43 years of Evergreen Is Something to Celebrate

Kheedim Oh (2^nd from right) of Mama O’s Premium Kimchi accepts Evergreen’s Business of the Year Award. Also pictured (l to r) Kheedim’s daughter and his wife Amy, Leah Archibald (exec. dir. of Evergreen), and Ernie Wong (board secretary of Evergreen).
*Photo credit: Mentis Studio*

Evergreen celebrated North Brooklyn business and industry at their 43^rd annual celebration in May.

Their award for this year’s business of the year went to: Mama O’s Premium Kimchi. This business was started in 2007 with $50 and a skateboard out of the one bedroom LES apartment of Kheedim Oh. Longing for some quality kimchi but unable to find any in the stores, Kheedim asked his mom, Mama O, to teach him how to make it. Once he learned how, he’d make a batch at his parents’ house in Maryland, then transport it to NYC on the bus, and finally travel with it on skateboard to his home because he could not afford a taxi. A chance meeting with his butcher led to his first account and the start of the business! They eventually established their business home base on Flushing Avenue between Marcy and Tompkins avenues. Fast forward 18 years — and one episode of Shark Tank — and Mama O’s Premium Kimchi’s products can be found in stores like Whole Foods, Albertsons, The Fresh Market, and more. Later this year, select Mama O’s Premium Kimchi products will be available nationwide in food service sizes through European Imports, a subsidiary of Sysco.

The M-Zone Coalition of the NYC Council were awarded the Evergreen Community Partner of the Year. (l to r) NYC Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, Leah Archibald (exec. dir. of Evergreen), Majority Leader Amanda Farias, and Ernie Wong (board secretary of Evergreen).

M-Zone Coalition of the New York City Council, M is short for manufacturing, was hailed by Evergreen as community partner of the year. This coalition was formed in 2023 to address Mayor Eric Adams’s amendment on one of his City of Yes initiatives that enhances economic activity by removing outdated zoning restrictions and improving conditions for local businesses and commercial districts in the city. NYC Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez co-led the coalition with Majority Leader Amanda Farias, which advocated for modernizing outdated 1961 manufacturing zoning, promoting infrastructure upgrades, and creating new zoning tools that would support job-intensive industries and prevent displacement. On June 6, 2024 the NYC Council approved the ZEO text amendment, this time with an 18^th section dedicated to industrial zoning. It created three new manufacturing zoning designations—including a core industrial district that prohibits non-industrial uses to protect and preserve space for production.

Congratulations to Jeanique Druses Evergreen’s Small Business Champion. (l to r) Jeanique Druses (northeast regional executive for global philanthropy of JP Morgan Chase), Leah Archibald (exec. dir. of Evergreen), and Ernie Wong (board secretary of Evergreen). *Photo credit: Mentis Studio*

Evergreen recognized Jeanique Druses as this year’s small business champion. Druses is the northeast regional executive for global philanthropy of JP Morgan Chase where she oversees philanthropic efforts across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States. In this role, she leads a team of program officers in developing and executing strategies for local market grant portfolios aimed at fostering inclusive economic growth. She also manages the NYC Small Business and Financial Health grant portfolios.

Evergreen was founded in 1982 when a group of local business owners partnered with St. Nicks Alliance to revitalize North Brooklyn’s industrial community. Since then this membership organization continues to champion manufacturing, creative production, and industrial service businesses in North Brooklyn and beyond.