Support local businesses May 2–10.
Since 2022, Shop Small Greenpoint (SSG) has organized a twice-a-year retail crawl, which adds sportive fun in order to support local businesses. Shoppers visit participating businesses to get a passport and a map of the crawl. When shoppers hit their spending markers, they could win a free gift or participate in the grand prize drawing. Those shopping on weekdays during the crawl will receive special discounts.
46 independently-owned shops will participate this spring.
Here’s how to shop the Spring Crawl: starting May 2, pick up a crawl passport at any participating shop. Each $10 spent receives a stamp on the passport. A passport that receives 3 stamps is eligible to win a Shop Small Greenpoint Tote Bag, but quantities are limited. If a tote bag win is the aim, it is best to shop during the first weekend as only 200 totes are up for grabs, and in past crawls they were all given out within the first two days. A passport that collects eight stamps by May 10 will be entered to win a local gift bundle worth more than $500. Winners are announced on May 11 via SSG’s Instagram.
This event gives back to the community. In addition to encouraging the residents to shop local, nine shops in the crawl are participating in a donation drive for Friends of McGolrick Park. They will donate a percentage of their crawl sales to support park maintenance and beautification. These shops will have a leaf icon near their name on the crawl map.
SSG is run on a volunteer basis by shop owners. Perri Salka, owner of The WonderMart, is lead organizer of the retail crawl.
Shopping at local independent business in and of itself does big things for the community. According to statistics from the U.S. Small Business Association and National Retail Federation: Up to $73 of every $100 spent at a small business remains in the community where it was spent. Local retailers retain 289% more revenue for the local economy than chain stores do.
In September 2025 the SSG set up a Shop Small Greenpoint Directory to help shine a light on all the special businesses in the area. To help plan your personal crawl, visit the directory here: https://shopsmallgreenpoint.carrd.co/#ssg-directory
The Greenline 