Shira Edelman
Editorial byline
Shira Edelman is an editorial byline for The Business Nearby, with a focus on Owner Spotlights, Closings & Legacy, Multi-generational Businesses. Biographical credentials and external profiles are published only after verification.
Learn more about our editorial process and use of automation in our AI & Automation disclosure.
Coverage Areas
Latest Articles
Finding and Sharing Your Business's Community Stories: A Small Owner's Framework
Small businesses can leverage authentic community stories from employees, customers, and partners to build brand loyalty and attract new customers. This guide provides a practical framework for discovering, crafting, and sharing these narratives through low-cost channels.
Nov 7, 2026 · 4 min read
Four Succession Paths, One Family Decision: How to Plan a Family Business Transition That Lasts
Family businesses must deliberately choose a succession path years in advance to ensure a successful transition. This guide compares four principal strategies—intergenerational transfer, minority investment, insider sales, and third-party sales—and outlines key planning components for a lasting legacy.
Nov 5, 2026 · 5 min read
Choosing a Business Structure That Protects Your Family's Legacy
Choosing the right legal structure for a family business is crucial for protecting personal assets and ensuring a smooth ownership transfer to the next generation. The LLC offers significant flexibility through its operating agreement, allowing families to define succession, governance, and transfer rules.
Oct 31, 2026 · 5 min read
DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub? Four Considerations for Choosing Your Delivery Partner
Choosing between DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub involves evaluating market share, commission structures, customer data access, and integration capabilities. Each platform offers distinct trade-offs for restaurants seeking to optimize their delivery partnerships.
Oct 28, 2026 · 4 min read
Three Tool Categories Every Local Restaurant Should Get Right: A Practical Digital Guide
Local restaurants need three core digital tools: POS systems for operations, inventory management for cost control, and customer management for loyalty. This guide explains their benefits, evaluation, and the crucial role of integration.
Oct 26, 2026 · 5 min read
How to Build a Direct Farm-Sourcing Program for Your Restaurant: A Step-by-Step Plan
Building a reliable direct farm-sourcing program for your restaurant requires a structured process: define 'local,' vet farms, negotiate terms, and build menu flexibility and backup suppliers. This approach yields fresher products, better quality control, and compelling sourcing stories for guests.
Oct 20, 2026 · 5 min read
Three Challenges Every Multi-Generational Family Business Must Solve—and How to Meet Them
Multi-generational family businesses face distinct challenges in succession planning, generational dynamics, and adapting to change. Proactive strategies and formal structures are crucial for long-term stability and inter-generational harmony.
Oct 19, 2026 · 6 min read
Three Proven Ways Restaurants Cut Food Waste — and Which One Fits Your Kitchen
Restaurants can significantly cut costs and improve sustainability by tackling food waste through smart inventory management, strategic menu planning, or surplus redistribution. Each approach offers distinct benefits, with prevention strategies like inventory and portion control yielding the highest financial returns.
Oct 19, 2026 · 5 min read
Switching to Farm-to-Table Sourcing: The Operational Shifts and How to Pick Your Model
Transitioning to farm-to-table sourcing requires an operational redesign, focusing on direct producer communication, seasonal menu planning, and adapting to supply variability. The article outlines three sourcing models—direct farm partnerships, farmers markets, and food hubs—and guides restaurants in selecting a strategy based on volume needs, menu flexibility, and logistical capacity.
Oct 18, 2026 · 4 min read
A Legacy Business Owner's Guide to Surviving Gentrification
Legacy businesses face existential threats from gentrification, including rising rents and displacement. This guide offers strategies like commercial preservation, tenant protections, and community ownership to help owners adapt and thrive.
Oct 9, 2026 · 5 min read
Catering, Meal Kits, or Retail? A Comparison of 3 Revenue Streams for Your Restaurant
Restaurants can build resilience and expand their customer base by diversifying revenue streams beyond dine-in sales. This article compares catering, meal kits, and branded retail goods, detailing their profit margins, operational complexity, and investment to help owners choose the best fit.
Oct 6, 2026 · 5 min read
Choosing Your Path: A Comparison of Family Business Succession Strategies
This article compares three primary family business succession strategies: internal family transfer, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), and strategic sales to a local buyer. It guides owners in clarifying goals and understanding the trade-offs of each approach for financial outcomes, control, and legacy preservation.
Oct 1, 2026 · 5 min read
The Oasis: New Pilates Studio & Mediterranean Restaurant Coming
A 15,000-square-foot complex featuring a luxury Pilates studio and a Mediterranean restaurant is set to open at Union Market, marking the most significant non-food anchor tenant in the market's histor
Sep 19, 2026 · 3 min read
How Local Business Collaboration Strategies Drive Growth
A small bakery in Portland, Oregon, saw its revenue jump 40% in a single year not by opening new locations, but by partnering with three local coffee shops and a flower delivery service for joint prom
Sep 14, 2026 · 4 min read
WhatsApp Power Your Hustle campaign empowers Nigerian small businesses
In Lagos, the founder of FHR Spices now focuses entirely on production, while an AI-powered assistant within WhatsApp Business handles all customer inquiries.
Sep 8, 2026 · 3 min read
Martha's Table Opens Sustainable Fine Dining Restaurant in Cambridge
Reservations for Martha's Table, a new farm-to-table restaurant opening October 26th in Cambridge, are already fully booked for its entire first month.
Aug 31, 2026 · 2 min read
How to Plan Multi-Generational Business Leadership Transitions
Despite anticipating leadership changes, a significant number of multi-generational businesses operate without concrete succession plans, leaving their multi-million dollar legacies vulnerable to inte
Aug 18, 2026 · 3 min read
Local initiatives gain funding and recognition for growth
In Shreveport, Louisiana, a community-led 'Block by Block' program removed 1,936 tons of debris and 2,758 discarded tires in 2026.
Aug 6, 2026 · 2 min read
Local Entrepreneurship Thrives Amidst Community Commerce Growth in 2026
In Wisconsin Rapids, eight local entrepreneurs recently shared $30,000 in grants, directly boosting their businesses and demonstrating a powerful model for community commerce.
Aug 4, 2026 · 5 min read
12 New Local Eateries for 2026 Culinary Trends
In Des Moines alone, a dozen new restaurants are set to open before fall, reflecting a nationwide surge in local culinary expansion, according to The Des Moines Register .
Jul 16, 2026 · 5 min read