Vendors at Flatbush Central Caribbean Marketplace struggling to bounce back, asking for help

Like many vendors who are struggling to return to normalcy after being hit hard by the Coronavirus pandemic, store owners in the Flatbush Central Caribbean Marketplace said they are yet to receive a colorful motif outside of the building to attract buyers to their merchandise.

The arcade on the ground level of Caton Flats, a 14-story residential building at the intersection of Flatbush Avenue (Dr. Roy Hastick Way) and Caton Avenue, unveiled by Mayor Eric Adams during a ribbon-cutting ceremony last year, has lost a steady flow of customers.

Many of the store owners have also vanished, seeking other ways to hawk their goods since business continue to decline.

During a recent visit this reporter observed that the shopping center that is open to the public Tuesday to Saturday, from 11:00am to 8:00pm looked deserted, with less than ten owners in the front area who say they wait for hours to transact business.

Caribbean flags, jewelry, custom designed clothing, healthy lifestyle entrees, and other items, are displayed at Mint Porch Café, Minnie’s Collection, Flagathon 1, Michelle Fashion, L’herese Variety Store, Angelina’s Boutique, Zeby’s Printing, and Barbara’s Gift Shop are the few located just beyond the entrance, compared to the many more who were there at the reopening last year.

While the entrepreneurs are hopeful that sales will spike as the Labor Day weekend season approaches, they are still concerned that not enough is being done to bring visibility to their businesses to attract buyers.

The owner of Barbara’s Giftshop, a seamstress who learned from her mother while growing up in Suddie on the Essequibo Coast of Guyana, said she is a pioneer of the marketplace, one of the first set of vendors who were relocated to facilitate the construction of the building that houses the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry In., (CACCAI), and residential units.

“We vendors look out for each other. We are promoting ourselves so when we get the help we need, we appreciate it,’ said Barbara who pointed out her Caribbean style collections of jewelry, Mary Kay cosmetics, her Brooklyn-brand Tees, (Flatbush where we live), caps and slippers that showcases the flags of the Caribbean. She is calling on the community to support the marketplace.

Traditional Haitian ensemble, headwraps, sunglasses, flags and lots of other items are sold at L’herese Variety Store, whose owner is also one of the original vendors from the old Caton market.

Angelina’s Boutique, owner, also from Haiti, is passionate about selling cosmetics, pretty hats, spices, black mushroom, soap, all products made in Haiti, and happily said she has been at the market since 1996.

Barbadian-born businessman, Selwyn, owner of Flagathon 1, said people have forgotten that the vendors have returned after being placed in other parts of Brooklyn to facilitate the construction of the new building.

He noted that many don’t know that the marketplace is there because there is no proper signage outside of the building, such as the colorful Caribbean flags to showcase the marketplace, adding that he is hopeful that concerns raised will be addressed very soon.

St. Vincent & the Grenadines native, owner of Minnie’s Collection for 18 years, said she returned to the new space in 2022, and sales could be better, adding that customers are few and in-between. She thanked nationals like Guyanese and Jamaicans, and other islanders for supporting her business, and passing the word around since this is the only way she gets sales.

Owner of Zeby’s Printing says he imports household items like illustrations and wooden picture frames from Jamaica, and sell leather hats made by an Ethiopian designer, along with wooden Jamaican household decorations. However, he is disappointed that business is slow, as such, he limits the time he spends at the marketplace, and finds another place to vend, to make a profit.

Karleen, owner of Golden Seven Music Enterprise, has a wide collection of vinyl records and CDs of Caribbean music from her homeland, and is also optimistic that business will pick-up.

Isra Gordon, a certified holistic metabolic health coach, and owner of Mint Porch Café – a healthy lifestyle eatery at the entrance of the Marketplace is the only well-being foodie in the space and is committed to providing these options to the public, but like the other vendors she is hopeful for more visibility to the mall.

They are calling on Community Board, Council Members, and all concerned to hear their plea for help with promoting the marketplace.

Assemblymember Rita Joseph, in whose 40th NYC Council District Caton Flats is located, had said the marketplace brings new energy, and vibrancy to the community.

Dr. Una S. T. Clarke, former NYC Council Member whose vision it was to create a rebrand Caton Marketplace, had expressed excitement and gratitude to all who over the 20 years had worked with the community to bring revitalization to the Caribbean Marketplace during the 2022 opening, and thanked all the mayors who have supported her.

The new Flatbush Central offers upgraded amenities, expanded space for food vendors — inclusive of a Caribbean-themed food hall, shared commercial kitchen, bar, and lounge — and new programming to engage entrepreneurs and the broader community in building connections and celebrating the cultures of Flatbush and Central Brooklyn.

Urbane, the Black owned development company which built the new marketplace, said that “vendor success is at the core of Flatbush Central’s operating ethos and the market fully supports all vendors with the resources needed to be successful.” in a past statement.