{"id":292458,"date":"2026-07-10T17:25:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T17:25:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/292458\/"},"modified":"2026-07-10T17:25:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T17:25:29","slug":"small-businesses-in-brooklyns-bensonhurst-feel-the-squeeze","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/292458\/","title":{"rendered":"Small Businesses in Brooklyn’s Bensonhurst Feel the Squeeze"},"content":{"rendered":"

From garbage issues to lengthy approvals process, local businesses on 86th Street raised their concerns directly with Small Business Services Commissioner Kenny Minaya and Council Member Susan Zhuang.<\/p>\n

Small business owners along 86th Street in Bensonhurst say confusing regulations, sanitation issues and costly fees are making it harder to operate.<\/p>\n

Four local businesses raised their concerns directly with Small Business Services<\/a> Commissioner Kenny Minaya and Council Member Susan Zhuang<\/a> during a walking tour of the commercial corridor on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Gigi Li, a co-owner and event coordinator of SDC Social Daycare Center<\/a>, said a lengthy approval process has delayed plans to open a new restaurant at the center, increasing costs and uncertainty. Every time Li submits paper work to city agencies, she waits eight weeks for a reply, then is asked to submit more documents, which pushes back the approval process by months.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we know this year might be different three months from 1783704328, but we already started the renovation,” said Li. \u201cWe don\u2019t see the light at the end of the tunnel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Patrick Tarano has owned Bagel Bazaar since 1988, and his biggest issue is the amount of garbage and litter outside his store.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it\u2019s dirty, people don\u2019t want to shop in your area,\u201d said Tarano. \u201cEspecially [when] you\u2019re coming to buy food, then you smell something that just turns you off.\u201d<\/p>\n

There used to be a large garbage can on the street corner, but it has been missing since February, according to Tarano. He hopes for stronger sanitation enforcement and better public education about proper garbage disposal to keep the sidewalks cleaner.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll just see bags of garbage on the corners,\u201d said Tarano. \u201cThen we get rats because of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"img_2806\"
\nCity Council Member Susan Zhuang (L), Small Small Business Services Commissioner Kenny Minaya (C) talks to business owners on 86th Street in Bensonhurst on July 9, 2026. . Photo: Emily Suhr for BK Reader <\/p>\n

Michael Tong and Jin Chen, landlord and owner of Choi Fook Restaurant, said the business began receiving an unusually high water bill after two lots were combined into a single property. Tong said the Department of Environmental Protection<\/a> inspected the property and found no problems with the water system. That said, the balance has since ballooned to more than $100,000, a cost the restaurant cannot afford.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really no fault of his,\u201d said Tong, referring to Chen. \u201cThey sent him a new bill two years later, want him to pay $70,000, which he can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

The commissioner was given packets of documents by several business owners with further information about their grievances. He discussed next steps his department could take to address systemic issues and better support small business owners.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of our goals is always to make sure business owners have the information they need to avoid the fines,\u201d said Minaya.<\/p>\n

Council Member Zhuang said supporting the corridor\u2019s businesses is about investing in the community as a whole.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an immigrant community, it\u2019s very diverse,\u201d said Zhuang. \u201cIf we can help them, actually, it\u2019s helping us.\u201d<\/p>\n

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