Supporting Small Businesses: Two Years And Counting At The Great Georgiana

After sitting empty for a couple of years, the former Tillie’s at 248 Dekalb Avenue (at Vanderbilt) came to life again in September 2013 as The Great Georgiana. Now, two years in, the bar has made the space its own, gathering a following for its creative cocktail menu, tasty bites, and special affinity for vinyl.

But running a business in New York City is not just about setting up a great menu — at The Great Georgiana, one unusual hurdle has been their attempt to install heaters in their outdoor space, so patrons can enjoy a drink as the temperatures begin to cool down.

With that in mind — and in advance of Comptroller Scott Stringer’s Red Tape Commission, which will provide business owners with a forum to discuss the issues they butt up against in dealing with city agencies and regulations — we asked James Gregg of The Great Georgiana what his experiences have been, and what he’d like to see changed.

FGF: Tell us a bit about your business — as you’re celebrating your second anniversary, what’s changed since you opened, and what’s stayed the same?

James Gregg: We just celebrated our two-year anniversary at the beginning of September. It was a really exciting milestone for us, and a chance to look back over the last few years. The business is constantly maturing in almost every aspect. We have expanded the cocktail program and we are constantly tightening our focus there — that’s very fulfilling. The core of what the Georgiana is and what we wanted to do has never changed, we have been able to expand on what we can do and what we offer, and that feels good.

It has also been really nice to have the neighborhood embrace our love for music and vinyl culture, as well come around to enjoy a nice beer, cocktail, or glass of wine and a bite in a warm setting without pretension or fuss. In that way, the model has never changed. This is our first project, and so, like anyone else, we had to learn from and adapt to our limitations as we went along and excel where we knew we could.

I understand you’re trying to warm up your patrons a bit by installing heaters in your outdoor space, but that it’s been pretty complicated — what are the issues you’re facing, and how have you been managing them?

The outdoor cafe has been really well received in the neighborhood, and we love the feel it adds to what we do, so the next logical step for us was to look into adding outdoor heaters to try to warm the corner up a bit and expand the warm months on both sides for our customers. It is a new process for us, so a first time seems tough. At the core of it is applying for permits and licenses through a number of regulatory bodies. As a small business owner wearing a lot of hats, it can seem like a lot to take on. The first thing you want to do is understand the costs and timelines involved, and work out the feasibility. For us, there is a lot of troubleshooting involved; lots of phones calls and lots of questions for people.

What’s been the most frustrating part of the whole process?

Trying to understand the process, timelines, and costs fully is the toughest part. There are some really helpful resources out there that didn’t exist, or that we weren’t aware of at the time we opened — great resources, but it feels like a maze sometimes. There are private third parties that can be hired to help guide businesses through the process, but they are an additional financial burden on the business and at the end of the day, you want to understand the process and feel like the outcome isn’t out of your hands, so that in the future you can handle it on your own.

How do you think the city could help your business with issues like this in the future?

Like I said, there are some really good resources out there, they just aren’t all in one place, which is understandable as it is a lot to gather and a lot of players are involved. It’s a big task.

The DCA has some great resources. At the time we opened, we worked with NBAT, and they were incredibly helpful. Knowing there is someone there to direct questions to, who knows you and knows your business (even a little), is immensely helpful. Comptroller Stringer’s Red Tape Commission is a great example of the city trying to make it easier to get a business open and help them grow.

Do you feel like there have been — or will be — any specific regulatory obstacles that have gotten or could get in the way of your business’ growth?

I don’t think we have experienced anything out of the ordinary. Snags and delays are common. As for the heaters, I think it will have to be something we will to hold off on until next year. The sight lines and feasibility are clear enough for us right now.

What’s one of the most important things you’ve learned since opening?

We have learned to just roll with the punches and grow with the business.

That’s a lot of questions about “worst” and “challenging” issues — what’s been the best thing about running a bar and restaurant in New York City, and specifically in Fort Greene?

I first moved to Fort Greene in 2001 and all of us share a deep love of the neighborhood and the people. The sense of community is like no other I have known. We are really proud of the Georgiana and happy to be a part of the fabric of the community. It’s a good feeling.

Speaking of fellow local businesses, are there any favorite businesses that you like to visit nearby? Anyplace where you’re a regular?

One of the central reasons we decided to open the Georgiana where we did was specifically because of the variety and diversity of what the neighborhood has to offer. Everyone has something unique going on, and that is very cool to see. The landscape always has something new to offer, while the familiarity seems to remain pretty constant.

Comptroller Scott Stringer’s Red Tape Commission will take place on Friday, October 16 from 8:30-10am at Brooklyn Law School (Geraldo’s Cafe, Feil Hall, 1st floor) at 205 State Street in Downtown Brooklyn. All NYC business owners are welcome to attend — if you’re a business owner who would like to submit written testimony or comments, send them to redtape@comptroller.nyc.gov.