On November 13th, 2018, Amazon announced two east coast headquarters, one in Long Island City and the other in Northern Virginia. As Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo welcomed the announcement, opposition to the deal quickly mounted. Activists claimed Amazon’s HQ2 would displace local residents and stress a dilapidated public transportation system. They claimed HQ2 would tear apart the fabric of the surrounding community of Long Island City which included Jackson Heights and Astoria. Supporters of HQ2 welcomed the increase of foot traffic in neighborhood storefronts as well as new jobs.
In the wake of the announcement, we set out to explore the impact of Amazon on small businesses. Walking around HQ2’s proposed site at Anable Basin in Hunter’s Point, we passed Rockaway Brewing Company and Big aLICe Brewing. Within a six-block radius to HQ2, there were a total of four brewing companies, small businesses in their own right.
Breweries have unique small business requirements. They are zoned industrial, package and distribute alcohol within or out of the state, and also serve wine and beer. Each requires permits and licenses issued by the city, state, and Federal government. But Hunter’s Point is distinct because of them and their close proximity has created an emerging scene for craft beers. Examining the community of customers and the staff of this burgeoning community, we learned that many looked at Amazon’s arrival with curious skepticism. With Amazon’s exit, they felt a mix of a missed opportunity but also a continuation of business as usual.
Queens, NY Saturday, February 2, 2019 – Building “W5” (right) and "W4" (left) of Amazon’s HQ2 as seen from Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island. The buildings were projected to be occupied in 2023 and 2024 before the cancellation of HQ2. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Queens, NY Sunday, February 10, 2019 – Midtown can be seen from 47th avenue where Big aLICe Brewing Company began brewing in 2013. The brewery is located two blocks from Amazon’s cancelled HQ2 campus. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Queens, NY Sunday, February 10, 2019 – Big aLICe Brewing Company began brewing in 2013; opening a taproom to sell craft beers around its brewing equipment. The brewery is located two blocks from Amazon’s cancelled HQ2 campus. The business is expanding with its Brooklyn Barrel Room; which will open next month in Industry City; Brooklyn. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Queens, NY Saturday, February 16, 2019 – Lauren Friedrich (center) and her dogs. Friedrich, 33, is in product marketing at the venture startup ADP and moved from New Jersey a year ago with her wife. She says that parks are nice but she likes dog friendly breweries where she can meet new, like-minded people. Tree House Brewing in Massachusetts is her favorite. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Queens, NY Saturday, February 23, 2019 – Big aLICe Brewing Company began brewing in 2013; opening a taproom to sell craft beers around its brewing equipment. The brewery is located two blocks from Amazon’s cancelled HQ2 campus. The business is expanding with its Brooklyn Barrel Room; which will open next month in Industry City; Brooklyn. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Queens, NY Saturday, February 23, 2019 – Big aLICe Brewing Company began brewing in 2013; opening a taproom to sell craft beers around its brewing equipment. The brewery is located two blocks from Amazon’s cancelled HQ2 campus. The business is expanding with its Brooklyn Barrel Room; which will open next month in Industry City; Brooklyn. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Queens, NY Saturday, February 23, 2019 – Big aLICe Brewing Company began brewing in 2013; opening a taproom to sell craft beers around its brewing equipment. The brewery is located two blocks from Amazon’s cancelled HQ2 campus. The business is expanding with its Brooklyn Barrel Room; which will open next month in Industry City; Brooklyn. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Queens, NY Saturday, February 23, 2019 – Big aLICe Brewing Company began brewing in 2013; opening a taproom to sell craft beers around its brewing equipment. The brewery is located two blocks from Amazon’s cancelled HQ2 campus. The business is expanding with its Brooklyn Barrel Room; which will open next month in Industry City; Brooklyn. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Queens, NY Saturday, February 23, 2019 – Big aLICe Brewing Company began brewing in 2013; opening a taproom to sell craft beers around its brewing equipment. The brewery is located two blocks from Amazon’s cancelled HQ2 campus. The business is expanding with its Brooklyn Barrel Room; which will open next month in Industry City; Brooklyn. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Queens, NY Saturday, February 23, 2019 – Big aLICe Brewing Company began brewing in 2013; opening a taproom to sell craft beers around its brewing equipment. The brewery is located two blocks from Amazon’s cancelled HQ2 campus. The business is expanding with its Brooklyn Barrel Room; which will open next month in Industry City; Brooklyn. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Queens, NY Saturday, February 23, 2019 – Big aLICe Brewing Company began brewing in 2013; opening a taproom to sell craft beers around its brewing equipment. The brewery is located two blocks from Amazon’s cancelled HQ2 campus. The business is expanding with its Brooklyn Barrel Room; which will open next month in Industry City; Brooklyn. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Queens, NY Saturday, February 16, 2019 – Lauren Friedrich and her dogs. Friedrich, 33, is in product marketing at the venture startup ADP and moved from New Jersey a year ago with her wife. She says that parks are nice but she likes dog friendly breweries where she can meet new, like-minded people. Tree House Brewing in Massachusetts is her favorite. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Queens, NY Saturday, February 16, 2019 – Lauren Friedrich and her dogs. Friedrich, 33, is in product marketing at the venture startup ADP and moved from New Jersey a year ago with her wife. She says that parks are nice but she likes dog friendly breweries where she can meet new, like-minded people. Tree House Brewing in Massachusetts is her favorite. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Queens, NY Saturday, February 16, 2019 – Larissa Vila (center right) and Andrea Speranza (left) at Big aLICe Brewing Co in Long Island City. Two weekends ago they watched the Puppy Bowl at Chateau Le Woof, a pet friendly café in Astoria. Vila and Speranza are locals from Astoria. Vila, who works as a new business developer at an e-commerce firm, was hoping to get a job at Amazon but Speranza was annoyed at the prospect of more commuters. Finding dog friendly venues can be difficult. This was Vila’s first time at a brewery in Long Island City. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Queens, NY Saturday, February 16, 2019 – Larissa Vila (center right) at Big aLICe Brewing Co in Long Island City. Two weekends ago they watched the Puppy Bowl at Chateau Le Woof, a pet friendly café in Astoria. Vila and Speranza are locals from Astoria. Vila, who works as a new business developer at an e-commerce firm, was hoping to get a job at Amazon. Finding dog friendly venues can be difficult. This was Vila’s first time at a brewery in Long Island City. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Queens; NY Saturday; February 16; 2019 – Larissa Vila (left) and Andrea Speranza (right) at Big aLICe Brewing Co in Long Island City. Two weekends ago they watched the Puppy Bowl at Chateau Le Woof, a pet friendly café in Astoria. Vila and Speranza are locals from Astoria. Vila, who works as a new business developer at an e-commerce firm, was hoping to get a job at Amazon but Speranza was annoyed at the prospect of more commuters. Finding dog friendly venues can be difficult. This was Vila’s first time at a brewery in Long Island City. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Queens, NY Saturday, February 16, 2019 – Larissa Vila (right) and her dog at Big aLICe Brewing Co in Long Island City. Two weekends ago they watched the Puppy Bowl at Chateau Le Woof; a pet friendly café in Astoria. Vila and Speranza are locals from Astoria. Vila, who works as a new business developer at an e-commerce firm, was hoping to get a job at Amazon but Speranza was annoyed at the prospect of more commuters. Finding dog friendly venues can be difficult. This was Vila’s first time at a brewery in Long Island City. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Queens, NY Saturday, February 16, 2019 – Larissa Vila (top right) and Andrea Speranza (bottom right) at Big aLICe Brewing Co in Long Island City. Two weekends ago they watched the Puppy Bowl at Chateau Le Woof, a pet friendly café in Astoria. Vila and Speranza are locals from Astoria. Vila, who works as a new business developer at an e-commerce firm, was hoping to get a job at Amazon but Speranza was annoyed at the prospect of more commuters. Finding dog friendly venues can be difficult. This was Vila’s first time at a brewery in Long Island City. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Sunset Park, Brooklyn Thursday, February 21, 2019 – Terminal 6 of Industry City (left) where Big aLICe Brewing Company’s Brooklyn Barrel Room will open in March 2019. The taproom is their second location. The original location is two blocks from Amazon’s cancelled HQ2 campus. Big aLICe Brewing Company began brewing in 2013; opening a taproom to sell craft beers around its brewing equipment. Industry City is a 35-acre campus whose tenants include offices, shops, event spaces, art installations, restaurants, and bars. Brooklyn. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Sunset Park, Brooklyn Thursday, February 21, 2019 – Daniel Borg is a brand manager for Big aLICe Brewing Company. Big aLICe’s second location, the Brooklyn Barrel Room will open in March 2019. The taproom is their second location. The original location is two blocks from Amazon’s cancelled HQ2 campus. Big aLICe Brewing Company began brewing in 2013; opening a taproom to sell craft beers around its brewing equipment. Industry City is a 35-acre campus whose tenants include offices, shops, event spaces, art installations, restaurants, and bars. Brooklyn. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Sunset Park, Brooklyn Thursday, February 21, 2019 – Kyle Hurst (center right) entertaining guests at a friends and family party at the second Big aLICe Brewing Company location in Industry City, the Brooklyn Barrel Room. It will open in March 2019. The original location was opened two blocks from Amazon’s cancelled HQ2 campus in 2013. The taproom opened to sell craft beers around its brewing equipment. Industry City is a 35-acre campus whose tenants include offices, shops, event spaces, art installations, restaurants, and bars. Brooklyn. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Sunset Park, Brooklyn Thursday, February 21, 2019 – Friends and family celebrate at Big aLICe Brewing Company’s Brooklyn Barrel Room in Industry City which will open in March 2019. The taproom is their second location. The original location is two blocks from Amazon’s cancelled HQ2 campus. Big aLICe Brewing Company began brewing in 2013; opening a taproom to sell craft beers around its brewing equipment. Industry City is a 35-acre campus whose tenants include offices, shops, event spaces, art installations, restaurants, and bars. Brooklyn. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Sunset Park, Brooklyn Thursday, February 21, 2019 – Friends and family celebrate at Big aLICe Brewing Company’s Brooklyn Barrel Room in Industry City which will open in March 2019. The taproom is their second location. The original location is two blocks from Amazon’s cancelled HQ2 campus. Big aLICe Brewing Company began brewing in 2013; opening a taproom to sell craft beers around its brewing equipment. Industry City is a 35-acre campus whose tenants include offices, shops, event spaces, art installations, restaurants, and bars. Brooklyn. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Sunset Park, Brooklyn Thursday, February 21, 2019 – Friends and family celebrate at Big aLICe Brewing Company’s Brooklyn Barrel Room in Industry City which will open in March 2019. The taproom is their second location. The original location is two blocks from Amazon’s cancelled HQ2 campus. Big aLICe Brewing Company began brewing in 2013; opening a taproom to sell craft beers around its brewing equipment. Industry City is a 35-acre campus whose tenants include offices, shops, event spaces, art installations, restaurants, and bars. Brooklyn. Photo by Jasper K Lo.
Sunset Park, Brooklyn Thursday, February 21, 2019 – Dave May (right) pours draft beer at a friends and family party at Big aLICe Brewing Company’s Brooklyn Barrel Room in Industry City which will open in March 2019. The taproom is their second location. The original location is two blocks from Amazon’s cancelled HQ2 campus. Big aLICe Brewing Company began brewing in 2013; opening a taproom to sell craft beers around its brewing equipment. Industry City is a 35-acre campus whose tenants include offices, shops, event spaces, art installations, restaurants, and bars. Brooklyn. Photo by Jasper K Lo.