Why Are Brooklyn Businesses Closing?

Walking through Flatbush today, it’s hard to miss the empty storefronts. Once-busy shops are now shuttered, windows covered, and sidewalks littered with trash. For longtime residents, this decline isn’t just an eyesore—it’s a sign of deeper problems plaguing our community.

The Disappearance of Local Shops

Small businesses have always been the backbone of Brooklyn’s neighborhoods. From corner bodegas to family-run restaurants, they gave life and character to our streets. But now, store after store is closing, leaving entire blocks looking abandoned. Landlords sit on vacant properties, and entrepreneurs who once dreamed of thriving here are instead packing up and leaving.

Who’s to Blame?

Local residents point fingers at City Hall. Years of high taxes, excessive regulations, and soft-on-crime policies have crushed small businesses. When a shop owner has to pay skyrocketing rent, deal with theft, and navigate endless red tape, survival becomes nearly impossible. Meanwhile, establishment politicians are quick to blame “economic forces” or “changing markets,” while ignoring their own role in creating an unfriendly business climate.

The Consequences for Brooklyn

This isn’t just about storefronts—it’s about community. Closed businesses mean fewer jobs, fewer places for neighbors to gather, and fewer reasons for people to invest in Brooklyn’s future. An empty street attracts crime and drives families away. When local businesses die, neighborhoods lose their heart.

Athena Clarke’s Vision for District 46

Athena Clarke, Republican candidate for City Council District 46, has made this issue central to her campaign. Standing on Flatbush and Quentin, she’s called out the rows of shuttered businesses as proof of failed leadership. Clarke argues that Brooklyn can be revived by cutting red tape, lowering taxes, and enforcing laws that protect both shop owners and residents. Her vision is simple: bring life back to our streets by making it possible for small businesses to not just survive—but thrive.

What Brooklyn Deserves

Brooklyn deserves better than boarded-up windows and trash-lined sidewalks. Our borough should be a place where small businesses can grow, not where they’re strangled by policies that favor big corporations and political insiders. The choice is simple: keep watching our neighborhoods decline—or demand leadership that brings life back to Brooklyn’s streets.

Stand with Athena Clarke for a stronger Brooklyn—make your contribution today.

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Sources and further reading: 

• https://www.fox5ny.com/news/nyc-brooklyn-flatbush-businesses-close-redevelopment-plans

• https://www.bkmag.com/2025/05/28/bed-vyne-brew-bar-brooklyn-closing/

• https://greenpointers.com/2025/08/12/world-of-flowers-closing-after-more-than-30-years/

• https://ny.eater.com/restaurant-closings-2/400141/nyc-restaurant-closings-july-2025