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The Queens Chamber of Commerce, the oldest and largest business association in the borough, is now accepting votes for its Queens’ Best Bagel Competition. Members of the public are encouraged to vote for their favorite eatery from among 55 nominated establishments to settle the debate over who in Queens serves up the best bagel. “Bagels are a staple in New York City, and Queens consistently serves up some of the best out there,” said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “Whether you like them with butter or a smear of cream cheese and lox, the doughy delights are well-loved by our diverse Queens community and I look forward to visiting the winning establishment next month.” The public can vote for their favorite restaurant at https://bit.ly/QueensBestBagelVote through Wednesday, February 7. The winner will be crowned with the title of Queens’ Best Bagel on Friday, February 9, in honor of National Bagel and Lox Day, and receive a plaque and bragging rights, along with a complimentary membership to the Queens Chamber of Commerce. The second and third place winners will receive certificates. Nominations for the contest were collected from the public over the course of several weeks and include the following establishments:
Press release available for download, below. 
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The Queens Chamber of Commerce, the oldest and largest business association in Queens, will hold the inaugural Queens’ Best Bagel Competition throughout January and February. Members of the public are encouraged to nominate and vote for their favorite eatery to settle the debate over who in Queens serves up the best bagels in the borough. Nominations can be made by visiting https://bit.ly/QueensBestBagel. “Bagels aren't just breakfast; they're a daily dose of connection for people as they make a quick stop at their favorite restaurants and bodegas. Whether you like them plain or with everything, smeared with butter or cream cheese, Queens offers some of the best of the doughy delights in the city. ” said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “I am proud to announce our Queens’ Best Bagel Competition and I can’t wait to try some at the winning establishment next month!” The Chamber is accepting nominations from the public beginning on Tuesday, January 16. Nominations will close on Friday, January 26. Public voting will start on Monday, January 29, and run through Wednesday, February 7. The winner will be crowned with the title of Queens’ Best Bagel on Friday, February 9, in honor of National Bagel and Lox Day, and receive a plaque and bragging rights, along with a complimentary membership to the Queens Chamber of Commerce. The second and third place winners will receive certificates. Press release available for download, below.
Today, the Queens Chamber of Commerce, the oldest and largest business association in Queens, announced the launch of Restaurant311, a deep-dive accelerator program to provide specialized support to Queens restaurant and food business owners and operators. Under the program, small business owners will receive one-on-one business advising, coaching, and access to opportunities for business and tech support. Empire State Development will fund the program through a grant from the New York State Senate. “Queens is home to some of the best restaurants in the world, serving delicious cuisines from every corner of the globe,” said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “These food and dining establishments do more than just add to the unique flavor of our communities, they are also vital to our local economy. They create jobs for residents and drive tourism to our neighborhoods. We are delighted to be able to launch this program to support Queens’ thriving restaurant industry, and thank Empire State Development and our Senate delegation for funding this important work.” Under the program, restaurant and food business owners will receive one-on-one mentoring and support from the Queens Chamber’s food industry expert Laura Licona, who will assess the capacity and current needs of the food business or restaurant and create a tailored plan of action. Areas of support include: general restaurant consulting; business strategy; navigating government agencies; licensing and permits; product and brand development; food safety; menu engineering; staffing solutions; scaling; networking; collaborations; procurement; promotions and marketing; and tech solutions. “Restaurant311 will help small businesses thrive, and in turn, support our local economy,” said Laura Licona, Executive Chef and head of Food and Culture at the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “I look forward to sharing my expertise with food businesses throughout the borough to help them grow, and continue contributing to Queens’ vibrant food and culture scene.” "I am pleased to see the launch of Restaurant311, a vital program that will provide much-needed support to our local restaurant and food business owners in Queens. Small businesses are the backbone of our community, and this initiative, funded through a grant from the New York State Senate, demonstrates our commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and fostering economic growth," said State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. "I commend the Queens Chamber of Commerce for their dedication to providing specialized mentoring, coaching, and access to essential resources, and I am confident that this program will play a pivotal role in the success and resilience of our local food industry." "Queens' restaurants and small food business owners bring extraordinary charm, culture and uniqueness to each neighborhood," said State Senator Leroy Comrie. "The launch of the Queens Chamber's Restaurant 311 Accelerator Program will bring a much needed lifeline to many of these establishments as it helps them navigate various oversight entities, hopefully preventing unnecessary barriers to entry or expansion. I am grateful that I was able to work with my colleagues within the New York Senate to help fund this program's launch and look forward to the positive results to come." Restaurant311 is slated to help over 100 food businesses over the next 18 months. The Chamber will conduct outreach to small businesses who otherwise may be disconnected from assistance. Business owners can also sign up directly at the link here. Press release available for download, below.
Today, two Queens small businesses were honored by the Five Chamber Alliance and TD Bank at a ceremony recognizing outstanding Minority and Women Owned-Business Leaders. Elena Barcenes, owner of Rincon Salvadoreno, and Sarah-Beth White, owner of The Broadway Silk Store, each received a Five Borough MWBE Award from the five boroughwide chambers of commerce for their contributions to New York City’s small business community. “The Queens Chamber of Commerce proudly congratulates Elena Barcenes of Rincon Salvadoreno and Sarah-Beth White of The Broadway Silk Store for their well-deserved recognition at the Five Borough MWBE Awards,” said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “Their dedication, resilience, and contributions exemplify the spirit of entrepreneurship thriving in our borough. We're immensely proud to support these remarkable small business leaders and salute their commitment to both their enterprises and our community. This recognition not only honors them but also highlights the pivotal role played by minority and women-owned enterprises in our local economy, and we remain steadfast in our support for all entrepreneurs through our work at the Queens Chamber and through initiatives like the Small Business Resource Network.” The event, hosted at One Vanderbilt in Midtown Manhattan, also highlighted the importance of the Small Business Resource Network and its commitment to supporting MWBEs, which represent 76% of the businesses it serves. SBRN is a comprehensive approach to small business resiliency that offers free, personalized guidance and support to help businesses grow and thrive. Originally launched as a pandemic recovery effort, the SBRN continues to support small businesses via a collaborative partnership between the five boroughwide chambers of commerce, with generous support from the City of New York. “Today we recognize the extraordinary achievements of 10 businesses and entrepreneurs that not only contribute to the economic vibrancy of New York City but also embody the spirit of equity and diversity,” said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in a recorded statement. “I also want to recognize the importance and success of the Small Business Resource Network. This collaboration of public and private partners provides key financial and entrepreneurial assistance to the over 230,000 small businesses in New York City.” “NYCEDC is proud to congratulate the 10 exceptional businesses that have been recognized for their outstanding Minority and Women Owned-Businesses Leaders and their contributions to New York City’s economy,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises are essential to ensuring that we are building a vibrant and inclusive economy for all New Yorkers, and we are proud to support the NYC Small Business Resource Network in providing small businesses across all boroughs with the tools and resources they need to succeed.” "Congratulations to this year's honorees at the annual Five Borough M/WBE Awards," said New York City Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Kevin D. Kim. "These businesses reflect the diversity and excellence in entrepreneurship that make New York City's commercial corridors the best in the world. It is their hard work and dedication that are the essence of what it means to be the City of Yes." “This award is very important to me. As a five borough MWBE recipient, I am able to represent small minority business owners in New York City,” said Elena Barcenes, owner of Rincon Salvadoreno. “This award represents resilience, hard work, and dedication to my business and community. It represents the importance to work with community organizations, and local businesses, and to have a voice in the community.” “Now in our 4th generation, our 85-year old woman-owned business is honored to be recognized by the Five Chamber Alliance,” said Sarah-Beth White, owner of The Broadway Silk Store. “The Queens Chamber provided incredible support during the pandemic and we were able to take advantage of its many valuable resources and work with really caring, knowledgeable professionals. We are very grateful for all the help the chamber offered during an incredibly difficult time.” The winners of the 2024 Five Borough MWBE Awards are:
Press release available for download, below.
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May 2026
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