Some Bay Ridge small businesses, including privately-owned stores, bakeries and salons are mainstays in the relatively quiet, residential New York neighborhood, but too often, when new stores open, the businesses can’t stay afloat for long.

Since Bay Ridge is on the far south end of Brooklyn, a commute there from Manhattan is relatively long compared with the commute to many other Brooklyn neighborhoods. A long commute, combined with limited store hours and generally more shopping and dining options in Manhattan, may be hurting small Bay Ridge businesses. But it’s unclear whether the same case could be true for many other neighborhoods in the city.

Please take this survey to help me find out whether this is a problem specific to this Brooklyn neighborhood or whether it’s a citywide phenomenon. Thanks!