Downtown’s Restaurants win Best in Westchester With so many wonderful eateries in the County, this is big. NRBID Downtown Top Chefs have bested the competition to win top spots on Westchester Magazine’s Best of Westchester for 2020. Alvin’s and Friends at 31 Memorial highway has won for the second year in a row in the Caribbean Specialties category and Juicy Chicken at 6 Division Street has landed the top honors for their Roasted Chicken. Hot idea for this … [Read more...]

Independence Day is a time to note our small business owners’ super-hero qualities. We have hundreds of independent Downtown business people working daily to provide services, meals, and products to the community. The essence of being a business owner in America has always been infused with independence and freedom. Never more than in the recent months have hard work, dedication, and commitment been what carries our entrepreneurs to this moment. Like those who came before us in this land, … [Read more...]

Reopening continues to bring services back into our lives Westchester Nails it with Phase Three: Polishing resumes, Hair salons cut hair not hours, and Restaurants welcome back their diners—inside. This certainly has been a time when getting back to your roots was not about genealogy. Anyone who ever hid some grey is relieved as the barbers and stylists continue to fill schedules and repair self-done cut and color jobs. With safely spaced seating, mani-pedis will be done in time … [Read more...]

Downtown Restaurants are serving it up outside Summer dining is coming back to Division Street and City will test a new program there What a joy it is to sit outside and be served again by a professional server. Did you ever think you would want a little breeze with your steak as much as you do now? The NRBID Restaurants have been moving outside into a socially distanced framework. Wooden Spoon, Modern 310 and Magno’s Grill have expanded their outdoor seating. You’ll see that Alvin and … [Read more...]

As we usher in June, doors are Re-opening By supporting our Downtown businesses, we are helping everyone pivot into the next phases The trends are continuing to move favorably and this means that our NRBID merchants are hard at work adapting and making sure all is safe so that we diners and shoppers can participate in the gentle waves of Re-opening.  Once again we will experience the simple act of selecting something lovely--in a brick and mortar place. We will be able to dine … [Read more...]

In phases, our Downtown Businesses are Beginning to Re-open Since it is still Spring, we hope for a “re-blooming” of business. As we all have been hoping for, Downtown New Rochelle qualifies for Phase One of the New York State Forward re-opening plan. Our retail merchants now will be able to begin take-out/curbside/in-store pickup/drop off sales. Our NRBID and business owners continue to watch State and County stats, listen to the City’s lead and get set. For our New Rochelle … [Read more...]

We are Finding a Prism of Ways to Celebrate With the season upon us, our graduations, birthdays, memorials, engagements, weddings and Celebrations of Life are looking safer—and smaller. Yet any size event is made that much more memorable with food.  That’s why our Downtown Restaurants are stepping up to provide an international array of authentic flavors for your new kind of parties. Whether it is a Zoom event or a backyard small group of 10, we have more than a dozen of our … [Read more...]

State and County Data to Guide City’s Reopening New Rochelle’s Downtown merchants have shown great tenacity and creativity in recent weeks as the unfolding pandemic challenged both personal and professional routines.  The lessons learned along the way will surely change “business as usual” for many merchants, enabling many to one day return stronger than ever. Until then, we can all help make a difference within our local community by showing our support to the restaurants and other … [Read more...]

Doing good does good — for everyone involved. Downtown businesses contribute servicesto honor and help. In the midst of their own reinventions, so many of our businesses are contributing to the community. Quietly. They are cooking for thousands. They are donating meals to hospital workers, first responders, and families in need. They are participating in the City’s gift card program NourishAll. The list goes on. How does this good work happen? Community+Care+Commitment. That’s how we see … [Read more...]

New Rochelle’s famous retailing dynasty loses Lewis Cohen. Illustration Credit: Robert Klein Retailer Lewis Cohen’s family business began in the1800s and dressed the rich and famous for generations. There were many years when limousines would pull up to 525 Main Street and wait while the clients shopped. There is even a story about the City being lent funds to make the bill list. This week, our New Rochelle Downtown lost our long term merchant, the grandson of the founder. We honor … [Read more...]