Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Carlos Aguila, owner of Karrot, named Business Pioneer

(Fort Greene/Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, July 12, 2005) - Local Brooklyn merchant Carlos Aguila Jr. has been named a Business Pioneer in the 2005 NYC Neighborhood Achievement Awards, it was announced by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Robert W. Walsh on July 11 at a ceremony at Gracie Mansion. Aguila was one of 15 recipients of the awards, which honor neighborhood organizations, businesses and individuals that have demonstrated excellence, partnership and creativity in enhancing New York City’s business environment and quality of life.

Carlos Aguila’s goal was to provide quality and affordable products and services to underserved neighborhoods when he opened the first Karrot Health Food Store in September 2003. Karrot is an organic health food store and juice bar located at 423 Myrtle Avenue in Clinton Hill. This venture amounted to taking a big risk – selling high-end pastas, soy milk and organic foods to customers in this neighborhood was something that hadn't been tried before. But Carlos was determined to make a difference, and with Karrot's growing presence in the area, other new stores have followed suit in bringing new commerce and vitality to the neighborhood. Carlos' success has led to three additional Karrot stores—one more in Brooklyn, and one each in Washington Heights and Harlem.

“Carlos Aguila is the epitome of a Business Pioneer,” said Commissioner Walsh. “This is a guy that saw an underserved market and took a risk by opening a business that many might have thought would fail.  Instead, not only has he succeeded, but he has catalyzed new commercial activity along Myrtle Avenue and taken his business to other neighborhoods as well.  His entrepreneurial spirit is what the Neighborhood Achievement Awards are all about—celebrating ingenuity and dedication to community throughout all corners of the City.”

“We are proud of Carlos and his remarkable achievement,” said Michael Blaise Backer, Executive Director of the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership. “Karrot has been a major success on Myrtle Avenue, and this is directly attributable to Carlos’ hard work and perseverance. His store is a model for other first-time entrepreneurs to follow.”

NYC Neighborhood Achievement Awards are given annually in 5 categories: Neighborhood Leadership; Community Partnership; Placemaking; Neighborhood Development, and the category that Karrot was honored for, the Business Pioneer. Aguila was nominated by the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership in recognition for his achievements and contributions to the Fort Greene and Clinton Hill communities. The event was sponsored by Con Edison and Citibank.

Contact:
Michael Blaise Backer, Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership, 718-230-1689
Ben Branham, NYC Department of Small Business Services, 212-513-6318