NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (January 17, 2026) — New Rochelle has awarded funding to five more local businesses through its Retail Tenant Improvement Fund, part of a $2.25 million investment aimed at revitalizing the downtown area.
The latest recipients include Ray’s Empanadas, Jolo’s Vegan Kitchen, The Self Studio, Pickle Rage and Graze Craze. The awards support physical improvements, expansions and relocations intended to bring more energy, destinations and reasons for people to spend time downtown.
“New Rochelle invested $2.25M to help local businesses shine—supporting physical improvements, expansions, and relocations that bring more energy, more destinations, and more reasons to spend time Downtown,” the city’s Ideally New Rochelle account stated in an announcement. “This investment is a key piece of the Downtown Retail Strategy to grow a vibrant, thriving city center.”
Ray’s Empanadas and Jolo’s Vegan Kitchen are existing businesses receiving support. The Self Studio, Pickle Rage and Graze Craze are listed as “coming soon.”
The announcement comes as part of the broader Vanguard New Rochelle Downtown Retail Strategy, which seeks to reduce vacancies and create a more vibrant downtown.
This is the latest round of awards from the fund. An earlier round in May 2025 distributed $1.12 million to eight businesses.
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This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.