These women-led businesses go beyond simply selling their wares; they are striving to build spaces that empower their clientele and foster a sense of community. Many also fill a void when it comes to underrepresented subjects or perspectives.
“I think New Yorkers . . . we truly love this city and the community that has invested in living [here],” says Cate Luzio, owner of Luminary and the Glass Ceiling.
Read on to learn about inspiring women-led businesses all over NYC, including a vintage store where proceeds go to charity and a wine shop dedicated to educating consumers about Black-owned brands.
Courtesy, Calhoun & Co
A Quirky Home Decor Shop for All Your Gifting Needs
Business: The Shop by
Owner: Kerry Stokes
In September 2024, artist Kerry Stokes took over a neighborhood gift shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in which she opened a brick-and-mortar extension of her design brand,
Stokes loves the vibrant community surrounding her gift shop. “I feel like when you're around a bunch of people that love where they are, it just brings a sense of community,” she says.
Courtesy, The Glass Ceiling & Luminary
A Space That Takes the “Glass Ceiling” to New Heights
Business:
Owner: Cate Luzio
Cate Luzio had a vision for creating a space for women to come together, share ideas and grow their professional goals together. So in 2018, she opened
Luminary is opened to both women and allies, and members have access to a global network of coworking spaces across the US. They host programs, events and workshops aimed at helping professionals grow their careers (members can also livestream these events from outside of NYC), including an annual Women’s History Month Summit featuring panels about growing a business. In 2021, Luzio opened
Courtesy, Happy Cork
A Shop that Spotlights Black-Owned Wine
Business:
Owner: Sunshine Foss
When owner Sunshine Foss decided to open her wine shop,
“There was not a lot of representation for Black-owned and women-owned brands,” says Foss. “Once I started doing my research, I realized that
“A lot of people would come in and say, ‘Ah, I've never heard of this.’ So I knew that I needed to give them an opportunity to try the wines. You not only got to taste the product, but you also got to see the faces behind the different brands.”
A Patisserie Baking French Pastries with Love in Bed-Stuy
Business:
Owner: Jatee Kearsley
Over in Bed-Stuy, Queens native Jatee Kearsley entices her neighbors with croissants, macarons and quiche made fresh daily at her bakery Je T’aime Patisserie. From fresh berries to house-made jams, Kearsley prides herself on offering the neighborhood from-scratch French pastries, with no artificial dyes or overly processed ingredients. The decision to bring her pastries to this historically Black neighborhood was purposeful.
She
Kearsley continues to foster a sense of belonging in her community by engaging with her neighbors in different ways. She made it a point to accept forms of government assistance as a payment option to make sure the bakery was serving everyone in the neighborhood. She also invites locals to connect over flaky, buttery layers with her croissant-making classes hosted right in her bakery, turning a love for pastries into a communal experience.
Courtesy, Little Market NYC
The Market Dedicated to Women-Owned Businesses
Business:
Owner: Wendy Feng
New York City is flooded with artisan markets, but sisters Wendy, Kimberly and Cindy Feng noticed there weren’t many that fully supported women-owned businesses. So they opened
The Ripped Bodice. Photo: Madeline Derujinksy
A Bookstore All About Romance Novels
Business:
Owners: Leah Koch & Bea Hodges-Koch
Romance lit lovers should check out
“The Ripped Bodice was born out of a deep love for the genre and a desire to create a space where romance readers could feel celebrated, not just tolerated,” says Leah Koch.
Find books from various subgenres including contemporary romance, erotica and queer lit, plus other gifts for the book lover in your life. People from all over come to the Ripped Bodice to check out their welcoming space. In addition, the bookstore hosts author signings, launches, trivia nights, stand-up comedy and three book clubs, giving customers a chance to meet and mingle.
“The Ripped Bodice is more than just a bookstore—it’s a gathering place for romance readers to connect, celebrate their love of the genre and discover new favorites.”
Courtesy, TTH Vintage
A Vintage Shop That Gives to Charity
Business:
Owner: Deborah Koenigsberger
What makes Deborah Koenigsberger’s
“The store basically came about because I always had people offering to give me amazing things for the moms to give away, but they were not practical,” she says. “I realized that I could sell the stuff and get the moms what they needed.”
For Koenigsberger, her community is the reason why she’s been a successful business owner for the past 35 years (she also owns a chic women’s boutique called
“Everything that I am, that I have made, is thanks to the energy of New York. My goal is to always remember to share and put back into your community.”