Small businesses have faced extraordinary challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tremendous sacrifices businesses have made were necessary to curb the spread of COVID-19. Many were forced to temporarily close their doors, either by Executive Order or by reluctant choice.
These businesses bravely soldiered on while making efforts to support their communities even though their profits suffered. Others managed to not just survive, but thrive by pivoting, evolving, and adapting to their ever changing circumstances.
Our resilient small businesses need to be acknowledged and celebrated!
The Small Business Community Champions includes nominations by members of the community. Each community nomination features the business owner’s story of resiliency during the pandemic.
Use the map below to click on each municipality, or use the links in the navigation bar to check out our local champions.
To learn more about each featured business please click the logo to be redirected to the businesses’ website.
| Name of Business | Municipality |
|---|---|
| &grain | Garwood |
| 555 Barbershop | Elizabeth |
| ABE’S AUTO CENTER | Rahway |
| Accent Printing Solutions | New Providence |
| Ace Hardware | Hillside |
| All About Paws | Hillside |
| Apple Blossom Flower Shop | Scotch Plains |
| Arch Angels NJ | Rahway |
| Arkad Capital | Plainfield |
| Arthur Murray Dance Center | Cranford |
| Atelier Rosal | Rahway |
| Badawang Art + Your Inner Tranquility | Summit |
| Baker Tax & Accounting Services | Linden |
| Batavia Cafe | Summit |
| Bella Rococo at Emilia’s | Garwood |
| BISTRO 1051 | Clark |
| Bovella’s Pastry Shop | Mountainside |
| Bovella’s Pastry Shop | Westfield |
| Brownie Points Bakery | Summit |
| Candy Mountain Day Care | Winfield |
| Carolyn Dorfman Dance | Union |
| Cesar-Kai Karate Academy LLC | Cranford |
| Club Kali Roselle | Roselle |
| CMC Food LLC | Elizabeth |
| Conant Street Auto Service INC | Hillside |
| Cranford’s BEST Kids LLC | Cranford |
| Crincoli Service Center | Hillside |
| Crossroads | Garwood |
| Crow and the Coconut Yoga | Union |
| DiMaio’s Cucina | Berkeley Heights |
| Don Ricky Bakery | Elizabeth |
| Elizabeth Education Association | Elizabeth |
| Especially Yours | Kenilworth |
| Flynn’s Pub House | Rahway |
| Fresh & Pretty Plus Florist | Hillside |
| Gale Force Media (The Westfield Leader and Scotch Plains/Fanwood Times) | Scotch Plains |
| Gale Force Media (The Westfield Leader and Scotch Plains/Fanwood Times) | Westfield |
| Gale Force Media (The Westfield Leader and Scotch Plains/Fanwood Times) | Fanwood |
| Ghos | Rahway |
| Girl Talk Meetup | Union |
| Gladys Cleaning Service | Union |
| Grilled Chicken Palace | Hillside |
| Herb’s Diner | Hillside |
| Hillside Bagel & Deli | Hillside |
| Hollywood Laundromat | Hillside |
| Hung’s Shanghai Restaurant | Scotch Plains |
| I9sports | Cranford |
| I9sports | Hillside |
| I9sports | Rahway |
| I9sports | Roselle |
| I9sports | Springfield |
| il Forno a Legna | Rahway |
| IRIS Environmental Laboratories | Union |
| Jammed Up Bakery | Union |
| Linda’s Creative Gifts | New Providence |
| Little Hearts Big World | Fanwood |
| Lord’s Bagels | Hillside |
| Lost & Found Tattoo Studio | Cranford |
| Max Challenge of New Providence | Union | Springfield | New Providence |
| Max Challenge of New Providence | Union | Springfield | Union |
| Max Challenge of New Providence | Union | Springfield | Springfield |
| Melao Cafe & Creamery | Rahway |
| My Gym New Providence | Westfield | New Providence |
| My Gym New Providence | Westfield | Westfield |
| Nancy’s Townhouse | Rahway |
| Naomy Dominican Beauty Salon | Hillside |
| Nolasco’s Convience Store | Hillside |
| Oh Brian’s On The Green | Clark |
| Ola Café | Hillside |
| One Stop Grad, Inc. | Mountainside |
| Outta Hand Pizza | Westfield |
| Pao de Mel Bakery | Hillside |
| Parker Interior Plantscape | Plainfield |
| Pastrami & Pickles | Roselle Park |
| Phil’s Unisex | Hillside |
| Ponche Suizo | Plainfield |
| ProSign Print Shop | Hillside |
| Providence Bar & Kitchen | New Providence |
| Pure Movement Dance Center | Berkeley Heights |
| Q+ Beauty Supply | Hillside |
| Queen City Coffee Roasters | Plainfield |
| Rahway Community Action Organization | Rahway |
| Rahway Dance Theatre | Rahway |
| Revive Salon & Spa | Hillside |
| Rosie’s Wine Bar | Garwood |
| Royal Tuxedo Wholesale | Kenilworth |
| Serra Restaurant | Summit |
| Sheavon Beauty | Rahway |
| Sheelen’s Crossing | Fanwood |
| Shock Room Fitness | Berkeley Heights |
| Sinai Bakery Restaurant | Rahway |
| Sirius Sales Depot | Rahway |
| Sofia’s Italian Restaurant | Springfield |
| Soul Bowls | Scotch Plains |
| StarRehabs Inc | Plainfield |
| Summit True Value Hardware | Summit |
| Sweet Nothings | Summit |
| TeliApp Corporation | Linden |
| TG Beauty Supply | Hillside |
| The Academy | Roselle |
| The Coffee Box | Rahway |
| The Greek Store | Kenilworth |
| The Juice House | Garwood & New Providence |
| The Lab Restaurant | Kenilworth |
| The Linwood Taphouse | Linden |
| THE MAX Challenge of Cranford | Cranford |
| The Porch Hair Salon | Cranford |
| The UPS Store of Summit | Summit |
| Travel Skate Shop | Rahway |
| Two Ton Brewing | Kenilworth |
| YK Salon New Providence | New Providence |
| Zappia’s Deli | Summit |