Hochul Makes ‘Little Yemen’ in the Bronx a Cultural District

Little Yemen, the dense cluster of restaurants, markets and storefronts in the East Bronx, now has official standing from the state of New York. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Sunday signed legislation establishing the enclave as a cultural district, a designation meant to honor the heritage and contributions of Yemeni Americans and to open the door to state support for local organizations.

The district sits within the Van Nest neighborhood and is bounded by White Plains Road, Bronxdale Avenue and Van Nest Avenue. According to 6sqft, which first reported the signing, more than 500 businesses owned by people of Middle Eastern descent operate within a one-mile area there. The designation makes local organizations eligible for state grants and other assistance.

The neighborhood’s growth traces back to Yemen’s civil war, which began in 2014 and displaced millions of people. Census data from 2020 put about 18,000 Yemenis in New York City, with many settling in the Bronx near Pelham Parkway and Van Nest. Grub Street reported in 2021 that the area had seen an “explosion of growth,” with hundreds of new businesses opening, among them restaurants, supermarkets and coffee shops. The first annual Yemeni American Day Parade was held along Rhinelander Avenue in 2019.

In a statement, Hochul said: “Little Yemen has long contributed to the culture of the Bronx, and it’s about time we recognize it. At a time when Islamophobia is rising, we need to make sure every one of Little Yemen’s entrepreneurs, civil servants, teachers, police officers and hard working moms and dads know: You belong here. We see you. We are proud that you are with us, and we are here to support you.”

The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Nathalia Fernandez and Assembly Member John Zaccaro. It authorizes the New York State Council on the Arts to designate Little Yemen as a cultural district, which opens state resources to cultural institutions in the neighborhood. Earlier this month, the City Council passed a resolution supporting the designation.

The Yemeni American Merchants Association, a group formed in response to President Donald Trump’s 2017 Muslim Ban, welcomed the news. “This achievement is about much more than designating an area on a map,” the group wrote in an Instagram post. “It is a recognition of the identity, belonging, and legacy that generations of Yemeni families have built in this country.” The association added that the community, from bodega owners to educators and families, has shown “resilience, determination, and a strong commitment to the American Dream.”

Not everyone in the area is on board. The Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance has opposed the district, saying local officials did not consult the group before introducing the legislation, as the Bronx Times reported last month. In a Facebook post after the signing, the alliance wrote that it was “not aware of the specific Yemeni cultural contributions that have benefited or influenced the entire Van Nest community.” It also pointed to other communities seeking cultural district status and asked whether Yemeni contributions in Van Nest rise to the level of those in Harlem or El Barrio.

Those comparisons have a precedent in Albany: Hochul signed legislation creating the El Barrio cultural district in East Harlem in 2024, and the Harlem Renaissance cultural district in 2025.