Summary:
New York City is experiencing a boom in small businesses, particularly restaurants, as the city recovers from the pandemic.
Chinatown has seen a significant increase in new businesses in recent years.
Former Eleven Madison Park chef Eric Huang launched a successful fried chicken delivery business, Pecking House, after his fine dining restaurant plans were disrupted by the pandemic.
Pecking House went viral, generating a 10,000-person waitlist.
Huang now operates two Pecking House locations, including a new spot in Chinatown.
The rise in small businesses is attributed to more New Yorkers choosing to be their own boss, with many Manhattan offices still vacant.
NYC's Fried Chicken Boom: From Fine Dining to Viral Success
New York City's small business scene is thriving as the city recovers from the pandemic. City data shows a surge in new businesses, particularly restaurants, with Chinatown seeing a boom in recent years.
Eric Huang, a former sous chef at the renowned Eleven Madison Park, is one of many entrepreneurs capitalizing on the trend. After the pandemic shut down his fine dining restaurant aspirations, Huang launched Pecking House, a delivery-only fried chicken business, out of his uncle's Chinese restaurant kitchen in Queens.
His venture went viral, generating a 10,000-person waitlist and exceeding his expectations. Huang now operates two Pecking House locations, including a recently opened spot in Chinatown, bringing his story full circle.
Why are so many New Yorkers starting their own businesses?
According to Melissa Pumphrey, of New York City's Economic Development Corporation, the pandemic has spurred many to become entrepreneurs. With many Manhattan offices remaining vacant, more New Yorkers are choosing to be their own boss. This trend has led to a significant increase in small businesses, including over 5,000 new restaurants in the city.
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