What used to be a production center of Ithaca Journal –– the first newspaper in Ithaca –– has been home to Press Bay Alley since 2014 as a springboard for first-time small–business owners. For them, the space represents a support system built upon a shared experience. 

This sense of community is fostered in part because of John Guttridge, the founder and managing partner of Urban Core LLC, the real estate development company behind Press Bay Alley & Court. 

Guttridge said that Press Bay Alley & Court makes it easier for small–business owners to establish themselves. Compared with other spaces, Press Bay Alley & Court provides a smoother route for those looking to open a business but don’t know where to begin. 

“I think Press Bay is kind of unique in Downtown in terms of what the space offerings are,” Guttridge said. “You can get into our smallest spaces for a little bit more than $500 a month, complete cost. … All the business owners really help each other. One business being successful makes the neighboring businesses more successful.”

Guttridge said he turned a once–vacant 25,000 square foot space at 100 W. Green St. into Press Bay Alley. The space was originally intended to be used as an office for his computer consulting company, Brightworks Computer Consulting but when faced with a decision regarding the extra space, Guttridge said he found that old storage buildings could easily be turned into micro retail spaces. He tested out the concept by inviting the Full Plate Farm Collective to distribute their products. After successfully hosting Full Plate, Guttridge began developing Press Bay Alley, a retail space in downtown Ithaca that includes a range of businesses from bakeries and eateries to Ithaca’s only circus performance school.

Press Bay Court –– the “sister” project of Press Bay Alley ––  would later be built in the summer of 2018 at 118 W. Green St to bring more visibility to the existing businesses in Press Bay Alley while also expanding the retail space available. Guttridge set up 10 commercial spaces and four apartments to expand upon his idea for Press Bay Court.

Over the years, many owners who have run their businesses in Press Bay Court & Alley have been forced to close, increasing the turnover rate for the space. 

“We’ve had other businesses that, you know, showed up really strong and did really well, but then ultimately, for you know, staffing reasons or financial reasons or whatever else, were not successful,” Guttridge said. “In general, [a successful business] is about 50% whether it’s the right business concept, and about 50% whether somebody can really turn it in day after day and make it happen.”

Despite setbacks for some businesses, Guttridge said he has seen customer satisfaction across the space and attributes this to the community of business owners. 

Asempe Kitchen 

Since May 2024, Kuukua Dzigbordi Yomekpe has run Asempe Kitchen in Press Bay Court after working at the Ithaca Farmers Market for a little over two years. Asempe Kitchen is a restaurant that specializes in plant-based West African food. Yomekpe hosts many events at Asempe Kitchen and said she chose Press Bay for the flexibility the space provided including classes, pop-up events, food demonstrations and community dinners.

 “I think everybody just gets along really well and is working really hard to be part of the whole,” Yomekpe said. “That’s what makes it different from just having a building on the street.” 

In Oct. 2016, Yomekpe launched Asempe Kitchen in Ohio but eventually moved the business to Ithaca after taking a position at Wells College. Yomekpe said she received much support from other local businesses and the greater small business community of Ithaca. She was featured on the October issue of Central New York’s What’s Hot Magazine, Tompkins Weekly and Ithaca Times. Additionally, the Tompkins County chamber awarded Asempe Kitchen best business and Yomekpe entrepreneur of the year.

Poured Candle Bar

Located next to Asempe Kitchen, Poured Candle Bar is a candle-making business created after a couple sought to leave their day jobs in Manhattan. Dennis Green was involved with wholesale fashion and Ricky Tiscareno worked in technology prior to launching Poured Candle Bar in July 2024. 

“There’s so many existing businesses there and they were very supportive through our build out, giving us tips and tricks on optimal times to be open, who their customers are,” Tiscareno said. “It just felt very positive and that isn’t always the case when you’re moving into a new neighborhood.”

Before the pandemic, they planned to launch the business in Hudson, New York as a smaller storefront but soon decided to move there permanently in 2020. After a few years of expansion, they looked at opening a new location. The business expanded beyond selling fragrances and offered custom fragrances ranging from candles, room sprays and diffusers that customers could make on their own.

 “We were looking at a couple of spaces in The Commons and then kind of in the outskirts of the downtown area,” Tiscareno said. “There was like never a space where we felt like it [was] us.” 

Thread Lightly Sewing

Margaret Ball-Lumumba established Thread Lightly Sewing after quitting a corporate job and searching for new ways to make money. 

Ball-Lumumba said she chose Press Bay Court because it was more convenient than other spaces in Ithaca. She said she started her business in a shared workspace called The CommonSpot, but lacked the space to set up sewing supplies and tools. She is now subletting the space for her business from Wendy Skinner, the owner of SewGreen. 

“I think that at [a] basic level, everybody has respect for each other because we all know that we’re there to make a living,” Ball-Lumumba said. 

When Chef Kuukua was opening Asempe Kitchen, Ball-Lumumba made a chef coat, hat and about 20 aprons for staff members to extend support. 

Although she is supported by local businesses like SewGreen, Ball-Lumumba does all the work for her business alone. 

Midas Menagerie

Midas Menagerie, owned by Kim Desmond, sells vintage home decor, jewelry and figurines. Desmond also runs her business with complete control over day-to-day operations like inventory, photography and shipping. 

“I basically wear all the hats,” Desmond said. “This small space allowed me to have the presence I wanted for my customers to shop my inventory in person, while allowing me to still maintain some of the other aspects of my business, like the online shop.” 

Desmond ran Midas Menagerie for about eight years as an online business so she could take care of her young children as a stay-at-home mother. When searching for a place to begin a business focused on unique decor pieces, Desmond said she knew she did not want to be tied to a single location for seven days a week and instead sought a space that was reflective of her flexibility and personal responsibility. In August 2023, Desmond established Midas Menagerie in Press Bay Alley. 

“I think I’ve really sort of had a front seat to see the growth and expansion of other businesses in the area, as well as just participating in the excitement and hyping up the other new businesses that have come in after I have,” Desmond said. 

Rashida Sawyer Bakery

Another business owner who has been in Press Bay Court for over a year, KC Sawyer, has seen many changes with the overall development and growth of his business, like increases in traffic and better parking. 

In 2019, Sawyer relaunched his mother’s business. Rashida Sawyer was the first Black woman +to graduate from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. She ran a bakery from her home in the late 1980s and early 1990s known as “Rashida’s Deluxe Baked Goods.” 

Rashida Sawyer Bakery opened on Press Bay Court in 2021. Since then, the bakery has expanded to wedding and custom cakes. Sawyer said he chose Press Bay Court because of its availability, kitchen space and equipment. Out of all the businesses that formed Press Bay Court, Rashida Sawyer is one of the longest running spaces along with SewGreen. Sawyer credited much of his success to Guttridge as the property’s landlord. 

“[Guttridge] really goes above and beyond trying to make sure that his businesses operating in this area are doing well,” Sawyer said.  “The businesses are allowed to grow into being successful so this is a really good spot for startup businesses.”