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Women-Owned Businesses Flock to Gowanus

Leslie Albrecht

By Leslie Albrecht on September 24, 2012 7:29am

 
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GOWANUS — When Eva Radke needed to move her growing film prop recycling business to a new space, she scouted around for a neighborhood with affordable rents, warehouse buildings and a central location.

Like many business owners before her, she found all three traits in Gowanus, but was pleasantly surprised to discover that the neighborhood had another feature she didn't expect: a growing community of women-owned businesses.

"I've been here a year and a half and I've thought to myself, 'Look who's kicking total ass in Gowanus!'" Radke said of the wave of female-headed businesses crashing over the neighborhood.

Though no hard numbers are available, women-owned businesses seem to be on the rise in Gowanus, with at least 25 popping up within the last four or so years.

Among them is Radke's Film Biz Recycling on President Street and Third Avenue. She's surrounded by a variety of women-owned establishments, including Twig, a terrarium store on Third Avenue; The Green Neat Team, eco-friendly cleaners on Third Avenue; 1 800 Mr. Rubbish, a trash removal service on Eighth Street, and Peeled Snacks, a company headquartered on 15th Street whose dried fruit treats are sold nationally in airports, Whole Foods and Starbucks.

Many have capitalized on Gowanus' rapidly changing real estate landscape, as landlords convert former factories into commercial lofts with flexible floor plans.

As for why so many lady-led businesses are cropping up, most scratched their heads. Many said they were drawn to the artist-filled neighborhood's bubbling creative energy, an attractive feature that's enhanced by practical perks such as easy subway access and safe streets at night.

"[Women open businesses here] because it's a smart place to be," said Katy Maslow, co-owner of Twig Terrariums. "It really comes down to that. There are family-oriented neighborhoods flanking us. It's artistic. It's accessible and it's still not insanely priced, so you can keep your overhead a little bit low. It's a wise choice, and I think women are wise."