About Us

introduction

The Fulton Mall Improvement Association works to ignite the economic, cultural and commercial revitalization of Fulton Street Mall. Our goal is to establish the district as a destination and brand in historic downtown Brooklyn, increase merchant sales via marketing and promotion, enrich retail diversity through capital improvements, and deliver a safe, clean, vibrant place to shop, work, live, and visit.

We are working to create a place designed to fit the needs of modern consumers who enjoy and prefer the sophistication of an urban cosmopolis yet seek the ease and convenience of localized shopping destination. Over 36.5 million shoppers annually are attracted to our 200+ retail businesses generating more than one quarter billion dollars in sales each year.

mission

Incorporated in 1976, the Fulton Mall Improvement Association (FMIA) is a not-for-profit corporation with broad civic responsibilities dedicated to improving the economic health and quality-of-life issues on the Fulton Mall and surrounding Downtown Brooklyn communities.  The FMIA was the first Special Assessment District established in the city of New York, with Services underway in 1977.

The FMIA’s primary objectives are to seek ways to improve the retail environment, promote business advocacy and provide an attractive, clean, safe environment in which to shop,, work, live and visit.

history

The year was 1642. It had been 16 years since the famous $24 purchase of Manhattan. And only six years since some Dutch settlers had purchased from the Indians a tract of land on the southwest end of long Island, across the bay from Nieuw Amsterdam.

The hamlet of "Breuckelen" (located near what is now Borough Hall) thrived and regular ferry service was inaugurated between Nieuw Amsterdam and the foot of Fulton Street. Of course, it wasn't called Fulton Street then. That came later after Robert Fulton's steam ferryboat, the Nassau made its maiden trip across the East River in the early 1800's. In all, the ferry service ran 282 years. And for 241 of theose years, the ferry (form Fulton Street, Brooklyn to Fulton Street, Manhattan) was the only regular link between Long Island and Manhattan.

It was in the ferry's 241st year-1883, that the Brooklyn Bridge opened. An engineering miracle in its day, and still one of the most beautiful and famous structures in the world, the bridge opened the way for rapid expansion of Brooklyn from a large independent town to a major urban center.

In the last half of the 19th century, Brooklyn population jumped from 139,000 to 1.2 million. Throughout this period, Fulton Street continued to grow in importance as Brooklyn's major shopping area.

Through the years, downtown Brooklyn has been the area's commercial, cultural, educational and civic center. Fulton Street is its marketplace.

Board & Staff

annual reports

Thank you for your interest in the Fulton Street Mall Improvement Association. Please download our Annual Report(s) below:

2004 Annual Report

Download 2004 Annual Report

facts about Fulton Street Mall

• Over one Half Million people live, work, and attend universities in and around Fulton Street Mall
• More than 100,000 people daily shop on Fulton Street Mall
• Sales top $1,200/square foot in the majority of retail locations
• The Fulton Street Mall stores for most national retailers rank in the top 5 selling locations in the Northeast (and oftentimes times nationally)—e.g. Macy’s, Zales, Ashley Stewart, Toys R Us, Radio Shack, MacDonald’s
• Individual retailers at the Fulton Street Mall report over $100 million per year in sales
• The median income for residential neighborhoods adjacent to the Fulton Street Mall shopping district is well over $50,000 per year
• The Fulton Street Mall area is New York City’s 3rd largest commercial center
• Fulton Street Mall is one of New York City’s densest transit hubs second only to Times Square
• 14 Train lines and 11 Bus lines service theFulton Street Mall area
• Fulton Street Mall has more customers than Madison Avenue