This exercise grew out of my love for the East Village’s charming storefronts: tiny bookstores, neon‑lit bakeries, and hat shops that feel like time capsules. If you’ve ever wandered those blocks, you know how much character a single storefront can add to a street.
 

In my community development work with the NYC Dept. of Small Business Services, I partner with local orgs to strengthen neighborhoods and support the small businesses that make them vibrant. Recently, I led a workshop where we used this very template to reimagine vacant storefronts as places full of creativity, culture, and possibility.
 

Now it’s your turn to step into my shoes for a moment and bring your own small business to life. It can be anything! The only rule is to think beyond the four walls. A thriving storefront isn’t just about what happens inside. It’s about how it spills onto the sidewalk, how it welcomes neighbors, and how it adds personality to the block.