Five Small Businesses in The Bronx to Support This Fall

Summer may be over, but there are still plenty of fun things to do in The Bronx as it starts to get chilly. From autumnal IPAs, to a cozy treat, to enjoying a fall walk as the air gets chipper in The Bronx, there are many ways to enjoy the borough during this season. Keep reading to learn more about five great small businesses you can support throughout this autumn.

ZhongZhong Noodles
Located in Belmont, ZhongZhong Noodles is a hop, skip and a jump from the New York Botanical Gardens. You may find yourself at the NYBG this fall as they will be hosting Halloween and other fall-themed events like Fall-O-Ween, Bales & Ales and even pumpkin carving contests.

After being at those events, surely you’ll be hungry for a warm meal, and ZhongZhong has you covered. They are known for their “za jiang” noodle bowl, which is translated to “noodles served with fried bean sauce,” as well as noodle bowls with chicken, beef and pork. They have vegetarian options as well. Also featured on their menu are some very affordable dim sum options, like vegetable spring rolls, many different kinds of dumplings, chicken and wonton soup and shumai. They also have a few options for kids! Most of these plates go for about $4.50 per order of four, making them the perfect shareable dish or a quick bite to eat after a long day.

Conti’s Pastry Shoppe
When leaving the bustling streets of Little Yemen, you will be welcomed into Conti’s pastry shoppe with the smells of freshly baked cakes, cookies, pies and the fall-themed treats that they will be introducing in the next coming weeks. They have a few chairs and tables outside for customers to stop by for a sweet treat and see what their over 100 year old business has to offer, but made-to-order desserts are also highly recommended by their staff and regulars. From their never ending list of flavors and fillings — like boston creme, cookie butter buttercream and raspberry mousse, which can be put into their cakes — they have something for everyone. Just make sure to order your cake as soon as you can because they make over 400 a week!

Artistic Social
Artistic Social is an art studio in Pelham Bay that specializes in children’s art and custom theme parties. Their studio is equipped with all of the paint, canvases, glue, brushes, and any other art materials your child could think of to make their artistic dreams come true. If you have a child with a fall birthday and are thinking of ways to help celebrate their birthday, this small studio at 2921 Westchester Ave is the perfect place for a kid’s party or a paint and sip. Reach out to their instagram @artisticsocial for inquiries and more information.

Cinema on the Sound
Another family friendly small business in the Bronx is Cinema on the Sound. As one of the only remaining locally owned theaters in the Bronx, Cinema on the Sound is the perfect place to warm up in after a crisp walk on City Island. Along with the many local comics they provide their stage to, their main priority is screening many films, new and old to guests. They typically show movies every Wednesday and Saturday on a weekly basis, and you can find information on movies being shown on their instagram @cinemaonthesound. What makes this small business unique though, is its dedication to the film lover community in the Bronx. Jerry Landi, Bronx native and owner of the theater, is a filmmaker himself and strives to showcase the work done by Bronx filmmakers by screening them in his theater to the public. This place is definitely worth your visit. Check out their Instagram and click here for tickets!

Bricks and Hops
What better way is there to end off a fall day than with a fall flavored IPA? Bricks and Hops, a brewery in the South Bronx on Bruckner Boulevard is the spot for this. After reopening on June 5th, Bricks and Hops is back and better than ever with a full lunch and dinner menu. They serve many classic pub dishes, but also appetizers and entrees that make homage to the Bronx, such as their house burger, a bodega chopped cheese, the “Bronx Bully” chicken sandwich and many latino foods. They also have happy hour from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, which offers $2 off any draft beers, and they have 30 different options to try from! The brewery also hosts football Sundays, where they will be streaming NFL games for the rest of the season and serving brunch.

These five businesses are the perfect way to spend your fall in the Bronx, whether it is using this list as a travel guide for visiting the Bronx, or seeing them gradually as the leaves change and the weather gets colder. Check out these spots and our events calendar to see even more ways to make it the best fall yet.