Zohran Mamdani celebrates small businesses, Gen Z steps up to the bar, and today’s the last day to submit to the Gold Key Awards. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Zohran Mamdani loves small business
Mayor Zohran Mamdani; photo courtesy of Flickr.
No one’s looking out for small business in America quite like New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Take a look at his newly unveiled package of 50 policy changes aimed at resolving the financial burden of fines, fees, and regulations weighing down mom-and-pop shops across the five boroughs. The Guardian reports that, among these sweeping changes, bodega owners will no longer require a separate license to sell products outside its walls like flowers or fruit. Restaurants will also be relieved of frozen dessert permits required to sell ice cream in addition to their permit to sell food. Restaurant inspections will be sped up, while equipment fees will be waived for a year as well.
Mamdani’s affection for New York’s 180,000 small businesses—each of which will also be appointed with a case worker as part of his new policies—is nothing new. Throughout his campaign, Mamdani namedropped numerous dining staples in Queens (including Bahari, one of this writer’s favorites) and he’s continued to frequent several standalone eateries since his inauguration. Fixtures like Bubby’s or Le Dive have hosted the mayor this year, while local haunts like Singers, FancyFree, Zaab Zaab, and Cocina Consuela have also served him. Check out a comprehensive list of Mamdani favorites on Eater here.
Born to Run to the Boss’s new shrine in New Jersey
The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music in Long Branch, New Jersey; photo by Alex Ferrec
There’s a new boss at the Monmouth University campus in West Long Branch, New Jersey. That’s right. The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music has been unveiled as a permanent home for the legacy of the eponymous rocker as well as a site honoring all American music. The project was conceived by music historian Bob Santelli and designed by COOKFOX Architects to reflect Springsteen’s legacy as a storyteller, Architect’s Newspaper reports. Nods to his Jersey Shore roots abound with a boardwalk-style entryway and weathered steel rainscreen panels that also reference the state’s industrial roots—particularly the Meadowlands. Eight galleries designed by C&G Partners are housed across two stories and 30,000 square feet, along with gathering spaces and an auditorium for hosting performances, screenings, and lectures. Currently on exhibition, “Chimes of Freedom” examines the role of protest music in American history, while the second floor hosts a permanent dedication to Springsteen and the E Street Band. Fans and scholars can set appointments to dive into an archive of original instruments, rare artifacts, and more.
Gen Z needs a drink
Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
It turns out Gen Z may in fact like booze. A new study from beverage insights company IWSR reports a surprising stat about alcohol consumption, with Gen Z drinking on the rise from 66 percent in 2023 to 74 percent today, according to Bon Appetit. Despite theories about affordability, puritanical groupthink, or a pervasive loneliness epidemic gripping our youth, the appeal of alcohol is growing for Zoomers as it shrinks for Boomers. Worldwide, Baby Boomers are the only generation not only reducing their alcohol intake but also drinking less frequently and consuming fewer drinks per occasion. Total participation is currently at 76 percent with the Boomers, though, so they’re still plenty convivial. No major news on Millennial drinking to report since it’s been our main coping mechanism from the jump. Cheers!
The art of the ice cream shop
Messina Glenelg Australia; photo by Jonathan VDK
In the dog days of summer, nothing glows quite as brightly as the beacon of your local ice cream shop. The inherently playful typology remains evergreen, effortlessly beckoning us into a cool and colorful cocoon without a shred of exclusivity. From dense urban cores to quiet coastal getaways, these spaces echo an expressive use of color, materiality, and whimsy—whether they provide seating or not! ArchDaily dives into the hallmarks of ice cream shop design, exploring signatures and shared distinctions from a roundup of design-driven ice cream parlors spanning urban activations, cozy holes-in-the-wall, or shaded points of reprieve. Scoop it up!
Last call for Gold Key submissions!
The Populus Denver, winner in last year’s Eco Conscious/Socially Conscious Hotel category; photo by Steve Hall, Yoshihiro Makino, and Jason O’Rear
Today, Friday August 7th, is your FINAL day to submit to the 46th annual Gold Key Awards. Eligible projects must have debuted between July 2025 and July 31st, 2026 to be considered by our esteemed judging panel. Across 24 categories, winners and finalists will be feted at the Gold Key Awards gala on November 9th in New York. Click here to register and submit. It’s not too late.