\u201cWe really wanted to highlight Brooklyn from the perspective of Brooklyn natives,\u201d Riley said. \u201cBrooklyn is home. It is where I feel the most comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brooklyn Mavens began in 2016 as Brooklyn Fashion Mavens, a blog created during the early rise of influencer culture. But as the platform expanded, so did its purpose.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the time, influencer culture was just emerging,\u201d said Oliver, who was raised in Flatbush.\u00a0\u201cWe were early in that space, doing fashion and food content, but we realized there was a much bigger story to tell.\u201d<\/p>\n
After graduating college and spending time living outside New York, both founders returned to a rapidly changing Brooklyn. That return became a turning point.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we came back, we noticed Brooklyn was changing,\u201d Oliver said. \u201cThere wasn\u2019t really a platform documenting those shifts from a local perspective, so we rebranded to Brooklyn Mavens.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"nss_0685\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/nss_0685.JPG;w=960.jpeg\"\/)
\nPhotos from A Maven Happy Hour. Photo: Supplied\/The Brooklyn Mavens.
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Rather than centering on\u00a0well known destinations and trends, the duo highlights everyday residents and small business owners across the borough. \u201cWe look for untold stories,\u201d Oliver said. \u201cEven if something is popular, we try to go deeper than what people already know.\u201d<\/p>\n
When featuring businesses, the approach is intentionally personal, often focusing on origin stories and longevity in rapidly shifting neighborhoods. \u201cWe want to know where you are from, why you started your business, and how long you have been here,\u201d she said. \u201cA lot of these owners have seen their neighborhoods change completely.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Brooklyn continues to evolve, the founders say one of the most visible shifts has been the closure of long standing small businesses and increased commercialization in certain neighborhoods. \u201cA major shift is that a lot of smaller businesses are closing,\u201d Oliver said. \u201cThere is more commercial development and rising rent, which is pushing out long standing businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n
She pointed to areas like Prospect Heights and corridors near Downtown Brooklyn as examples of rapid transformation. \u201cVanderbilt Avenue used to be very quiet,\u201d she said. \u201cNow it is bustling, and it is completely different from how I experienced it growing up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, The Brooklyn Mavens is not positioned as a critique of change, but as a record of it. \u201cWe are not here to say we hate the changes,\u201d Riley said. \u201cIt is more about saying, this is what is happening. Let\u2019s talk about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
That perspective is reflected in their \u201cMy Brooklyn\u201d series, which invites residents to walk through their neighborhoods and share personal histories tied to place.<\/p>\n
Oliver recalled a particularly meaningful interview with a longtime resident of\u00a0Brighton Beach. \u201cHe walked us through his whole neighborhood,\u201d she said. \u201cHe showed us what used to be there, what has changed, and what still feels authentic. That experience really shaped how we think about storytelling.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, Brooklyn Mavens is expanding beyond Instagram with a website, a growing team, and plans for in-person events, as the mission remains rooted in access and awareness. \u201cBrooklyn is not just one neighborhood,\u201d Oliver said. \u201cIt is one of the most diverse places, and there is so much more to explore.\u201d<\/p>\n