Here at VOLS, we understand the importance of shopping local to support your community’s small businesses. When you shop local you are supporting not only that small business but also your community. For every $100 spent, roughly $68 to $73 of it returns to your community.

In honor of Small Business Saturday this Saturday, consider shopping local as you search for holiday gifts! VOLS assists countless small businesses with their legal needs through our Microenterprise Project. We appreciate not only the economic but also the cultural impact of shopping local.

This Small Business Saturday VOLS recognizes the Crown Height’s tea room, Brooklyn Tea. Brooklyn Tea, which is owned by Alfonso Wright and his partner Jamila McGill were referred to the Microenterprise Project at VOLS in July 2018 in hopes of opening their first brick and mortar tea shop. With the help of Senior Staff Attorney Arthur Kats, and volunteer attorneys from Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Mr. Wright was able to sign his first lease and celebrated his grand opening in January 2019.

 “As a first time brick and mortar business owner, I was overwhelmed by the commercial leasing process. Luckily for us, we were paired with VOLS who teamed us with Fried Frank. Everyone was extraordinarily patient with us and treated us with the respect and attention of a bigger client. We are eternally grateful for this service and so much more confident in our future because of their work.”

-Alfonso Wright, Owner of Brooklyn Tea

“Working with VOLS was an unbelievable experience, which allowed us to use our real estate expertise to give back to our community.. Alfonso was extremely appreciative of our team’s efforts in negotiating the Lease and pushing things across the finish line. We are very happy for him, and hope he continues to be successful in the future.”

-Max Yardeni, Microenterprise Volunteer Attorney, Fried Frank