Montague Street BID

From “Perpetually Drab” to Packed Sundays.

The Challenge

Montague Street — home to 89+ small businesses — was once the heart of Brooklyn Heights.

Then it wasn’t.

Vacancies climbed. Storefronts went dark.
Curbed called it “perpetually drab.”

When the pandemic hit, the street went silent.

The risk wasn’t retail.
It was relevance.

What We Built

Since 2015, we’ve partnered with the BID to strengthen how the corridor shows up.

We rebuilt the foundation — website, newsletters, merchant and public communications, marketing and PR.

Before COVID, targeted campaigns were already driving an average 23% lift in foot traffic.

When shutdowns hit, we led corridor wide communications keeping merchants informed and visible when information and clarity mattered most.

Then Open Streets arrived.

Since 2022, we’ve designed and run one of NYC’s most ambitious Open Streets programs — two full blocks, fully activated, Sundays, every spring, early summer, and fall.

Strategy. Staffing. Programming. Partnerships. Promotion. Execution.
City compliance.

Not a closure. A corridor that performs.

The Results

63% sustained foot traffic increase.

500–4,500 weekly attendees.

71% merchant participation growth.

Vacancy rates reached historic lows.

Consistent multi-outlet media coverage.

The Impact

From “perpetually drab” to packed Sundays.
Eighty-nine small businesses supported by consistent demand.
The corridor performs.