“We are the cross-section of the U.N. - so it’s a lot of people, a lot of business, a lot of traffic,” said Knowles.

Nearby, Little Italy Pizza is bringing in the cash. The shop delivers to the General Assembly and feeds tourists in the restaurant -- tourists that New Yorker Adrienne Russo says she’s used to seeing.

“My street is jam packed because I’m seven blocks from the U.N., so when you go in a restaurant, it’s hard to get a seat, and that’s what September is in New York, every year,” said Russo.

Whether selling a slice of pizza, a shirt, or a place to sleep, it’s clear here that the annual gathering is a big help to September sales.