Downtown Syracuse businesses teem with diversity, study shows

SYRACUSE — The one thing consistent with the new business owners in downtown Syracuse is that they are diverse.

With all the new businesses opening, the Downtown Committee of Syracuse commissioned its downtown retail demographic survey conducted last spring to learn more about the people behind the businesses that represent a landscape of cuisines and cultures.

“We were pleased and pleasantly surprised to see that the diversity we feel is here truly is,” says Heather Schroeder, deputy director and director of economic development at the Downtown Committee.

After taking time to review 106 survey responses, a surprising 65 percent response rate, what did the Downtown Committee learn? Plenty, Schroeder says.

First, the organization got confirmation that downtown indeed has a lot of new businesses. In fact, 54 percent of downtown Syracuse businesses opened within the past five years.

The Downtown Committee also learned that downtown business owners are young, with 59 percent between the ages of 25 and 44, and that women are strong in downtown, with 42 percent of owners identifying as women.

“The growth in the past several years has been really dominated by women of color,” Schroeder adds. A total of 73 percent of Black business owners are women, according to the survey.

Nearly a quarter of respondents identify with a Census category race other than white, 13 percent identify as LGBTQIA+, just over 4 percent are veterans, 15 percent were born outside of the United States, and 21 percent can speak a language other than English.

“We’re thrilled downtown is giving off a welcoming vibe,” Schroeder says.

Salt City Market, which opened in January 2021, is perhaps the most concentrated display of downtown diversity. Located at 484 South Salina St., the market’s restaurant vendors offer up the flavors of Burma, Thailand, Jamaica, Vietnam, and Ethiopia.

Foreign-born downtown business owners hail from Vietnam, Bangladesh, Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Myanmar, Spain, Jamaica, and the islands of islands of Sao Tome and Principe along the coast of Africa, according to the survey. Languages spoken besides English include Spanish, French, Arabic, Italian, Vietnamese, Catalan, German, Hindi, Myanmar, Japanese, and Jamaican patois. 

So, what does all this tell the Downtown Committee? “Despite all the setbacks with COVID, downtown Syracuse has come back really strong,” Schroeder says.

In fact, COVID may have even influenced things, she says, with more people taking an “if not now, when” mentality in the wake of the pandemic.

“Several of the businesses started as a side hustle, Schroeder notes. The pandemic may have prompted those business owners to take the leap. The same with the influx of younger business owners. People are taking calculated risks and going after their dreams.

Now that it has the information, the Downtown Committee will use the survey results to figure out how it can help more businesses open and stay open, she says. The organization is currently seeking philanthropic support for programs that will help entrepreneurs, she adds.

“This is just the baseline,” Schroeder notes. “We plan to do follow-up surveys.” Survey results are available online at https://downtownsyracuse.com/sites/default/files/Retail%20Demographic%20Survey%20Data_0.pdf.

The Downtown Committee of Syracuse, a private, not-for-profit professional downtown management organization, has a mission to improve downtown by strengthening its economic base and making sure the area is clean, safe, accessible, and attractive.

SYRACUSE — The one thing consistent with the new business owners in downtown Syracuse is that they are diverse.

With all the new businesses opening, the Downtown Committee of Syracuse commissioned its downtown retail demographic survey conducted last spring to learn more about the people behind the businesses that represent a landscape of cuisines and cultures.

“We were pleased and pleasantly surprised to see that the diversity we feel is here truly is,” says Heather Schroeder, deputy director and director of economic development at the Downtown Committee.

After taking time to review 106 survey responses, a surprising 65 percent response rate, what did the Downtown Committee learn? Plenty, Schroeder says.

First, the organization got confirmation that downtown indeed has a lot of new businesses. In fact, 54 percent of downtown Syracuse businesses opened within the past five years.

The Downtown Committee also learned that downtown business owners are young, with 59 percent between the ages of 25 and 44, and that women are strong in downtown, with 42 percent of owners identifying as women.

“The growth in the past several years has been really dominated by women of color,” Schroeder adds. A total of 73 percent of Black business owners are women, according to the survey.

Nearly a quarter of respondents identify with a Census category race other than white, 13 percent identify as LGBTQIA+, just over 4 percent are veterans, 15 percent were born outside of the United States, and 21 percent can speak a language other than English.

“We’re thrilled downtown is giving off a welcoming vibe,” Schroeder says.

Salt City Market, which opened in January 2021, is perhaps the most concentrated display of downtown diversity. Located at 484 South Salina St., the market’s restaurant vendors offer up the flavors of Burma, Thailand, Jamaica, Vietnam, and Ethiopia.

Foreign-born downtown business owners hail from Vietnam, Bangladesh, Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Myanmar, Spain, Jamaica, and the islands of islands of Sao Tome and Principe along the coast of Africa, according to the survey. Languages spoken besides English include Spanish, French, Arabic, Italian, Vietnamese, Catalan, German, Hindi, Myanmar, Japanese, and Jamaican patois. 

So, what does all this tell the Downtown Committee? “Despite all the setbacks with COVID, downtown Syracuse has come back really strong,” Schroeder says.

In fact, COVID may have even influenced things, she says, with more people taking an “if not now, when” mentality in the wake of the pandemic.

“Several of the businesses started as a side hustle, Schroeder notes. The pandemic may have prompted those business owners to take the leap. The same with the influx of younger business owners. People are taking calculated risks and going after their dreams.

Now that it has the information, the Downtown Committee will use the survey results to figure out how it can help more businesses open and stay open, she says. The organization is currently seeking philanthropic support for programs that will help entrepreneurs, she adds.

“This is just the baseline,” Schroeder notes. “We plan to do follow-up surveys.” Survey results are available online at https://downtownsyracuse.com/sites/default/files/Retail%20Demographic%20Survey%20Data_0.pdf.

The Downtown Committee of Syracuse, a private, not-for-profit professional downtown management organization, has a mission to improve downtown by strengthening its economic base and making sure the area is clean, safe, accessible, and attractive.