–“There were two things customers could be pretty certain about any time they walked into Army & Navy Bags. Henry Yao would be there, and he would be kind.” It’s one of the reasons customers rallied around Henry during the worst days of the pandemic and why his business has at least a fighting chance of surviving Covid. [The New York Times]
–Christmas is usually one of the busiest days of the year in Chinatown. The pandemic, of course, put a damper on business. A survey shows that around 10% of Chinatown’s 300 restaurants have closed in the past year, with operators desperately trying to hang on through the winter. [Channel 2]
–Damage from high winds — just the latest obstacle facing B&H Dairy, which is crowdfunding for its survival. [EV Grieve]
–A grass roots campaign and a boost from Will Smith helps locals light up Mott Street. [Channel 2]
–The Lower East Side takes its turn in the Times’ “Living In” spotlight. Brokers say apartment prices have only fallen about 5% during the pandemic, less than other downtown neighborhoods. [The New York Times]
–Another take on Sweet Pickle Book’s, the Lower East Side’s new used bookstore. [Eater]
