I Didn’t Support A Crown Heights Small Business And Now I Regret It

I have a confession and it involved a local business. Sadly, as the holidays have come to an end, I have a dark cloud hanging over my head. It goes by Ujamaa — the fourth Kwanzaa principle meaning cooperative economics. “To build our own businesses, control the economics of our own community and share in all its work and wealth.” Man, oh man, how I’ve done the complete opposite.

With recent development in my Crown Heights neighborhood, Independent Runway opened on Kingston Avenue in 2014. Independent Runway was a small boutique that sold fairly priced items like pants, t-shirts and bags. I can’t go too much in to detail about brands they carried because I’ve stepped inside four times. Three of which where to purchase fixtures because they were closing up shop. I shame myself because the contributions of my $35 didn’t drive the business that I walked past for a year. I mulled over the reasons why I didn’t support — “I wouldn’t wear this and I don’t know anyone that would.” When in all honesty, I didn’t give it much of a chance.

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I recall the first time I stepped foot inside of Independent Runway. Pandora Radio played in the background as perspective customers browsed the racks and shelves. Manicures were given near the fitting rooms and sparkling cider (if my memory serves me right) was served to all in attendance. At the time, I believed my presence on opening day was support enough, but I’ve grown to know and realize that it isn’t. A walk through doesn’t drive business. A stop in the window doesn’t drive business. An empty store doesn’t drive business. There were times when I would walk down Kingston Avenue hoping to see someone walk in, hoping to witness a purchase, hoping someone else would do what I didn’t bring myself to do. It never came.

“It’s a shame. These businesses never last too long over here,” were the words I heard as I rolled a garment rack towards my block. That’s when the rationalization started because somehow, I blamed it all on me. Now, I didn’t expect to put a business on my back but I know better and I know the importance. So, I don’t understand why I didn’t step up. There’s a lesson in everything in this life and the one I gathered is, “if you think you’ve done enough, challenge yourself to do more.” We must all take that extra step because we change enforce and be change alone. We must all be the people we expect ourselves to be.

Independent Runway lives on as they will continue via eCommerce.