Brooklyn's Progress
June 2003

Yú Interiors, the Fort Greene avant garde home interior and accessories design store, hosted the kick-off of Fulton FIRST's second annual round of Store Front Strolls (SFS).  On Thursday, April 24, Fulton FIRST, an economic development initiative of Fleet and the New York City Department of Small Business Services, brought together business owners, business service providers and property owners, to showcase available storefronts for lease or purchase on Fulton Street in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. 

The event was the first SFS of 2003, continuing the first SFS that started in 2002.  The goal of SFS is to promote Fulton Street as a great place to do business, to continue to highlight the support available to small businesses through Fulton FIRST and to promote the neighborhoods of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill and Bedford-Stuyvesant as communities that will support a diverse and bustling business district.  The event attracted more than 30 participants as well as NYC Council Member James E. Davis and NYC Department of Small Business Director of Commercial Revitalization, Ron Melichar.

"This is great," remarked Council Member Davis, "showing off businesses, showing off the area, creating an environment that is supportive to the neighborhood business owner.  Fulton FIRST is doing what needs to be done." 

Recognizing the connection between neighborhood businesses and local economic development, Ron Melichar remarked, "We need to have these up and down Fulton Street.  Yes, in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, but in Bed-Stuy too.  This is about building neighborhoods, about the strength that the small business owner is to the neighborhood economy."

SFS participants were delighted to see a number of storefronts ranging from small intimate spaces at roughly 500 square feet to larger spaces totaling over 9,000 square feet.  Fulton FIRST will host 3 more SFS throughout the spring and summer.  Contact Doug Jones, Director of Economic Development, (718) 875-1000x107, for more information.

By Doug Jones