BROOKLYN, NY— To some native New Yorkers, newcomers often miss the city’s history and culture, unaware of the communities buried beneath polished cobblestones and $9 lattes.
Lauren Riley and Merlyn Oliver, who grew up in Prospect Heights and Flatbush, watched Brooklyn change over time: historic establishments shuttered as rents outpaced sales, replaced by private-equity coffee shops and new developments.
As a response, the 33-year-olds decided to capture the voices, businesses and neighborhoods that define modern Brooklyn.
In 2016, Riley and Oliver launched parallel projects: a fashion blog highlighting local style mavens and a food platform showcasing Brooklyn eateries.
“We wanted to highlight Brooklyn from the perspective of natives, and use it as a way to support local businesses,” Oliver said. “Brooklyn is more than what you typically would see.”
Both ventures proved costly and narrow in focus. Recognizing the opportunity to unify the borough’s cultural narrative, they merged the platforms into The Brooklyn Mavens, a space dedicated to Brooklyn’s authentic, multifaceted identity.
“Being flexible and willing to pivot has allowed us to stay relevant,” Riley said.
The platform highlights more than just streets and landmarks. It curates events, profiles entrepreneurs and lifts the stories of small businesses that often go unnoticed.
Extended happy hours spotlight local bars on weekdays, YouTube features cocktail series with neighborhood bartenders, and social campaigns like Brooklyn By Us and My Brooklyn bring residents’ daily lives and hidden gems to the forefront.
Riley and Oliver balance full-time careers, finance and social media, with the growing demands of their platform.
They build relationships with business owners, artists, and residents, creating a network rooted in trust. Community engagement drives their content strategy, from online interactions to in-person events, ensuring the platform reflects real Brooklyn voices.
Adaptability remains central. The platform evolved from fashion and food coverage to a borough-wide cultural focus, shifting emphasis from its founders to the community itself.
“It’s just nice to see how we have impacted both locals and people who have moved to Brooklyn in a positive way,” Riley said.
As The Brooklyn Mavens expands, it aims to reach audiences across the tri-state area, combining a growing team with a developing website, newsletter and multi-channel storytelling.