Small Business Innovation Hub
The Hub, located at 115 Bowery in Manhattan’s Chinatown, will be a first-in-kind gathering space for the community to empower small businesses, build bridges, and champion sustainable growth.
Join our Hub’s Founding Circle
Welcome to Chinatown has listened, advocated, and supported Manhattan Chinatown’s businesses, residents, and wider AAPI community since March 2020. Our nimbleness and impactful programming has allowed us to build trusted relationships with small business owners, community members, and partners.
The combined effort needed to address Chinatown’s disproportionate and multi-generational challenges is great – but we’re more inspired than ever.
That’s why Welcome to Chinatown is ready to launch our next phase and investment into Chinatown with our Small Business Innovation Hub.
The Need
Owning and operating a small business is challenging, and for business owners, it can feel daunting to shoulder everything needed for a business to thrive. Chinatown is a small business beacon. 94% of businesses have under 20 employees and small businesses represent 98% of Chinatown’s economy. Despite this, and historical impacts that have burdened the neighborhood’s economy, Chinatown lacks a space dedicated to uplifting our vital entrepreneurs and their endeavors.
In 2022, Welcome to Chinatown conducted a Chinatown Small Business Impact Study to contextualize the historic challenges that have disproportionately impacted the neighborhood. The study concluded with a strategic plan for Welcome to Chinatown’s initiatives that will be further expanded and activated in our Hub. Its creation will support traditionally under-supported establishments that anchor Chinatown, and foster new business development.
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![www.sacharaps.com]()
Sacha, Sacharaps
“If a rising tide lifts all boats, then Welcome to Chinatown is a tsunami. The deluge of empowerment, support and celebration of New York’s vibrant Asian community is unrivaled.”
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Benjamin, Dae Tea
“We are so grateful to have experienced the incredible energy from the community. The Lunar New Year Fair far exceeded our most ambitious expectations. We exceeded what we made in the last 4 months of 2022 by 35% and increased sales by 495% compared to previous popups! Having that physical space to share our story, quality and value of our tea gave us validation that there is a larger addressable market for our premium products.”
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![Photo provided by Ben's Meat Market]()
Ben's Meat Market
“Our shop is located in the heart of Manhattan Chinatown and we sell fresh meat, cooked food, groceries, baked goods, and more. Even under the pandemic, we decided not to increase prices and sell at a lower price to benefit our customers. All our groceries are sold at a lower price, to ensure our community can enjoy delicious food at a reasonable price. We truly appreciate the help of Welcome To Chinatown and the grant which will help ease the economic burden of our business.”
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Sam, Golden Diner
“The entire team is nothing but helpful, selfless, and generous. Even when coordinating a large-scale event like the Lunar New Year 2023 series, the team somehow found the time to respond quickly to any questions we had and supported us throughout the entire process. Their acute understanding of business needs and their ability to connect people and communities make us willing participants for any future collaborations and partnerships!”
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![Photo credit: Fuxuan Xin]()
Mon, Wo Hop Next Door
“I was happy to see all people enjoying themselves and the food. It was great working with Welcome to Chinatown for the (dinner series) event. Great to see all the diversity at the dinner.”
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Ricky, Pot Luck Club
“We love working with Welcome to Chinatown. You can really tell that the team is dedicated to helping the community and business owners in Chinatown. WtC understands the needs of the community they are serving and are great ambassadors that share resources and build bridges that allow Chinatown to continue to thrive for generations to come.”
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Kevin, K & E Jewelry
“My commercial store tenant K & E Jewerly received funding from your organization. When Covid hit, I was extremely worried about his business and his family. I did my best to give all the concessions I can. We have asked for help from everything from the city/state/local leaders. We haven't received any help from any of them. However with your organization's help, it gave us hope and light that perhaps we can continue in Chinatown.”
The Space
The Hub will be a space where entrepreneurs can embrace the innovation and creativity embedded in this neighborhood, a space where the community can network and receive resources and information.
The 2,500 square foot Hub will be dynamic, flexible, and functional to meet a diverse range of programming needs with an approximate capacity of 75 people:
Main Room & Hall featuring a sliding curtain system to help create unique configurations to host a variety of events and programming
Lounge area for informal gatherings including brainstorming, small trainings, and much more
Catering space for hospitality training and community events
Meeting rooms (2) designed for collaboration and workshops, featuring integrated tech
Booths (2) designed as workstations and for private, 1:1 conversations
Multi-use mobile carts (6) custom-designed for flexible programming
“Artist Alley” gallery space dedicated to showcasing AAPI creativity and visual storytelling
Meet Chinatown digital directory to guide visitors and encourage meaningful Chinatown exploration
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![Designed by SPACED AGENCY]()
Welcome to the Hub!
The Hub will be a space where entrepreneurs can embrace the innovation and creativity embedded in this neighborhood, a space where the community can network and receive resources and information.
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![Designed by SPACED AGENCY]()
Hub Overview
The 2,500 square foot Hub will be dynamic, flexible, and functional to meet a diverse range of programming needs with an approximate capacity of 75 people. A unique feature, the space will have six multi-functional carts inspired by street carts of the Chinatown streets. Custom-built for Welcome to Chinatown, each piece will be mobile and easily tailored to the specific needs of the community.
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![Designed by SPACED AGENCY]()
Main Room and Hall
Flexible to accommodate a variety of programming that will advocate, educate, and increase awareness on critical issues.
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![Designed by SPACED AGENCY]()
Accelerating & Incubating
The Hub will house programming including an accelerator for Chinatown small businesses to sustain and grow; an incubator for buddging entrepreneurs; developing business and succession plans; matchmaking between entrepreneurs and potential investors, affordable commercial space; and technical trainings.
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![Designed by SPACED AGENCY]()
Meeting Rooms & Privacy Booths
The Hub will have two meeting rooms for collaborative programming, two booths for private working and 1:1 meetings, and a catering room for hospitality training & events.
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![Designed by Space Agence]()
Artist Alley
A permanent Artist Alley inspired by the metal gates of Chinatown small businesses, and a place to amplify our community’s creativity.
Programming
Community spaces, especially ones that dually act as an innovation hub, are a magnet for redevelopment, business, job creation, networking, and economic diversity. They also help reduce disparities in access to services, training, and investment which facilitates economic growth and sustainability (Colistra 2017). If Chinatown residents and entrepreneurs can feel socioeconomically empowered, we can overcome the barriers to community autonomy and revitalize Chinatown while honoring its culture and legacy.
Our Hub will fulfill a unique role in the small business ecosystem in Chinatown.
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New Incubation
Launching an incubator for budding entrepreneurs with access to capital and affordable commercial space.
For example: Entrepreneurs received a Longevity Fund grant to pop up at East Broadway Mall. An estimated 3,000+ people visited and the Fair was covered in Forbes, Travel + Leisure, Time Out New York.
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Acceleration
Creating an accelerator for entrepreneurs with a focus on existing Chinatown small business owners to sustain and grow their business.
For example: Welcome to Chinatown hosted a series of six dinner parties. The highly received events were an opportunity to introduce business owners to a new revenue stream (1/3 had never hosted private events) and booking platforms (50% had never used Resy).
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Technical Training
Providing on-site, pro-bono or low-cost centralized technical trainings;
For example: In partnership with Lunar Hard Seltzer, Welcome to Chinatown worked with two businesses to diversify their beverage offerings to increase revenue.
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![Recipients of our 2022 Chinatown Small Business Awards. Photo credit: Zack Chan]()
Matchmaking
Matchmaking between entrepreneurs and potential investors.
For Example: Since the Longevity Fund’s creation, Welcome to Chinatown has distributed nearly 80 grants totaling to over half a million dollars, including four recipients of our 2022 Chinatown Small Business Awards presented by Jefferies and RTW Foundation.
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Advocacy & Education
Advocating, increasing awareness, and educating audiences on critical issues through hosted programming.
For example: Welcome to Chinatown hosted a listening session to share our Chinatown Impact Study results with elected officials, community leaders, small business owners, and residents.
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![Photo Credit: Jeff Young]()
Community Events
A space to host accessible programming for our community.
For Example: MEET CHINATOWN aims to serve as a helpful tool for residents, New Yorkers and tourists alike to (re)discover Chinatown through the eyes of its community. During 88 East Fair, Welcome to Chinatown held a free scavenger hunt featuring prizes from 24 AAPI owned brands. Over 600 people played.
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Intergenerational Learning
Providing a space where emerging and legacy entrepreneurs can gather, learn and grow alongside each other. We’ll explore developing business and succession plans.
For example: Welcome to Chinatown hosted a series of focus groups comprised of businesses owners across different age groups and three languages. Insights informed Welcome to Chinatown on how to shape Hub design and programming.
