Change is always a constant at commercial strips, and the line of small businesses along Bainbridge Avenue and East 204th Street is no exception.

The last 12 months have seen changes at the corridor that’s home to mom and pop, regional, and national retailers. From construction of new housing and office space, to the expansion of some businesses, to the establishment of new ones. All this comes amid the ongoing presence of empty storefronts that yearn to be occupied.

The vacancies are certainly on the mind of Daniela Beasley, program manager at Mosholu Preservation Corporation (MPC, publishers of the Norwood News), who conducted a Commercial District Needs Assessment on Bainbridge Avenue, East 204th Street, and neighboring Webster Avenue, examining the overall business trends and needs of the neighborhoods.

In her assessment Beasley found a lot of room for growth for new opportunities as well improvement on the old, saying that a number of businesses requested help with marketing their businesses to the neighborhood while also helping to renegotiate their commercial leases. The initiatives are being helped by grant funding MPC secured through the New York City Small Business Services.

The assessment also found a total of 14 commercial businesses along Bainbridge Avenue and East 204th Street that still remain vacant, have the potential to be filled. While these storefronts remain empty, current ones have either expanded or conformed to current demographics.

Crazy Fruits, a smoothie bar that originally sold its drinks at Sal’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, is an example of this. Now they have their own storefront on Bainbridge Avenue near East Van Cortlandt Avenue. They credit most of their growth to producing a product that is in high demand. According to several local business owners, customers are demanding healthier options along the corridor.

“They look for these healthy things themselves. A lot of people come to us with different recipes,” Kirv Coylot, co-owner of Crazy Fruits, said.

Now Crazy Fruits has over 100 recipes including acai bowls, which was one of many customer suggestions. Their selection joins the number of Mexican-inspired juices and smoothies that provide a variety of health benefits that ward off obesity, illness, and poor skin.

Crazy Fruits is joined by La Casa De Frida, a restaurant that opened in 2012. Sandra Esclant, the owner, seeks a more family-friendly vibe to the Mexican fusion restaurant. She also hopes to create an atmosphere where patrons will stop by a first and second time to the point where they “know you by name.” La Casa De Frida comes as the number of residents of Mexican descent steadily increases in Norwood. Population estimates show Mexicans make up 16 percent of the residents of Norwood.

Esclant also plans to expand the business by adding a backyard area where people can sit outside and enjoy their meals.

Resident Joe Martinez has seen his fair share of change in Norwood’s commercial strip on Bainbridge Avenue leading into East 204th Street.

Current retailers have replaced some of Martinez’s earlier childhood favorites, which included James Sneaker Store on Bainbridge Avenue between Perry and Hull avenues. Now, the store has been replaced by a T-Mobile. Change can be a good thing, according to Martinez.

“We miss the stores because of the nostalgia purposes, but when it comes down to it, you’re going to pay your phone bill at T-Mobile, you’re gonna get your dog food from Benny’s, you’re going to open your savings account at Chase,” Martinez said, referencing the number of current businesses at the strip.

Salvatore Mirro, owner of the 36-year Hillside Meat Market on Bainbridge Avenue, has noticed these changes. Mirro adapts to the needs of new clientele by answering questions and offering suggestions, especially as it pertains to ever-growing Middle Eastern community. Back in the 1990s, residents of Irish descent dominated Norwood.

“A lot more businesses are coming in; a lot of different people. I believe it is good for the neighborhood,” Mirro said.

These days, any hint of Irish culture along the strip has virtually vanished. At the corner of Hull Avenue and East 204th Street, green boards have covered the now-closed McDwyer’s Pub, one of the last Irish holdouts in Norwood. The pub had been in business for more than 50 years.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.