news — DOWNTOWN STATEN ISLAND

North Shore business owners seeking public support to form Business Improvement District

Posted March 9, 2023 | By Jessica Jones-Gorman

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A steering committee of North Shore property and business owners is beginning public outreach efforts to achieve support for a Business Improvement District (BID) in Downtown Staten Island. The proposed BID would oversee and fund the maintenance, improvement and promotion of the business district to ensure its vitality.

“As a business owner and resident of Stapleton for over 38 years, I’ve lived through projects that were to be the hope of revitalization and were not, including the NY Wheel, Urby, Lighthouse Point, and the esplanade, to name a few,” noted long-time North Shore entrepreneur, Ettore Mazzei, owner of Edgewater Hall and Chez Vous Catering. “In my view, the Business Improvement District will contribute to the long-term steady growth of downtown Staten Island.”

Owner of Chez Vous Catering honored for commitment to North Shore

Posted January 9, 2022 | By Michael Anderson

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — When a 12-year-old Ettore Mazzei got his start in the restaurant business, he was washing dishes at Lucchese’s House of Seafood.

“I worked at Lucchese’s, washing dishes for about five to six years before I cooked, became a bartender, and then moved to the front of the house. I never left the restaurant business,” he said.

Although he graduated in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics & financing from the College of Staten Island, Mazzei followed his food and hospitality passion. The following year, Mazzei founded Chez Vous Catering from his basement.

1010 WINS Neighborhood Spotlight: Featuring Staten Island's Downtown District

Posted March 8, 2022

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) - The 1010 WINS Neighborhood Spotlight on the Staten Island Downtown District on the North Shore, sponsored by Dime Community Bank and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.

Watch the 1010 WINS Neighborhood Spotlight on the Downtown District of Staten Island, where you will hear all about the exciting enhancements to the area, including from the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, The Staten Island FerryHawks, and The Angiuli Group - who has been investing and developing properties along the North Shore.

Neighborhood groups across NYC rally to eat and shop locally, show the love to small business

Posted February 10, 2022 | By Pamela Silvestri

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Neighborhood groups across the Big Apple banned together to deliver messages of love an support for its resident small businesses. As a result, nine borough eateries will be highlighted in the initiative dubbed “Sweethearts Shop Local.”

Patrons at select Downtown Staten Island locations will receive a free chocolate rose. Those eateries are Pier 76 (Pier76SI.com) Beso (BesoNYC.com) and Cargo Cafe (CargoCafeSI.com.) In Tompkinsville, Flour & Oak (Flourandoak.com) and O’Henry’s Publick House (Ohenryspub.com). Stapleton’s participants include VINUM (Vinumnyc.com), The Richmond (Therichmondsi.com), Taverna on the Bay (Tavernaonthebay.com) and Lakruwana Sri Lankan restaurant (LakruwanaRestaurant.com).

Downtown staten island highlighted in “native dish” video series

Posted March 18, 2022

In 2004, while Nigerian Princess Adebisi Olaloko was living comfortably in Abeokuta, in the Ogun State province of Nigeria, she was granted an opportunity, winning the American Green Card Lottery. She took a chance, knowing there could be greater prosperity in the United States. Her uncle, living on the North Shore of Staten Island— a community of many African immigrants—took her in while pursuing a career in Healthcare.

While living there, and grocery shopping, she eventually found that there were a lack of African goods available. She then switched careers and decided to open a pan-African goods store in her community,. Her business, Legacy Africana Market, helped create more demand for imported African products. Years later, Adebisi expanded her business to include select African housewares and beauty supplies, and opened a second branch that carried these items.

‘Ice Cream Truck of Rights,’ ‘People’s Bus,’ made stop on Staten Island for festival

Posted August 28, 2021 | By Giavanni Alves

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Beauty, joy, resilience, equity and representation are some of the many themes behind The People’s Festival, that was marked by the “Ice cream Truck of Rights,” and “The People’s Bus” making a stop on Staten Island on Friday.

The festival -- organized by the NYC Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) along with the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, and Public Artist in Residence (PAIR) Yazmany Arboleda -- kicked off in Brooklyn last week and will conclude in the Bronx on September 5.

Volunteers from National grid clean bay street corridor

Updated September 29, 2021; Posted September 28, 2021 | By Maura Grunlund

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Employees of National Grid teamed with the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and District Attorney Michael E. McMahon in efforts to clean and refresh the Bay Street Corridor.

The volunteers gathered on Sept. 17 on Minthorne Street in Tomkinsville before tackling various beautification efforts, including cleaning and weeding tree beds along the busy street from St. George to Stapleton.

Outer borough tourism will help fuel new york’s comback

Posted May 12, 2021 | By Linda Baran and Tom Grech

Energy and excitement are slowly returning to New York City. Don’t forget the hidden business and cultural gems of the outer boroughs. Take the Staten Island Ferry to the North Shore to outlet-shop, visit the beach, enjoy a pop-up performance at the St. George Theatre or explore the history and open space of Snug Harbor.

Downtown staten island’s janet dugo saluted by 1010wins

Posted April 8, 2021

Downtown Staten Island businesses receiving support.

Screen Shot 2021-05-25 at 9.34.37 AM.png

St. George Theatre, CSI virtual reality lab will get part of $10 million in state funding along with other Island projects

Updated May 24, 2021; Posted May 24, 2021

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Eight projects on the North Shore will share $10 million in state funding as part of Albany’s broader efforts to revitalize downtown areas around New York.

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul came to Flagship Brewery in Tompkinsville to announce the winners of the funding first announced November 2019.

Dollar figures include $2.3 million for a College of Staten Island (CSI) Center for Innovation virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) lab at Lighthouse Point, and $1 million for improvements to the St. George Theatre.

Screenshot (366).png

Downtown Staten Island Weekend Walk held in Tompkinsville

Updated Sep 23, 2019; Posted Sep 23, 2019 | By Joseph Ostapiuk

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Hundreds of borough residents descended on Minthorne Street in Tompkinsville on Sunday for the second-annual Downtown Staten Island Weekend Walk.

The event, which turned the street into a public plaza for the day, featured live music, an NYPD rock-climbing wall, animals from the Staten Island Zoo, outdoor dining and more.

The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce Foundation collaborated with the NYC Department of Transportation’s Weekend Walks program to bring the festivities to life.

A1.2.jpg

Outdoor music program comes to select North Shore restaurants this Friday

Posted June 18, 2019 | By Pamela Silvestri

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the character Daisy Buchanan said, “Do you always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it? I always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it.”

Well on Staten Island, that day of Friday, June 21 will be marked by outdoor music in front of three borough restaurants thanks to “Make Music Day,” an international movement that brings free music to mark the summer solstice.

A1.1.jpg

EFFort to create North Shore Business Improvement District underway

Posted June 16, 2019 | By Joseph Ostapiuk

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Amid drastic changes on the North Shore, including the opening of Empire Outlets, efforts to create a Business Improvement District (BID) are underway for the neighborhood.

A steering committee, composed of property and business owners along the Bay Street corridor, along with the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, announced the effort in a media release by Downtown Staten Island.

Best+of+Boroughs+Check.jpg

Monthly Update — Staten Island Chamber of Commerce’s Downtown Staten Island Website Wins “Best of Boroughs” Award

Posted Dec 5, 2018 | By Jessica Jones-Gorman

The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce learned their recently launched downtownSI.nyc website was selected as the “Best of Staten Island.” The win comes with a $5,000 prize, a feature in an upcoming marketing campaign and, of course, bragging rights.

St. George Banner.jpg

New banners unveiled along bay street

Updated Jul 1, 2018; Posted Jul 1, 2018 | By Cassy Sommer

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce recently unveiled banners on streetlight poles on Bay Street.

The banners feature a new logo and branding designed to give a boost to the more than 200 merchants on Bay Street in the neighborhoods of St. George, Tompkinsville, and Stapleton.

New Campaign Aimed at Boosting North Shore Businesses

By Anthony Pascale | March 9, 2018 @1:26 PM

There's a new effort to help businesses on the North Shore thrive.

The Chamber of Commerce unveiled a new logo and branding campaign this week for the commercial district known as Downtown Staten Island.

NY1's Anthony Pascale learned more about it from Janet Dugo from the Chamber and the owner of Flagship Brewery in St. George, Jay Sykes.

Downtown Staten Island is getting a brand new look.

5:30 AM - 7 Mar 2018 | Spectrum News NY1‏

City to Help Revitalize Bay St. Businesses

By Anthony Pascale | March 24, 2017 @10:30 PM

The city is giving businesses on Bay Street 1.5 million dollars in an effort to improve the overall area. The announcement comes after a study was conducted to determine how best to revitilize the area.

NY1's Anthony Pascale discussed the findings with Janet Dugo, Project Manager for the Bay Street Corridor Assessment.

New identity, new logo unveiled for Bay Street commercial district

Updated Mar 6, 2018; Posted Mar 6, 2018 | By Ann Marie Barron

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - The Bay Street commercial district will get a brand-new identity - and a trendy, colorful, new logo -- thanks to a new strategic marketing plan being put into play by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, public officials and the city.

borough hall christmas tree lighting 2017: Kids sing, dance & read for fun

By Victoria Priola | Updated Dec 7, 2017; Posted Dec 6, 2017

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. ‑‑ If Borough Hall isn't lit, is it even Christmas time? We don't think so.

Borough President James S. Oddo welcomed dozens of Staten Islanders to St. George Wednesday evening for the annual Borough Hall Christmas Tree Lighting.

Volunteers clean up and plant flowers along Bay Street

Updated Nov 11, 2017; Posted Nov 11, 2017 | By Erik Bascome

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce rounded up a group of volunteers to clean up and beautify downtown Staten Island.

The city Parks Department led the clean up, which included cleaning and mulching tree pits, as well as planting daffodil bulbs that will bloom this spring.

New vibrant, eclectic dining hub being created on Bay Street

Updated Nov 4, 2017; Posted Nov 4, 2017 | By Tracey Porpora

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Restaurateurs along Bay Street's ailing business strip are hoping to create a vibrant, eclectic neighborhood dining hub that will draw patrons from across the borough and beyond.

Say hi to 'Elvis' and get a chance to win a gift card

By Carol Ann Benanti | Posted July 5, 2017 at 1:20 PM

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. If you're taking a stroll along Bay Street in St. George, Tompkinsville, or Stapleton these days, chances are you might run into Elvis.

You see, he'll be sweeping the streets and wearing a shirt and cap inscribed with the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) logos.

When you spot him say hello and snap a picture - or better yet a selfie.

SI BIZ Trends.jpg

Staten Island Chamber awarded grant to help revitalize bay street corridor

Posted Mar 30, 2017

The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce announced it has been awarded part of a $1.54 million grant to help revitalize the Bay Street commercial corridor in St. George, Tompkinsville and Stapleton.

Bay Street Gets a Makeover.jpg

Bay street gets a makeover

Posted Dec 1, 2017 | By Jessica Jones-Gorman

As part of Neighborhood 360 Program, Bay Street selected for Commercial Corridor Challenge

$1.5M grant to fuel business on Bay Street

Updated Mar 20, 2017; Posted Mar 20, 2017 | By Tracey Porpora

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The ailing business corridor along Bay Street is being fueled with money from a $1.54 million grant to help revitalize the commercial strip from Stapleton to St. George.

The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce announced it has been awarded the $1.54 million grant from the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Neighborhood 360 program, which helps community-based organizations promote economic development.