It Takes An East Village
When you’ve been in the same building since 1874, you get to know your neighbors. These East Village institutions are, in our opinion, worth a visit for being women-owned, -operated, or simply being there for the Women’s Prison Association (WPA) as good neighbors are!
- Random Accessories
Location: 77 E. 4th St. between Bowery and 2nd Ave
Years in EV: 20
Best Feature: Aside from being women-owned and -operated? Prince and Bowie prayer candles! This tiny shop also hosts regular postcard-writing events and offered a discount to anyone wearing red on International Women’s Day. Make sure to follow them on Instagram @randomaccessoriesny for the latest deals and events.
2. Sunny’s Florist
Location: 102 2nd Ave at 6th St.
Years in EV: 29
Best Feature: Say it with flowers, after hours. Sunny’s is open until midnight Monday-Saturday.
Our Sunny’s Story: Irene lives at WPA’s family shelter. She’s a mother of ten. She’s battled addiction for 20+ years and has been incarcerated four times as a result. She is a domestic violence survivor and advocate for women who have been incarcerated. She’s hilarious and cooks like a boss. Recently, Irene successfully completed an alternative to incarceration that allowed her to stay at WPA with her youngest son who is only six. When she graduated from the program, we helped her celebrate with a beautiful bouquet from Sunny’s.
3. Bar Virage
Location: 118 2nd Ave. at 7th St.
Years in EV: 19
Best Feature: Guy, the bartender. If the amazing cocktail choices overwhelm you, simply pick a spirit and let Guy — a skilled and seasoned mixologist — work his magic. WPA staff favorites: Bombay gimlet or espresso martini.
Fun Fact: WPA fundraisers almost always feature a swag bag. And our swag bags often feature coupons from Bar Virage. Free champagne toast? Cheers!
4. The Body Shop
Location: 747 Broadway, between Astor Place and E. 8th St.
Years in EV: 29
Best Feature: The delightful staff. And the ginger shampoo.
Our Body Shop Story: Each Mother’s Day, makeup artists from The Body Shop open a pop-up salon for WPA moms so they can be pampered!
5. EILEEN FISHER
Location: 314 E 9th St., between 1st and 2nd Aves.
Years in EV: 30
Best Feature: Well, we’re kind of partial, but their holiday window display featuring the artwork of kids at WPA!
Our EILEEN FISHER Story: In addition to the window display, the 9th Street Boutique provides year-round support to our nearby family shelter, supplying a Christmas tree, holiday crafts, hosting sales to benefit our clients, and volunteering at various functions.
6. Rookie Spotlight: Cupcake Market
Location: 74 E. 7th St., between 1st and 2nd Aves.
Years in EV: almost 1!
Best Feature: The face cookies, hands (heads?) down.
Our Cupcake Market Story: They may be the new kids on the block, but they’ve stretched their charitable muscles early. Cupcake Market donates their overstock cupcakes to our women’s shelter around the corner. Let’s just say, that’s our most popular delivery. Check them out on Instagram @cupcakemarketnyc.
Next time you’re in the East Village searching for a socially-conscious local business to support, pop in on one of our friends and tell them we said “Hello!”
Diana McHugh is the Director of Communications at the Women’s Prison Association. You can wave to her through her office window at 110 2nd Avenue or, better yet, bring her a cookie.
