Donation protected
Help Save The Brass Owl – A Queens Small Business
My name is Nicole, and I’m the owner of The Brass Owl in Queens, NY. After 14 years in corporate retail, I followed my family’s tradition of small business ownership and opened The Brass Owl in 2014. At the time, Astoria didn’t have many fashion boutiques that catered to our diverse community, and I wanted to create a welcoming, friendly space for everyone.
The Brass Owl has always been more than a shop to me. Over the years, it’s become a hub for local artists, families, and neighbors. We’ve hosted artist pop-ups, co-chair the Destination Ditmars Merchants Association, organized small business crawls, and supported local organizations. For me, it’s always been about more than selling products, it’s about building community.
Unfortunately, like many small businesses, the past 2 years have brought challenges we couldn’t have predicted.
- Rent and expenses have increased significantly
- Tariffs and shipping delays
- And most recently, a big-box retailer opened just around the corner, drastically reducing our foot traffic
Despite these obstacles, we’ve worked hard to keep prices fair and to continue supporting our community. So, we are reaching out to the community we love so much for help to give us a chance to make it 2026.
This fundraiser will help us:
- Cover rent and utilities to keep our doors open
- Support payroll for our amazing team
- Pay local makers and artists whose goods fill our shop
- Invest in events and outreach to bring our community back together
- Make store improvements to meet our customers’ needs
How You Can Help
1. Donate what you can - no amount is too small*
2. Share this page with friends, family, and neighborhood groups to help spread the word.
3. Shop with us in person or online - every purchase keeps us going.
*And to thank you, bring your GoFundMe receipt in for a free gift (in store only).
I want to be transparent: this fundraiser is truly our hail mary. I can’t guarantee it will solve every challenge, but I do know that without trying and without asking for help from the community we love , The Brass Owl won’t have a fighting chance. Every dollar, every share, and every purchase gives us hope and brings us closer to keeping our doors open.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing by us during this difficult time. This neighborhood has given me so much, and I hope with your help, The Brass Owl can continue to give back for many years to come.
❤️,
Nicole & The Brass Owl Team
Some recent press:
Organizer
Nicole Panettieri
Organizer
Astoria, NY