KYW Newsradio's Community Comeback series checks in on Philadelphia neighborhoods and livelihoods to find out how small businesses made it through the pandemic and how they are surviving, and even thriving, today.
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — For a time last year, the mission of Uhuru Furniture and Collectibles was upended because of the coronavirus pandemic.
For 27 years, the store now located at 832 N. Broad St. has sold refurbished furniture and original works of art at prices they try to make affordable to everyone.
But like many stores on North Broad Street, public health restrictions forced them to close.
"And when we reopened, we really didn't know what was gonna happen," said Ruby Gittelsohn, the store's marketing coordinator.
Gittelsohn says their shop is community-based and uses proceeds to support the development of civil rights programs and to address disparities in education and health in the African community. And because of all that, she said, when they were able to reopen, the community reached back to them.
"We've had a tremendous outpouring of support. People have come down to shop. Donations have increased," she said.
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For Ali Hutley who helps run the store, the increase in business has shown that people are taking note of their mission of social justice.
"This is their store. This is a community store," he said.
Gittelsohn shares that sentiment.
"We really think it was because people really wanted to reach out and support African self-determination and economic development in the hands of the Black community," she said.
In Swahili, a language used sidely in east African nations, the word "uhuru" means "freedom" or "independence." It is an ideal Hutley says he is happy to strive for, as he looks up and down North Broad Street at the businesses that did not open back up.
"Let people see that we're not going to let nothing keep us down -- pandemic, whatever demic. We fight. This is what we do."
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