New York City’s business scene is full of founders turning personal passions into restaurants, shops, bookstores, and design brands. Many of these businesses give neighborhoods a distinct identity while creating places where customers can buy, eat, and connect.
This guide highlights 12 women-owned businesses New York City residents and visitors can support. It covers everything from Brooklyn restaurants and boutiques to Manhattan bookstores and Queens eateries. The list focuses on businesses with publicly documented female ownership or female founders.
Which Women-Owned Businesses New York City Locals Love to Visit?
Women-owned businesses are a major part of New York City’s economy. A NYC report found that they represented 43% of registered companies and generated more than $71 billion in annual revenue.
We selected these businesses based on publicly available ownership information and their NYC presence. It gives different ways local shoppers and diners can support women entrepreneurs. The list covers restaurants, cafés, fashion, and bookshops across different neighborhoods.
Eat & Drink
1. Via Carota
Located in Greenwich Village, Via Carota is known for rustic Italian cooking. Handmade pasta, seasonal vegetables, and a classic neighborhood atmosphere are the specialties. It has become one of the West Village’s best-known Italian dining spots. NYC & Company has also highlighted Via Carota among women-owned businesses in New York City.
- Address: 51 Grove St, New York, NY 10014
- Owner: Jody Williams and Rita Sodi
- Why visit: A good choice for handmade pasta and traditional Italian dishes in a relaxed setting.
2. Lilia
Williamsburg restaurant Lilia is led by chef Missy Robbins, who built the restaurant around handmade pasta, wood-fired cooking, and simple Italian ingredients. It is a converted auto-body shop where you can enjoy seafood and cocktails.
- Address: 567 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
- Owner: Missy Robbins
- Why visit: Stop here for handmade pasta and wood-fired dishes.
3. Makina Cafe
Makina Cafe brings Eritrean and Ethiopian flavors to New York through a menu inspired by East African food traditions. Founder Eden G. Egziabher built the business around food, culture, and community. It gives diners another way to support a woman-led local food business.
- Address: 46-11 Skillman Ave, Sunnyside, NY 11104
- Owner: Eden G. Egziabher
- Why visit: Try it for flavorful Eritrean-Ethiopian dishes and a different take on NYC’s diverse food scene.
4. Café con Libros
Café con Libros combines a coffee shop with an intersectional feminist bookstore in Crown Heights. Owner Kalima DeSuze opened the business in 2017. It created a space built around books, coffee, community, and programming. The business is identified as one of the Afro-Latine women-owned businesses in New York City.
- Address: 724 Prospect Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11216
- Owner: Kalima DeSuze
- Why visit: Buy a book, enjoy coffee or tea, and take part in a community-focused literary space.
Shop & Style
5. Catbird
Catbird started in Williamsburg in 2004 when Rony Vardi opened a small jewelry shop. The Brooklyn-based brand has since grown into a well-known fine jewelry company. The focus remains on recycled gold and responsibly sourced stones. NYC & Company has highlighted Catbird as a female-founded Brooklyn business.
- Address: 108 N 7th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
- Owner: Rony Vardi
- Why visit: Shop for delicate jewelry, wedding pieces, and everyday designs from a Brooklyn-born brand.
6. Sincerely, Tommy
Sincerely, Tommy is a Bed-Stuy concept store founded by Kai Avent-deLeon. The shop combines fashion, jewelry, home goods, and lifestyle products. It gives independent designers and smaller brands a retail platform.
- Address: 343 Tompkins Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216
- Owner: Kai Avent-deLeon
- Why visit: Look for independent fashion, accessories, home products, and gifts rather than mass-market items.
7. The Niche Shop
Nichole Sesti founded The Niche Shop with a focus on vintage and secondhand fashion. Its Upper East Side store gives shoppers an alternative to conventional retail. It offers clothing, accessories, and other carefully selected finds.
- Address: 311 E 81st St, New York, NY 10028
- Owner: Nichole Sesti
- Why visit: A useful stop for vintage shoppers looking for distinctive pieces and secondhand finds.
8. Lockwood Shop
Mackenzi Farquer founded Lockwood as a neighborhood shop in Queens. The business has expanded while keeping its focus on home goods, paper products, and gifts from independent makers. NYC & Company has previously identified Lockwood as a women-owned local business.
- Address: 77-13 37th Ave, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
- Owner: Mackenzi Farquer
- Why visit: Shop for practical gifts, stationery, home goods, and locally inspired products.
Books, Culture & Community
9. McNally Jackson Books
Sarah McNally owns McNally Jackson, one of New York’s best-known independent bookstore brands. The business has grown beyond its original store and now has several NYC locations. But the Prince Street location remains a recognizable destination for independent bookstore fans.
- Address: 134 Prince St, New York, NY 10012
- Owner: Sarah McNally
- Why visit: Browse staff picks, new releases, fiction, nonfiction, and other thoughtfully selected titles.
10. Yu & Me Books
Lucy Yu founded Yu & Me Books with a focus on immigrant stories and diverse voices. The Chinatown bookstore also operates as a café and bar. This turns the space into a place for reading, conversation, and community events.
- Address: 44 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013
- Owner: Lucy Yu
- Why visit: Find books centered on immigrant and Asian American experiences while supporting an independent bookstore.
11. The Ripped Bodice
The Ripped Bodice is an independent bookstore in Park Slope dedicated to romance fiction. The Brooklyn location at 218 Fifth Avenue gives readers a specialized alternative to large bookstore chains and regularly hosts literary events.
- Address: 218 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
- Owners: Bea and Leah Koch
- Why visit: A destination for romance readers looking for a highly specialized independent bookstore.
12. Sister’s Uptown Bookstore & Cultural Center
Sister’s Uptown Bookstore has served Washington Heights since 2000. Founder and president Janifer P. Wilson describes the store as more than a bookstore, with a focus on African American literature, education, and spoken word.
- Address: 1942 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10032
- Owner: Janifer P. Wilson
- Why visit: Support an independent neighborhood bookstore while exploring African American literature and community programming.
What Does “Women-Owned” Actually Mean?
As per the U.S. Census Bureau, women own about 14.2 million businesses. This shows the significant role women entrepreneurs play in the American economy. But ‘women-owned’ can mean different things in everyday business language. A founder may be a woman, a woman may own a majority stake, or a business may hold formal Women-Owned Business Enterprise certification.
For NYC’s M/WBE certification, a qualifying business must be at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by women and/or minority group members. They must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The business must also meet other eligibility requirements.
That distinction matters when building a list of women-owned businesses New York City shoppers can trust. Some businesses above are publicly identified as woman-owned, while others are clearly led and owned by women but are not NYC-certified WBEs.
How Can You Support Women-Owned Businesses New York City Has to Offer?
Supporting women-owned businesses in New York City that residents rely on does not have to stop after Women’s History Month or a special shopping campaign. The most useful support is consistent.
Start with everyday purchases. Order lunch from an independent restaurant, buy a gift from a neighborhood shop, or choose a local service provider when the option fits your needs. Repeat customers are often more valuable than one-time attention.
“On my first attempt, I won not one, but two contracts with the Department of Probation, thanks in large part to Delia’s guidance and support,” said Dr. Lola Omishore, founder and CEO of TheraMotive. Her experience shows how meaningful support can help women entrepreneurs access new opportunities.
You can also help without spending more. Follow a business on social media, leave a detailed review, recommend it to friends, or share a new product or event. For women-owned businesses in New York City that communities depend on, visibility can help bring in new customers and strengthen long-term demand.
The goal is simple: make local, independent businesses part of your normal routine.
Read More: Women Leaders in NYC Business Shaping the Future of Work
Conclusion
New York City’s women entrepreneurs are building businesses across food, fashion, books, design, and retail. From Sunnyside to Williamsburg and the Upper East Side, these businesses show how ownership can shape not only what customers buy but also how neighborhoods eat, shop, and connect.
The best way to support women-owned businesses New York City has to offer is to move beyond occasional campaigns. Visit regularly, spend intentionally, and tell others about the businesses that earn your loyalty.
FAQs
1. What qualifies as a women-owned business in NYC?
For NYC M/WBE certification, at least 51% of the business must be owned, operated, and controlled by women and/or eligible minority owners.
2. How can I find women-owned businesses New York City entrepreneurs have built?
NYC’s Online Directory of Certified Businesses lets users search certified WBE and M/WBE companies by business name, category, and location.
3. Are all women-owned businesses NYC-certified WBEs?
No, a business can be woman-owned without holding formal NYC WBE certification. It is useful to check how the business describes its ownership.
4. What is the easiest way to support a women-owned business?
Buy from the business regularly, leave useful reviews, and recommend it to others. Also, engage with its products or events online.
5. Why support independent women-owned businesses?
Supporting women-owned businesses New York City residents depend on helps sustain local businesses, founders, workers, makers, and neighborhood economies.
Sources:
