THE BOLD SWITCHEROO

These Entrepreneurs Carved Out New Paths During Covid

OVERVIEW

Some people used the pandemic to make lemon out of lemonade and reinvent themselves. We talk to a meat distributor who, since restaurants weren’t open to sell to, used the time to prep his own steakhouse; a fashion exec who opened his dream motorcycle garage; and a laid-off hotel employee who launched a bookstore — with a pickle business on the side.

Leigh Altshuler went from marketing to a books and pickles seller, opening Sweet Pickle Books in Lower East Side.

Naoki Takeshige went from wagyu purveyor to restaurateur, opening J-Spec Wagyu Dining in the East Village.

Ronnie Pichson and Stefon Davis went from fashion to luxe motorcycle garage owners, opening Gotham Depot Moto together in Greenpoint.

Allison Dunn went from home organizer to café owner, opening Hibiscus Brew in Prospect Lefferts Gardens.