programs and events, advocacy and its co-working/gathering space, The Hub.
MERCANTILE MAYHEM SPONSORSHIP
If you would like to know Mercantile Mayhem sponsorship rates and newsletter stats please email me: ninarobertsnyc@gmail.com and I’ll send you the details. Please forward this newsletter to others.
OPPORTUNITIES GALORE
Santander’s Cohort 14 is calling! The free Cultivate Small Business program is geared for early-stage food businesses across the US with revenues of $25k - $1M. Participants receive mentorship, gain a community of fellow food entrepreneurs and capital grants of $2,500 to $20,000. The next cohort begins in September 2026, deadline to apply is July 21, 2026. Look here for more information or submit an application here.
The food, beverage and wellness accelerator BeyondCPG is looking for founder for their Track 7, which runs September 2026 to January 2027. The program has a NYC in person and virtual components. There are requirements and participation dealios to be aware of like a 5% equity exchange. Click here for details, deadline is July 1, 2016.
While I don’t exactly support Mamdani’s city-owned grocery store project (I do support groceries at a cheaper price for NYers in need) there is an RFP to create the visual identity for the endeavor called “N.Y.C. Groceries.” It could be ideal for an independent design/branding/marketing firm. Deadline is June 30, for more information and to apply click here.
The Brooklyn PowerUP Business Plan Competition is revving up for a new season, winners can get $20,000, $10,000, and $5,000 prizes. There are requirements, so read the FAQ. There is no clear deadline that I can find.
WomensNet offers a number of grants to women-owned businesses on a rolling basis, peruse grant information here.
Small Business Majority (yes, one of my woooonderful sponsors!) has ongoing live virtual webinars as well as on-demand webinars, check their events page here.
Start Small Think Big is an organization that pairs experts with small business owners for free to share their expertise. I usually list specific workshops, like choosing the right legal structure, or using NDAs, but there are many in the near future, you can peruse them here.
Welcome to Chinatown still has an open call for their Test Thursday program. The program allows emerging food and beverage brands to test out their serving operations and products, click here for more information.
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