Think you’re not supporting women-owned businesses in NYC every day? Think again–hint: you definitely are.
From cozy bookstores and chic boutiques to restaurants and hidden speakeasies, female-led spots are the heartbeat of the city. Sure, March is Women’s History Month, but these gems deserve your attention all year long–here are some of our favorite must-visit spots.
Chillhouse, SoHo
Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton opened this cafe-spa in the SoHo offering manicures, facials, massages, and wellness drinks. They’ve become a major success for their stunning “Chill Tips” (press on nails) that come in a wide variety of color and designs.
Golde, Online
Co-founded by Trinity Mouzon Wofford, Golde was created in a one-bedroom Brooklyn apartment back in 2017. Wofford’s company focuses on superfood essentials, selling wellness and beauty products.
Nyla’s Petite Bakery, Harlem
At just 17, Nyla Reese is already turning heads with her vegan treats at Nylas Petite Bakery in Harlem. What began as baking for her mom during COVID has grown into a full-fledged business, serving adorable mini donuts.
Stop by on the weekends to taste these bite-sized delights and support a young baker chasing her dreams!
Busayo, Brownsville
Owned by native Nigerian, Busayo Olupona, this clothing store explores Nigerian traditions with rich textiles and beautiful designs in its Brooklyn storefront.
Wildlike, NoHo
Looking for a piercing you can trust? This chic studio offers a safe, sterile environment and a team of experts ready to help with everything from studs to helix piercings, making it the perfect spot to add some sparkle.
Locavore Variety Store, Greenwich Village
Step inside The Locavore Variety Store where shopping local becomes an adventure! With 700+ products from 130+ nearby brands, this charming “shop about shopping” is packed with everything from handmade Brooklyn brooms to artist-crafted body oils and gourmet goodies. It’s the perfect spot to discover quirky, quality finds and take home a little piece of NYC.
Love Adorned, SoHo
For years Lori Leven has been bringing artisanal home decor and vintage jewelry to NYC. Her company prioritizes craftsmanship, utility, and incredible taste!
Painted Swan, Carroll Gardens
From kitchen essentials to bathroom soaps, leather totes and framed photos, Painted Swan in Carroll Gardens is the ultimate home decor destination for sweet trinkets with a country touch.
Chalk paint classes are on tap, as well as doggie photo shoots for your four-legged friends.
The Ripped Bodice, Park Slope
This creative bookstore is a hopeless romantics haven! Founded by sister duo, Leah and Bea Koch, The Ripped Bodice is NYC’s premiere romance-only bookstore, offering genres spanning erotica to historical romance and fantasy.
Lockwood Shop, Various locations
Step into Lockwood, a modern home-goods boutique where every visit feels like a little adventure in style. From unique decor and stationery to kid’s gifts and clothing, the shops—now six across NYC—showcase thoughtfully sourced items from local makers and up-and-coming brands.
Founded by Mackenzi Farquer in 2013, Lockwood blends design, community, and inspiration, making it the perfect place to find a gift–or treat yourself, of course–while feeling right at home.
Coming Soon, Lower East Side
Owners Helena Barquet and Fabiana Faria have perfectly curated their home decor and gift shop. It’s been adorning the intersection of Chinatown and the Lower East Side since 2013 and offers unique and eclectic pieces that are sure to spruce up your home.
Life Wellness Center, BedStuy
Co-founded by Khadija A. Tudor, Life Wellness Center is a therapeutic massage practice and wellness market that offers transformative services from acupuncture to chiropractic treatments.
Fishs Eddy, Flatiron & Dumbo
Julie Gaines founded Fishs Eddys in the 80s and has been selling dishes ever since! The store is known and loved for its massive inventory full of kooky kitchenware and patterned pieces.
McNally Jackson, Various locations
The beloved independent bookstore McNally Jackson has been operating under Sarah McNally for nearly 20 years and remains an iconic bookstore across multiple NYC locations.
Awoke Vintage, Multiple locations
Awoke Vintage is a thrift-lover’s dream, blending curated women’s wear with affordable vintage treasures. Famous for its expert denim picks—and a celeb-approved touch—the Brooklyn favorite helps shoppers find the perfect pair of jeans while celebrating individual style.
Whether hunting $5 gems or standout statement pieces, every visit feels like a mini fashion adventure.
Catbird, Williamsburg & SoHo
With one location in Williamsburg and the other in the heart of NYC’s ‘Little Paris,’ this women-owned jewelry company, led by Rony Vardi, is an expert on all things tiny and shiny!
Framing jewelry as poetry, the store uses 95% recycled gold, 95% recycled diamonds and ethically sourced stones. Catbird is most known for their Forever Bracelets (also referred to as getting zapped), that are specially welded around your wrist for the “ultimate friendship bracelet” or staple piece!
Talea Beer Co., Various locations
Ran by owners and homebrewers LeAnn Darland and Tara Hankinson, Talea Beer Co. was founded in 2018 to bring “an approachable, inclusive perspective and voice” to a primarily male-dominated industry. Their flagship brewery and taproom opened in March 2021 in Williamsburg.
The Frankie Shop, Lower East Side
Bringing you women’s fashion that represents luxury and class, founder Gaelle Drevet, has both a NYC and Paris location. The shop was made to inspire the everyday city girl with effortless fashion. “Every woman should be able to wear the garments that they inspire designers to make – no matter how high the rent gets,” exclaims their website.
Strand Book Store, Various locations
Nancy Bass Wyden is third-generation owner NYC’s iconic Strand Book Store. Nancy carries on the legacy of her family’s business for over 95 years.
DAWANG, Long Island City
Daisy Wang launched this contemporary streetwear design brand in 2018 after “realizing that nobody was making the type of elevated Asian streetwear that she wanted to consume.”
With her inspiring ambition and creativity, Wang has made a name for herself by combining “chinoiserie apparel and Chinese fabrics with Western tailoring techniques and trends” to make designs unlike anything on the market.
Sweet Pickle Books, Lower East Side
This unique shop lets you swap your old books for pickles—seriously, it’s no joke! So whether you’re a pickle lover or a dedicated bookworm, this quirky store is definitely one to poke your head into.
Gone To The Dogs, Park Slope
This Brooklyn pet store has partnered with a diverse group of women across the globe from local NYC low-income and immigrant communities along with marginalized communities in the Global South to ethically source and produce products for your furry friends.
Founded by pet parents, Jennifer and Santos, Gone To The Dogs prides themselves in creating “well-made and kind-to-the-earth pet goods.”
Form + Flow, Long Island City
Form + Flow is a certified Minority-Women Owned Business (M/WBE) by New York City, founded by Shelly Yang. Yang and founding member Nikki Carter strive towards fostering mindfulness practices accessible to the community.
Visitors can partake in workshops ranging from Buddhism philosophy to a variety of wellness experiences.
A.I.R. Gallery, Dumbo
This impressive exhibition space was founded by a group of 20 women to provide a permanent venue to highlight and uplift women in the art world. It was the “first not-for-profit, artist-directed and maintained gallery for women artists” in the country.
the ness, Tribeca
Aly Giampolo & Colette Dong are the proud founders of NYC’s premier trampoline cardio studio. The inviting space empowers people to practice both physical and mental fitness through a fun and creative way!
Big Night, Various locations
Hosting a party in the near future? Head on over to Big Night in Greenpoint to shop all the necessary party essentials you could ever need. From vintages glasses and stirrers to candles and caviar, they haven’t left out anything!
Cafe Grumpy, Various locations
Seen in the comedy drama series, Girls, this NYC coffee shop is a female-owned business that has grown from their original Greenpoint store to multiple locations across the city.
Metaflora, Online
Metaflora was co created by Marisa Competello, A NYC-based floral designer who has made a name for herself in the field. From her studio, she makes beautiful floral arrangements known for their minimal and artistic designs. Shop online.
Fallon & Ava, Online
Sisters and co-founders, Fallon and Ava King are starting a turtleneck empire in the heart of NYC. Their business idea first sparked during the spring of 2020 after returning to their family home where they decided it was time they join forces to empower women through fashion.
Operating as the only company specializing in turtlenecks specifically, they hope their timeless apparel can bring poise, elegance, and authority to every woman.
Funny Face Bakery, Various locations
If your sweet tooth is still craving more, be sure to explore the absolutely draw-dropping cookies at Funny Face Bakery.
With two Manhattan locations, one in The Seaport and the other in NoHo, customers can explore lifelike designs on cookies so incredible you won’t even want to take a bite (though they’re delicious, so it’s a must)!
Books Are Magic, Cobble Hill & Brooklyn Heights
Author Emma Straub, a former Book Court staffer, swooped in upon the shop’s closure to provide Cobble Hill with a much-needed indie bookstore. A variety genres and bestsellers abound, and Brooklynites would not want to leave the shop without a cute tote or tee.
Plus, the monthly events calendar is every bookworm’s dream. Much to the delight of Brooklyn Height residents, the lit fic author decided a second shop was needed on Montague Street, and lit lovers can’t get enough of the sweet space.
Brooklyn Craft Company, Greenpoint
Whether you’re stocking up on fabric for your next sewing project or thinking about trying your hand at embroidery, Brooklyn Craft Company is the place to venture for goods, classes, and gorgeous surroundings to boot.
Borough Chocolates, Greenpoint
Indulge your sweet tooth at Borough Chocolates in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where every bonbon is a tiny work of art. Hand-painted and crafted with love, these artisanal chocolates come in seasonal flavors perfect for gifting–or keeping all to yourself. Treat yourself to a bite of Brooklyn magic!