Rhonda Kave, owner of Roni-Sue’s Chocolates, tells us she’s decided to shut down her stall in the Essex Street Market.
The small business opened in the public market back in 2007. Kave made the decision to downsize in the facility a couple of years ago, while opening a full-scale retail shop and production facility on Forsyth Street. Like many Essex Street Market vendors, Roni-Sue’s Chocolates has struggled during the past few years. Foot traffic took a tumble after the city announced a new market would be opening in 2018 as part of the big Essex Crossing project. A few months ago, Kave reconfigured the stall, offering products from other small businesses. In the end, she said, “We just couldn’t make it profitable.” The stall has been idled since right after Valentine’s Day. Kave informed the Economic Development Corp., which manages the market, of her decision on Friday.
In the past year-and-a-half, there has been a string of closures at the market. New vendors have been opening in their place, including Osaka Grub, which will debut next month.
You can still visit Roni-Sue’s Chocolates at 148 Forsyth St. The shop is open 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
The Essex Market should be flourishing and vibrant drawing people from other parts of the city.
The fact the LES BID (now re-branded the LES Partnership) is in charge means more closings to come. The BID lacks any creative vision outside of turning the LES into a drunken carnival with over-sized hotels.
If you trace the history of the LES BID (aided by CB3 and Shelly Silver) the economic limitations and pitfalls South of Houston are not surprising.
This is exactly what NYCEDC wants. For years the market was mismanaged by NYCEDC, and we can thank Kyle Kimball, Seth Pinskey for that, and the staff at NYCEDC and the current president. They want the real estate and not small businesses so the new Essex Landing will end up with a bunch of chain stores. The BID should be closed down and has been a disservice to the community for years. How many BID presidents and staff have they been through? You got to love how one BID staffer went to work for the developer.