Women’s History Month: 3 Women Owned Businesses Shaping Our Neighborhood
Women's History Month is a time to celebrate how women have shaped our communities and continue to drive our local economy forward. Right here in Downtown Jamaica, women entrepreneurs are opening storefronts, designing buildings, and creating gathering spaces where culture thrives and neighbors connect. If you're looking to support a woman-owned business this month, here are three (among many!) who’ve made their mark in DJQ.
Dawn Kelly, The Nourish Spot
After 35 years in corporate America, Dawn Kelly lost her job as Department Vice President of Global Communications at Prudential Financial. She was in her 50s and suddenly had to figure out what came next. Around the same time, she was going through her own health transformation, losing weight by changing her diet and cutting out processed foods.
Inspired by a CNN segment about rapper Styles P opening a juice bar, Kelly opened The Nourish Spot in 2017 with her daughter by her side. She had no food industry experience, but she knew what fresh, whole foods had done for her health and wanted to share that same sense of vitality and wellness with her community.
The menu at The Nourish Spot focuses on nutrition without sacrificing flavor. Cold-pressed juices, Greek yogurt parfaits, oatmeal bowls, salads, wraps, smoothies, soups, and homemade waffles made from scratch every morning. Kelly sources fresh produce daily and makes each order by hand.
Today, the business has grown beyond serving healthy food. Kelly now partners with nonprofits and the City of New York to train and hire local youth, paying fair wages and giving young people hands-on experience in the restaurant industry.
Deborah Rojas, Rojas AP
Deborah Rojas grew up on Long Island but kept finding herself drawn back to New York City on weekends. She loved the energy and the way neighborhoods were constantly evolving. After earning her Master's in Urban Planning from Hunter College in 2014, she wanted to find a community with that same pulse. Jamaica, Queens had it.
In 2015, Rojas opened her architecture and planning firm, Rojas AP, right on Jamaica Avenue. With over fifteen years of experience, she works at the intersection of design and infrastructure, turning blueprints into functional spaces that strengthen communities across the city.
Rojas is known for her transparency and the trust she builds with her clients. She walks them through every stage of a project, explaining design choices and construction realities so they understand what's happening and why. That clarity helps people feel confident about their projects. She brings that same approach to her classroom at Hunter College, where she teaches graphic communication as an Adjunct Professor, training the next generation of urban planners. We especially love how devoted Deborah is to Downtown Jamaica, sharing her expertise in numerous capacities - including on the Board of the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, and through the time she spends working on architecture-based projects with high school students, making our community even more vibrant.
Tiffany Walton, The Connect Bar & Lounge
Tiffany Walton saw the gap in Downtown Jamaica's nightlife scene. The neighborhood has energy and culture, but it didn't have a space that truly reflected the people who lived there. In hospitality and nightlife, business ownership has rarely mirrored the communities being served. Walton decided to change that.
She opened The Connect Bar & Lounge at 165-15 Archer Avenue as more than a place to grab a drink. It's a cultural hub where neighbors gather for wine and cheese tastings, live jazz performances, and curated events that celebrate the community's history and creativity. Walton designed the space to make people feel seen, heard, and proud of where they're from.
"Black excellence in this space is about bringing our culture, creativity, and resilience into everything we do," Walton says. "Setting standards, not just meeting them. It's curating experiences that feel authentic to us, rooted in our history but also innovative and world-class."
As we’ve known through the years, representation matters. When people see Walton leading a thriving business in a space that's often been closed off, it shifts what feels possible. "I want people to leave feeling prouder of where they're from and more invested in their community," she says. "If we've done that, then we've done our job." We couldn’t agree more, and we’re so thankful that the Connect Bar is here and thriving in DJQ!
Supporting the Women of Downtown Jamaica
When women succeed in business, entire communities benefit. They create jobs, mentor the next generation, and invest back into the neighborhoods they serve. This Women's History Month, you can support the women-owned businesses in Downtown Jamaica and beyond. Check out our shopping and services directories to find more women entrepreneurs shaping our community.