STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Business owners along Forest Avenue are voicing strong discontent following a recent Summer Streets festival, claiming it disrupted operations and deterred customers on a traditionally busy shopping day.
The festival closed significant portions of Forest Avenue from Bard Avenue to Clove Road, leading many businesses to face accessibility challenges.
The D’Antuono family, owners of Pastosa Ravioli, reported a backlash from customers who were unable to reach their store amid the road closures.
Frustration echoed from Gary LiGreci of The Staaten, who noted that over 50 cars attempted to access their parking lot during the event, compounding the challenges for local customers seeking to enter nearby businesses, including dry cleaners, CVS, clothing stores, medical offices, and restaurants.
Business Impact
The impact of the festival was tangible; Sam and Nick’s gas station and auto mechanic operation shut down before noon, with employees being sent home due to the disruption.
Customers trying to access the Dunkin’ drive-thru were at a standstill as cars were unable to navigate to their usual routes.
Meanwhile, McDonald’s customers, who accessed the business via a different entrance, faced fewer obstacles.
Cinzia Leon of Moretti’s Bakery, despite her typical positivity towards West Brighton events, described this particular Summer Streets event as a “disaster” for her business as all festivities unfolded blocks away.
She recalled shuttling cakes to customers who parked up to three or four blocks away, expressing disappointment that her patrons were inconvenienced.
One frustrated business owner estimated a financial loss of about $12,000 for that Saturday alone, declaring the situation “totally unfair and tone deaf.”
Another business owner emphasized the event’s adverse effect on Uber Eats deliveries, describing it as both a “huge inconvenience” and a significant hit to customer service quality.
Adding to the disruption, the Summer Streets event coincided with other local festivities, including Killsboro’s Pizza Party 2025, which attracted around a thousand attendees at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens, and Harmony Day at Corporal Thompson Park in West Brighton—a 24-year outdoor party with free food and entertainment.
City Response
In defense of the festival, the Department of Transportation described Summer Streets as “the best block party in New York City,” emphasizing their efforts to expand the program to ensure all boroughs could participate.
A statement outlined their outreach initiatives, claiming that approximately 600 bike helmets were distributed during the event.
The department relayed that notification alerts were sent to elected officials, community boards, civic groups, and that canvassing was undertaken along the corridor.
Despite these outreach attempts, businesses were left reeling from the impact, with some unable to operate at all, including two gas stations and a tire shop.
A resident reported being unable to access CVS or purchase gas due to the disruptions.
Forest Avenue Business Improvement District Executive Director Nina Flores acknowledged the valid concerns expressed by businesses while clarifying that the BID played a limited role in planning the event.
Flores noted that the BID was made aware of the street closure just a week in advance.
She recognized that the notice given may not have been adequate for many small business owners who heavily depend on accessible traffic flow for their daily operations.
‘We Appreciate the Intention’
Observations made during the event reported modest attendance, as some areas appeared devoid of activity aside from tents lining the streets.
Aliki Koutsovasilis, owner of the Kings Arms Diner, reflected on the insufficient detail in the flyers distributed before the event, stating they failed to mention significant closures.
The diner experienced a 65% decrease in business compared to a typical Saturday due to accessibility issues, as their in-house delivery driver had to park far from the restaurant, causing further disruption.
A spokesperson for Councilmember Kamillah M. Hanks expressed appreciation for the intentions behind Summer Streets, highlighting its goal of invigorating commercial corridors for pedestrian use.
However, the spokesperson also conveyed concerns raised by small business owners and local residents about limited outreach leading to customer access disruptions.
According to the spokesperson, the office was not involved in the planning or execution of the event and highlighted input from stakeholders who shared apprehensions surrounding access and transportation.
Earlier this year, Hanks’ office had considered organizing an event on Forest Avenue but ultimately redirected it to less-trafficked areas after awareness of similar business concerns.
The spokesperson concluded that community feedback is vital for future public events and pledged to reach out to the Department of Transportation for a thorough review of the planning process.
Requests for comment from the Borough President’s office were not returned prior to the deadline.
Summer Streets Program
The festival is part of Mayor Eric Adams’ expanded Summer Streets initiative spans over 22 miles throughout New York City.
Despite the backlash, some residents found value in the absence of vehicle traffic.
Kristin Daggan, owner of Muse and Clay & Kiln craft stores, expressed sadness over the dissatisfaction expressed by many business owners, even though her location had no official programming.
Daggan highlighted a positive interaction with officials from the Department of Transportation who were on site, emphasizing her hopes for future collaborative efforts between merchants and city agencies to create impactful community events.
Several business owners have begun proposing alternative locations for future events, suggesting areas such as Silver Lake Road which is more suitable for these gatherings given its existing closures on weekends.
John Mulvey, a principal of The Point Tavern, expressed frustration with the day’s outcome and called for more considerate planning by event organizers to avoid harming local businesses in the future.
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