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Discover NYC – Your Guide to Indie Businesses

Discover the local, independent businesses that are the heart and soul of NYC in Shoot New York City’s guide to the best of indie New York!

Discover the real NYC in Shoot New York City’s Discover Guide

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, many of the businesses listed are temporarily or permanently closed. I do suggest that you verify if they are open before visiting them. With many of them, it is probably best to call them as they may not have had the opportunity to update the information on their website.

I love the independent businesses in New York, they are the heart and soul of the city! In this section you will find bookstores, cafés, restaurants, arts & crafts markets and more. This is an ongoing project to list the best of indie New York so visit often to discover the real New York City. Experience the hidden gems and places that New Yorkers frequent. For more information on many of NYC’s vibrant neighborhoods, have a read of my Neighborhood Guides. I am not compensated for writing these reviews and I'm only writing about the places that I like.

Sadly, far too many of these unique, independent businesses close every year. When I learn of one closing I will move it to the category Vanishing NYC. They may be gone but they’ll never be forgotten!

Neighborhoods

Business Type

 

Kalustyan's, Gramercy Park, Manhattan

Update: I visited Kalustyan’s a few weeks ago and introduced a friend, They are fully operational and they are much larger than I recall. You want hot sauce? They have enough to start a museum. I was very happy to find halvah. They have everything, not just foods and spices from India. Updated 13 July 2021.

Kalustyan’s is a specialty store selling Indian spices as well as imported foods from around the world including much of the Middle East. I first discovered the store many years ago when I made a variety of different garam masala recipes to give as gifts.

This store has been around since 1944 and is in the heart of a neighborhood given the name “curry hill” because it is adjacent to Murray Hill! If you’re looking for hard to find spices or ingredients that you aren’t able to find in the typical grocery store, Kalustyan’s is the place!

It is also surrounded by many Indian restaurants with many taxis parked around there. Perhaps that is an indication of the quality of the food served in them.

Kalustyan’s - 123 Lexington Avenue between 28th & 29th Streets

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Specialty StoresLeanne StaplesGramercy Park, Manhattan