Another business was forced to close its doors due to the pandemic.
Stone Flower in Williamsburg claims it can't survive any longer.
Stone Flower has operated as a business for 18 years. It opened right after 9/11 and lost a location after Superstorm Sandy, but it couldn't weather this pandemic.
“I poured my heart and soul into this place and with all the limitations on lockdown, I can’t survive longer than five months,” says owner Michael Nicolini.
The vintage store is not considered an essential business. However, it reopened this past weekend.
"My landlord said, ‘try your luck. put something outside.’ I see a lot of people, a lot of stores opening and we need to do something to get back in the game,” says Nicolini.
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Unfortunately sales aren't making up for the loss, leading the Bedford Avenue store to close for good.
"We made a little money, but not enough to pay the rent for the whole month,” says Nicolini.
Nicolini was hoping to continue the legacy of the business at Bryant Park, but he says that's not looking like a possibility.
“If New York City gives out the permits because right now everything is canceled, all the festivals are canceled, all the flea markets, zero, so we don't know how soon we can reopen anything,” says Nicolini.
He says he doesn't have a definitive closing date yet.
After taking six months off, the Brooklyn business owner wants to launch a completely new brand.
“I’m like the Phoenix right now, I’m burning up, but I’m going to come back,” says Nicolini.