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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

 

Nathan's, Coney Island, Brooklyn

When it comes to hot dogs, if you're looking for the real thing then you must go to Coney Island to the Original Nathan's! They've been in Coney Island since 1916! That's right, over 100 years! Nathan's hotdogs are the most famous in the world. I think they might also taste better at Coney Island!

If you happen to go on the 4th of July you can also see the Nathan's Hotdog Eating Contest. Joey Chestnut the reigning champion for the last few years, ate 72 hot dogs in 10 minutes in the 2017 contest!!! Yikes. But you might want to have just one hotdog. You can say that you had a hotdog at a restaurant that the legendary mobster Al Capone was known to eat at when he was in the neighborhood. 

Nathan's 1310 Surf Avenue

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RestaurantsLeanne StaplesConey Island, Brooklyn