Close to Home | Manual Labor Studio, DUMBO, Brooklyn | Episode 6

“Great work with good people.” For Sam Choi and Todd Cadley, that’s more than a line on Manual Labor Studio’s website. It describes the kind of business they’ve set out to build and the relationships they value along the way.

That philosophy extends well beyond the walls of their DUMBO studio. In a neighborhood best known for its cobblestone streets, waterfront views and crowds of visitors, Sam sees a community built on the businesses and people who show up for one another.

There’s AlMar, the Italian restaurant run by Alfredo and Marcello that Sam describes as an extension of their own kitchen. There’s Westville, which found its place by understanding what the neighborhood actually needed. These businesses aren’t just convenient lunch or dinner options. They’re familiar places that give people a reason to keep coming back.

For Sam, that loyalty is what helps neighborhood businesses last. Visitors may bring foot traffic, but the relationships with regular customers create something more durable. It’s the same principle that guides the studio’s relationships with clients, partners and each other: good work matters, but so does the way people treat one another.

DUMBO also has a creative history that isn’t always visible in its most photographed corners. Sam points to working artists such as Cey Adams and Zeph Farmby, while Todd calls attention to independent makers and shops operating inside buildings visitors might simply pass by. Their perspective is a reminder that the neighborhood’s creative identity depends on the people still making things here.

And growth brings a challenge. As DUMBO attracts more attention and investment, the independent businesses that give it character need room to remain. Sam and Todd aren’t against change; they want the neighborhood to keep a place for the mom-and-pop businesses and creative people who helped shape it.

It's a perspective that brings Manual Labor Studio's philosophy full circle. Doing great work with good people isn't just about the business you build. It's about the community you're part of.

Learn more about Manual Labor Studio.

Close to Home is a series about local business, community, and the power of proximity.

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