Long Winter Ahead for Small Businesses in NYC’s South Street Seaport

A host of small businesses remain closed for a variety of reasons in the South Street Seaport area of Lower Manhattan, while those that have reopened after Hurricane Sandy are looking at a long winter.

Councilman Robert Jackson speaks with Robert Warner, artist and printer at Bowne & Co. Stationers, a company founded in 1775. Much of the store's inventory was not badly damaged during the hurricane so the store has reopened, though it was empty on Monday afternoon. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times

NEW YORK—A host of small businesses remain closed for a variety of reasons in the South Street Seaport area of Lower Manhattan, while those that have reopened after Hurricane Sandy are looking at a long winter.

The New Amsterdam Market, held on weekends near the water East River, will close after this Sunday, according to founder Robert LaValva. The market typically brings 1,000 to 1,500 people into the area, many of whom then visit some of the small businesses in the area.

LaValva wants to start the market back up in February instead of its typical April start.

Jacqueline Goewey, owner of Made Fresh Daily on Front Street, said she is worried what will happen after the market shuts down for the season since it brings so many people into the area.

The store was fairly busy Monday afternoon but many businesses in the area remain closed. Made Fresh Daily sustained $30,000 to $40,000 in damages from Hurricane Sandy. It opened several weeks after the hurricane with many things replaced; the wooden counter next to the front window still has a little sawdust on it.