Report: Chain stores decrease citywide

The Center for an Urban Future's 13th annual survey of NYC's national retailers finds the largest overall decline in the number of chain stores, and the third consecutive year-over-year drop in national retailer locations. 

Given the pandemic and forced closures for months, news of the decrease may not be a huge surprise.

Here's some analysis via the report: 

More than 1,000 chain stores across New York City — or a little less than one out of every seven chains that were open this time last year — have closed their doors over the past 12months, underscoring the immense difficulties facing retail businesses large and small during the pandemic. 

Overall, the number of chain stores in New York City declined by 13.3 percent — with 2 percent closing temporarily and 11.3 percent not indicating whether the closures are permanent or temporary. This is by far the largest yearover-year decline in chain stores since the Center for an Urban Future began our annual analysis of the city’s national retailers 13 years ago, eclipsing last year's 3.7 percent drop and the 0.3 percent decline in 2018. 

While every borough experienced notable declines in chain stores, Manhattan had the biggest losses, with the number of chain store locations in the borough shrinking by 17.4 percent (of which 2.8 percent were closed temporarily). In fact, Manhattan accounted for nearly half of all chain store closures (520 out of 1,057) citywide. 

Other details closer to home: The 10003 zip code, which includes parts of the East Village as well as Union Square and Fifth Avenue, has the third-highest number of chain store locations at 140 (down from 171 last year) in NYC. 

Meanwhile, the 10009 zip saw a 29-percent decrease from 2019, shrinking to 22 from 31. And in 10002 on the Lower East Side and Chinatown, there was a 16-percent drop, from 51 to 43. 

It wasn't all closures for chains. Popeyes added 11 locations in the past year, including the one on First Avenue between Second Street and Third Street. 

You can find the 40-page report at this link. 

Report: Chain stores decrease citywide, though show growth in the 10009 zip code

[The same image we use every year]

The number of chain stores overall in NYC declined by 3.7 percent over last year, marking the largest year-over-year drop in national retail locations since the Center for an Urban Future began their annual analysis more than a decade ago.

However, in the 10009 zip code that covers the East Village, the number increased by four from 27 to 31 in the previous 12 months. (Need to revisit the openings from the past year to see what stores represent this increase.)

Here are some cut-n-paste highlights from the report, which was released last week ... (the full report is here)...

Our 12th annual analysis of national retailer locations in New York shows that the 316 retailers listed in last year’s ranking reduced their total footprint in New York City by 304 store locations, declining from a total of 8,136 stores in 2018 to 7,832 stores in 2019 — a 3.7 percent decrease.

The slowdown is broadly spread among all five boroughs, led by Queens, where the number of chain store locations shrank by 4.9 percent — the sharpest single year decline to date — followed by Brooklyn (-4 percent), the Bronx (-3.8 percent), Manhattan (-3.1 percent), and Staten Island (-2.4 percent). This is the first year in which all five boroughs have registered declines.

Overall, our analysis also finds that more of the city’s chain retailers are shrinking than are growing. In 2019, a total of 114 retailers—36 percent of the 316 national retail companies tracked in our 2019 study—reduced their footprint over the past year. This compares to 76 retailers that registered a net gain in stores over the past year, and 126 retailers whose footprints remain unchanged.

We first observed significant declines in the number of national retail locations over the past two years, with most decreases concentrated among merchandise retailers: chain stores selling clothing, accessories, cosmetics, and other household supplies. Even amid that pullback, our research showed that food retailers continued to grow across the five boroughs through 2018.

But this year we see notable declines among both merchandise retailers and food chains, with broad-based declines among fast food restaurants, pizza shops, juice bars, ice cream and yogurt chains, and bakeries. The difference is that many other national food chains have continued to expand in the city, while that generally has not been the case for merchandise retailers.

...and...

For the 11th consecutive year, Dunkin’ Donuts tops our list as the largest national retailer in New York City, with a total of 636 stores, a net increase of 12 stores since 2018. MetroPCS is still the second-largest national retailer in the city, with 468 stores, despite losing three stores over the past year.

Rounding out the top 10 national retailers in New York are Starbucks (with 351 stores), Duane Reade/Walgreens (317), Subway (287), T-Mobile (245), Baskin-Robbins (217), McDonald’s (203), CVS (170) and 7-Eleven (141). There are 15 retailers with at least 100 stores across the city, down only 1 from last year.

Closer to home, the 10003 zip code, which includes parts of the East Village as well as Union Square and Fifth Avenue, has the third-highest number of chain store locations at 164 (down from 174 last year).

The 10009 zip saw a 15-percent increase from 2018, rising to 31 from 27. Meanwhile, the 10002 zip code, covering the Lower East Side and Chinatown, stayed at 51.

About the decline in chains: "It definitely raises a lot of question about the future of retail," Jonathan Bowles, the executive director of the Center for an Urban Future, told Gothamist/WNYC.

He said taken together, the patterns show that many of the challenges threatening the survival of small independent businesses are now affecting national retailers.

ICYMI: There was a slight decline in the number of NYC chain stores this past year

ICYMI (I did!): The Center for an Urban Future released its 11th annual ranking of national retailers in New York City late last year ... and their analysis reveals a 0.3 percent decline in the number of chain stores in 2018, marking the first year-over-year citywide drop in national retail locations since they began documenting NYC's chain environment.

While there was a 0.3 decline overall in the five boroughs, the number of chain stores decreased by 2.3 percent in Manhattan, which amounts to a loss of 67 locations, according to the report.

Here's more from the report...

Our 11h annual analysis of national retailer locations in New York also finds that more of the city’s chain retailers are shrinking than growing for the first time. Buffeted by headwinds from online shopping, a record 124 retailers — 37 percent of the 331 national retail companies in our study — reduced their footprint over the past year. This compares to 99 retailers that registered a net gain in stores over the past year, and 108 retailers whose footprints remained unchanged.

Overall, our analysis shows that the 331 retailers listed in last year’s ranking reduced their total footprint in New York City by 27 store locations, declining from a total of 7,876 stores in 2017 to 7,849 stores in 2018 — an 0.3 percent decrease. The slowdown is led by Manhattan, where the number of chain store locations shrank by 2.3 percent — the sharpest single year decline to date. In every other borough, the number of chain stores increased again this year.

The pullback was most pronounced among merchandise retailers that are struggling to compete in an age of e-commerce, with broad-based declines among retailers selling clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry, and cosmetics.

And...

Dunkin Donuts is the biggest national retailer in the city for the tenth year running, with 624 locations, gaining 12 locations since last year. MetroPCS (now called Metro by T-Mobile, but retaining a distinct brand) has 472 locations, up from 444 last year. Subway is still in third place with 330 locations despite having lost 103 locations since last year. Only seven retailers grew by more than 10 locations: AT&T, MetroPCS, Sprint, T-Mobile, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Dollar Tree.

A few other takeaways...

• Starbucks has more stores in Manhattan than any other national retailer, with 227 locations.

• The 10003 zip code, which includes parts of the East Village west of First Avenue, Union Square and stretches of Fifth Avenue, has the second-highest number of chain store locations in NYC at 173 (down from 179 the previous year). No. 1: the New Springville neighborhood in Staten Island (10314) with 180.

• The 10009 zip code is way down on the list with 27 chain stores in 2018, down two from 29 the previous year.

Access the full report at this link.

Something to keep in mind, via the Greenwich Village Society of Historic Preservation:

[T]he report counts and ranks the number of chain stores, not their concentration, i.e. how many chain stores are in an area as a percentage of the overall number of stores; thus a zip code may actually have a very high number of chains but a relatively low percentage, and vice-versa, depending upon how much area it covers and how many shops there are in the area...

The state of national retailers in NYC; Dunkin’ Donuts tops the list again

The Center for an Urban Future released its 10th annual State of the Chains report in late December... here are some cut-n-paste highlights ... (the full report is here)...

The tenth annual ranking of national retailers in New York City ... shows a 1.8 percent increase in the number of store locations over last year. Though this is the ninth consecutive year with a net increase in national chain stores across the five boroughs, the growth was limited to a relatively small number of retailers.

In a year in which the challenges facing brick-and-mortar retail have burst into view, this report finds that New York’s national chains are not immune to the pressure. Although food establishments continue to show strong growth, retailers that compete most directly with online outlets — such as shoe and electronics stores — have experienced significant contractions.

Overall, a fifth of all national retailers in the city closed stores in the past year, and only one-in-seven retailers on our list increased their footprint — the smallest share since we began keeping track a decade ago.

For the ninth consecutive year, Dunkin’ Donuts tops our list as the largest national retailer in New York City, with a total of 612 stores, a net increase of 16 stores since 2016 — and 271 since 2008. But this year there is a new retailer in the second position on our list: MetroPCS now has 445 stores in the five boroughs, adding 119 locations over the past year and surpassing Subway, which is now third, with 433 stores.

Fast-casual dining chain restaurants in the five boroughs increased 105 percent over the past decade, from 141 to 289, while the number of fast-food restaurant chains grew 14 percent, from 1,107 to 1,261.2 And there are now 952 chain coffee shops in New York, 65 percent more than a decade ago, led by Dunkin’ Donuts. Food-related chains are responsible for 41 percent of the growth in national retailer locations in New York over the past ten years, the most of any category.

And...

In reviewing the past decade for New York’s national retailers, one thing is clear: the growth of restaurants and food retailers is leading the charge.

The number of coffee chains expanded 65 percent since our first chains report was published in 2008, powered by the expansion of Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks, as well as local chains like Joe Coffee. During this ten-year period, chain coffee shops added 621 locations, more than any other category. Dunkin’ Donuts alone grew 79 percent.

The number of fast-casual dining chain restaurants in the five boroughs has more than doubled in the past decade, from 141 to 289. The growth of fast-casual chains like Chipotle and Chop’t is in addition to the growth in fast-food restaurants.

The number of chain bakeries — such as Le Pain Quotidien and Panera Bread — has more than tripled over the past decade, from 55 to 161. This is in addition to the growth in fast-casual chains.

Chains that specialize in frozen yogurt, such as Red Mango and 16 Handles, have expanded 283 percent — the largest growth rate of any retailer category. In 2008, there were 12 chain yogurt stores, and today there are 46. However, the city seems to have reached peak yogurt in 2014, with 57 chain yogurt locations.

[A]fter years of growth, chain pharmacies have begun to contract. Chain pharmacies, which include Duane Reade/Walgreens, Rite Aid, and CVS, lost 53 locations since last year and now have a total of 588 locations. This number is just 1 percent above the number of chain pharmacy locations in 2008. This is largely because Duane Reade/Walgreens has been consolidating locations since its 2010 merger and is closing 600 locations nationwide in preparation for a major acquisition of stores from Rite Aid.

Starbucks has more stores in Manhattan than any other national retailer, with 223 locations.

You can find the 2016 report here ... and 2015 ... 2014 ... 2013...

Speaking of Dunkin' Donuts, the one at 250 E. Houston St. between Avenue A and Avenue B will no longer be open 24/7, per the door signage...

A look at NYC's burgeoning chain-restaurant scene

[EVG file photo]

Crain's today examines the increased presence of chain restaurants in NYC.

As they report, since 2008, the number of Dunkin' Donuts in NYC has expanded by 75 percent, from 78 in 2008 to 157 in 2016. In total, chains now represent about 13 percent of NYC's overall restaurant total.

Some excerpts from Crain's:

New York City is quickly becoming the capital of fast-food nation. More chains are moving in to replace diners and other independent restaurants forced out by relentlessly rising rents. Although many chains have broadened their menus and are experimenting with fast-casual dining, the bread and butter for most remains fried meat and a hefty soft drink.

"Fast-food chains used to draw a skull and crossbones around New York when they were looking for places to expand," said Gary Occhiogrosso, who runs consulting firm Franchise Growth Solutions. "Now they all want to be here."

Why?

A record 4.4 million New Yorkers are employed, and many want something fast and cheap for lunch. Tourism has doubled in the past 20 years, to more than 60 million, and many visitors look for familiar fare to munch on. And while there appears to be a glut of fast-food restaurants across the country — which experts see as a growing threat to the industry as a whole — New York is still relatively underrepresented. According to the Department of Labor, only 2% of the city's private-sector employees work in limited-service restaurants, compared with 4% nationally.

Read the full article here. H/T Eater.

Chain reaction: Report shows a slight decrease in national retail stores in Manhattan

[The same image and caption that we use every year]

The Center for an Urban Future has released its ninth annual State of the Chains report... so far they've just sent out the top-line results.

Per the EVG inbox:

Each of the outer boroughs experienced marked increases in the number of national retail stores in 2016, while Manhattan saw its stronghold on national chains dip slightly from previous years ...

The study shows that Dunkin Donuts remained New York City’s largest national retailer with 596 stores city-wide and widened its lead over second place retailer, Subway, which has 433 locations. Dunkin Donuts now has 163 more stores than any other retailer in the city.

Dunkin Donuts topped our list for the eighth consecutive year as the largest national retailer in New York City, with a net increase of 24 stores compared to 2015. Subway is still the second largest national retailer in the city, but it has 12 fewer locations than last year. Rounding out the top ten national retailers in New York are MetroPCS (with 326 stores), Starbucks (317), Duane Reade/Walgreens (303), T-Mobile (223), Baskin-Robbins and McDonald’s (217 each), Rite Aid (185), and CVS (153). There are 12 retailers with more than 100 stores across the city, down from 13 last year.

For the eighth consecutive year, national chain stores have expanded its presence in the city, and despite a slight decrease of locations in Manhattan, chain retailers still have almost double the number of stores in Manhattan than in any other borough. Overall, chain retail locations in New York City grew from a total of 7,154 stores in 2015 to 7,243 stores in 2016, a 1.2 percent increase.



Among the study’s other major findings:

• Starbucks has more stores in Manhattan than any other national retailer with 223 locations, while Dunkin Donuts topped the list in each of the other boroughs.

We'll update later when the Center releases the full report, which shows the number of chain stores by zip code in the city.

You can find last year's report here ... 2014 ... 2013...

Retail therapy: Number of national retailers increases in the East Village, report says

[The same image we use every year, along with the same caption]

Via the EVG inbox...

The Center for an Urban Future has published the eighth edition of its annual “State of the Chains” study ranking the national retailers with the most store locations in New York City. The study shows that the growth in chain store locations across the city slowed considerably over the last year, with the number of national retail locations in the five boroughs up by just 1 percent between 2014 and 2015 — compared to a 2.5 percent gain in chain stores between 2013 and 2014.

Meanwhile, Dunkin Donuts remained New York City’s largest national retailer and widened its lead over second place Subway; with 568 stores citywide, Dunkin Donuts now has 124 stores more than any other retailer in the city.

The report also shows that the Bronx had the largest year-over-year increase in chains stores among all boroughs, with Brooklyn close behind. Two boroughs — Manhattan and Staten Island — had a minor decrease in chain stores over the past year.

The Center’s analysis shows that the 300 retailers that were listed on last year’s ranking expanded their footprint in New York City from a total of 7,473 stores in 2014 to 7,550 stores in 2015, an increase of 1 percent. While this is the seventh consecutive year with a net increase in national chain stores in the five boroughs, this year’s rate of growth was lower than all previous years except 2013—when the number of chain stores rose by 0.5 percent.

For the eighth consecutive year, Dunkin Donuts tops our list as the largest national retailer in New York City, with a total of 568 stores. Over the past year, Dunkin Donuts had a net increase of 32 stores in the city (a 6 percent gain). Subway is still the second largest national retailer in the city, with 444 store locations, but it now has 18 fewer stores than last year. Rounding out the top ten national retailers in New York are: MetroPCS (with 323 stores), Duane Reade/Walgreens (307), Starbucks (307), McDonald's (232), T-Mobile (217), Baskin Robbins (214), Rite Aid (197), and GNC (175). In all, there are now 14 retailers with more than 100 stores across the city, a decrease from 16 retailers with at least that number last year.

Starbucks still has more stores in Manhattan than any other national retailer, with 220 locations. In each of the other boroughs, Dunkin Donuts tops the list — it has 171 stores in Queens, 149 in Manhattan, 135 in Brooklyn, 80 in the Bronx and 33 on Staten Island.

Among the retailers with significant store growth over the past year:

• Sprint: 70 locations, up from 28 in 2014
• Fossil: 11 locations, up from 4 in 2014
• Sketchers: 11 locations, up from 7 in 2014
• Nathan’s: 25 locations, up from 17 in 2014
• Coach: 18 locations, up from 13 in 2014
• Just Salad: 19 locations, up from 14 in 2014
• Crunch: 16 locations, up from 12 in 2014
• T-Mobile: 217 locations, up from 181 in 2014
• MetroPCS: 323 locations, up from 290 in 2014
• GNC: 175 locations, up from 156 in 2014
• Chipotle: 58 locations, up from 50 in 2014
• Sunglass Hut: 30 locations, up from 23 in 2014
• Checkers: 35 locations, up from 28 in 2014
• Le Pain Quotidien: 36 locations, up from 30 in 2014
• Equinox: 25 locations, up from 20 in 2014
• Auntie Anne’s: 25 locations, up from 20 in 2014
• Taco Bell: 29 locations, up from 24 in 2014

Among the retailers that closed a number of stores over the past year:

• Radio Shack: 37 locations, down from 113 in 2014
• Bally Total Fitness: 3 locations, down from 15 in 2014
• Strawberry: 7 locations, down from 18 in 2014
• McDonald's: 232 locations, down from 243 in 2014
• Duane Reade/Walgreens: 307 locations, down from 318 in 2014
• Golden Krust: 59 locations, down from 69 in 2014
• Motherhood Maternity: 6 locations, down from 14 in 2014

And waaaay down here is the lead — buried. Drilling down a bit, as we like to say, it turns out that there was an increase this past year in the number of chain stores in our 10009 zip code ... up 5 from 25 last year to 30 in 2015. The 10003 zip code, which includes Union Square and parts of Fifth Avenue, has 163 chain retailers — one of the highest concentrations in Manhattan ... though that number decreased by 1 from 164 to 163 this year. (#math)

You may read the whole report right here.

Sleepy's for the rest of your retail life

A Sleepy's opened back in December at 111 Third Ave. near East 14th St.

At first glance, it's really not exciting retail news. Or is it?

Uh, anyway, Bloomberg Business had a post on Sleepy's yesterday. The Long Island-based company has 32 locations in Manhattan alone … which, as Bloomberg points out, is more than than the Gap (13), Whole Foods (7) and Best Buy (6) combined.

Per Bloomberg: "That's no mean feat, considering that the average American replaces a mattress only once every 10 years."

How do they succeed? Well, you have to watch the video report for the answer… but basically Sleepy's enjoys 50 percent profit margins… with minimal risk (low inventory) and flexible location opportunities (Sleepy's doesn't need prime window-shopping real estate, and will do fine on a second-floor spot).

Of course Sleepy's isn't completely bulletproof. The location at 138 Delancey closed last August.

That storefront between Norfolk and Suffolk remains on the market….

The number of chain stores increased this past year in NYC, though not in the East Village

[The same image we use every year]

Via the EVG inbox yesterday...

The Center for an Urban Future published the seventh edition of its annual “State of the Chains” study ranking the national retailers with the most store locations in New York City.

The study shows that there was a 3.3 percent increase in the number of chain stores in the five boroughs over the past year, a much larger spike than the 0.5 percent gain in chain stores between 2012 and 2013 and the largest annual increase since the 4.1 percent increase from 2009 to 2010. Queens had the largest year-over-year increase in chains stores among all boroughs, and Dunkin Donuts remained the largest retailer in the city, with 536 stores.

For the seventh consecutive year, Dunkin Donuts tops our list as the largest national retailer in New York City, with a total of 536 stores. Over the past year, Dunkin Donuts had a net increase of 21 stores in the city, a 4 percent gain. Subway is still the second largest national retailer in the city; gaining one additional store over last year’s total to make 468 locations across the five boroughs. Rounding out the top ten national retailers in New York are: Duane Reade/Walgreens (with 318 stores), metroPCS (298), Starbucks (282), McDonalds (245), Baskin Robbins (211), Rite Aid (201), T-Mobile (185) and GNC (156). In all, there are now 16 retailers with more than 100 stores across the city.

According to the research, the 10003 zip code, which includes Union Square and parts of Fifth Avenue, has 164 chain retailers — one of the highest numbers in Manhattan. (That is actually down from 179 in 2012.)

The 10009 zip code has 25 chain stores, down one from 2013.

Find the PDF of the report here.

Thoughts on unchaining NYC

Jeremiah Moss of Vanishing New York has an op-ed in the Daily News today titled "De Blasio, unchain the city now." An excerpt follows:

It’s time for the mayor to step up and take action against the destruction of the city’s character.

Start by following the example of San Francisco, where City Hall tightly controls “formula retail,” as in big chain stores. If former Mayor Giuliani could keep adult businesses from operating near one another, then de Blasio can keep national chains from doing the same.

Starbucks and Marc Jacobs should not be allowed to have multiple stores within a few blocks, and we don’t need Walgreens down the street from CVS.

Then, pass the Small Business Jobs Survival Act to create fair negotiations of commercial lease renewals, so landlords can’t use insane rent hikes to evict dependable business people.

Give fines to landlords who leave commercial spaces vacant, creating blight while they wait for the right price.

While general commercial rent control may be unworkable, we can protect what little remains of the city’s oldest and most beloved small businesses by creating a selective rent control program.

Read the whole piece here.

Report: the number of chain stores decreased slightly this past year in zip 10003

From the EVG inbox yesterday …

The Center for an Urban Future [has] published the sixth edition of its annual “State of the Chains” study ranking the national retailers with the most store locations in New York City. The study shows that the expansion of chain stores across the city slowed considerably over the past year, even as Dunkin Donuts recently became the first national retailer with more than 500 stores across the five boroughs.

The report reveals that there was only a 0.5 percent increase in the number of national retail locations in New York City between 2012 and 2013, the smallest year-over-year increase since we began compiling data on the city’s national retailers in 2008—and down from a 2.4 percent gain between 2011 and 2012. Two boroughs — Manhattan and Queens — actually experienced a decline in the number of chain stores between 2012 and 2013. Overall, the 302 national retailers that were listed on last year’s ranking expanded their footprint in New York City from a total of 7,190 stores in 2012 to 7,226 stores in 2013, a 0.5 percent increase. This marks the sixth straight year there has been a net increase in the number of national chain stores in the five boroughs.

For the sixth consecutive year, Dunkin Donuts tops our list as the largest national retailer in New York City, with a total of 515 stores. Over the past year, Dunkin Donuts had a net increase of 39 stores in the city (an 8 percent gain). Subway is still the second largest national retailer in the city, with 467 locations across the five boroughs. It had a net gain of 28 stores since last year (a 6 percent increase). Rounding out the top ten national retailers in New York are: Duane Reade/Walgreens (with 318 stores), Starbucks (283), MetroPCS (261), McDonalds (240), Baskin Robbins (202), Rite Aid (190), T-Mobile (161) and GNC (138).

There are now 15 retailers with more than 100 stores across the city, up from 14 last year. Over the past year, 7-Eleven became the latest retailer with at least 100 locations in New York; it expanded from 97 stores in 2012 to 124 today.

Starbucks has more stores in Manhattan than any other national retailer, with 212 locations. In each of the other boroughs, Dunkin Donuts tops the list — it has 154 stores in Queens, 123 in Brooklyn, 72 in the Bronx and 32 on Staten Island.

Among the retailers with the largest numerical growth over the past year:

• Dunkin Donuts: 515 locations, up from 476 in 2012
• Subway: 467 locations, up from 439 in 2012
• 7-Eleven: 124 locations, up from 97 in 2012
• Starbucks: 283 locations, up from 272 in 2012

Overall, the 10003 zip (which includes Union Square and parts of Fifth Avenue) has the third-most chain stores in the city, according to the report… however, with 170 national retailers, the number has decreased by 9 from last year. The Center reports 46 chain stores in zip code 10002 this year, up from 36 in 2012.


[Click on image to enlarge]

Find the full report here.

Your opinion wanted about the current state of chain stores in the East Village

From the EVG inbox… via the East Village Community Coalition (EVCC)...

Formula Retail Community Workshop
The Neighborhood Preservation Center
Tuesday, November 19, 6-8pm
232 East 11th Street
Limited space, rsvp required to melanie@evccnyc.org or 212.979.2344

And more details via the EVCC website:

EVCC is working to protect independent, small businesses within the neighborhood in order to maintain the diverse, unique community that has existed for so long. Over the past four years, increases in chain businesses can be see in both 10009 and 10003 zip codes that make up the East Village.

Currently there are roughly 115 chain stores located within the square half mile the makes up the neighborhood. Several New York city and regional plans site unique neighborhoods and independent stores as extremely important for New York’s future. Yet, according to the Center for Urban Future, 2012 marked the fifth consecutive year there was a net increase in national chain stores throughout the five boroughs.

Other places have already started taking action in defense of their communities. Examples of formula retail regulation can be seen in both New York City’s own Upper West Side and the city of San Francisco. In 2012, after having issues with store frontages being largely occupied by banks and apartment lobbies three corridors on the NYC’s Upper West Side were rezoned as “Special Districts”.

The new zoning limits the store frontage sizes and certain store conversions or changes in use. San Francisco is the largest urban area in the US to have strict formula retail business restrictions. The city zoning only allows formula retail in certain neighborhoods, requires neighborhood notifications before any chain retail is allowed to be built, and can limit the size and type of formula retail allowed in a given area.

Report: Number of chain stores up in NYC; Dunkin Donuts leads the way

From the EV Grieve inbox... cut-n-paste journalism! Woot!

The Center for an Urban Future today published its fifth annual study ranking the national retailers with the most store locations in New York City. The study shows that retail chains in New York overall fared better this year than last, paced by strong growth in the Bronx and continued expansion from top retailers Dunkin Donuts and Subway.

The report finds that the number of chain stores in the city is up by 2.4 percent over last year, compared to a 1.8 percent gain in stores between 2010 and 2011. Although a handful of prominent retailers like Filene’s Basement and Betsey Johnson closed their stores in New York over the past year, fewer national retailers overall contracted — only 23.5 percent of retailers on our list reduced their retail footprint in the city, compared to 31 percent last year. This marks the fifth straight year there has been a net increase in the number of national chain stores in the five boroughs.

For the fifth consecutive year, Dunkin Donuts tops our list as the largest national retailer, and with a total of 484 stores it is on the precipice of becoming the first national retailer with 500 stores in the city. But even though Dunkin Donuts had a net gain of 18 stores over the past year, its lead over second ranked retailer Subway has continued to shrink. Subway added 24 stores this year, bringing its total to 454. In 2010, Dunkin Donuts had 77 more stores than Subway, but this year the donut retailer only had 30 more stores.

Starbucks regained its position as the third largest retailer in New York City, overtaking MetroPCS, which had moved up to the third spot last year. Starbucks, which registered a net gain of nine stores, has the most stores in Manhattan by far — with 200 of its 272 New York City locations in the borough.

Of the 10 largest national retailers in the city, T-Mobile added the most stores over the past year (13 – going from 161 to 174 stores overall) while GNC had the largest percentage growth (9.2 percent, going from 131 to 143 stores). Other retailers with notable increases over the past year include: Potbelly Sandwich Shop (jumping from 4 to 12 stores), Panera Bread (8 to 13) and 7-Eleven (83 to 98).

New to this year’s report is an analysis of the chains that have grown the fastest in New York City since 2008, the first year we published our ranking of the city’s national retailers. Coming in at the top of the list is Panera Bread, which grew by 225 percent since 2008, followed by J Crew (117 percent increase), Pret a Manger (113 percent), T-Mobile (112 percent) and BJ’s Wholesale Club (100 percent).

Digging into the report a bit... the 10003 zip code (which includes Union Square and parts of Fifth Avenue) is second in the city with 179 national retailers...

The 10009 zip has 23 chains while 10002 has 36.

You can find the full report here.

We'll continue to look at all this... not sure if the report took into account the two Subways that recently closed in the East Village.

People now petitioning in favor of a 7-Eleven and Dunkin' Donuts on the LES

On second, second thought. Earlier this week, the Seward Park co-op board agreed (for the time being) not to lease space to a 7-Eleven and Dunkin’ Donuts. Among other things, a group of residents started a petition drive opposing the franchises from setting up shop on Grand Street. But! Another group of residents just launched a petition in support of the two businesses. (The Lo-Down)

[Updated] Resident creates petition to 'Stop national retailers opening in the East Village'

Now with working links!

On our post about 7-Eleven earlier this morning, a reader left a link to a new petition ...

Per the petition:

Zip code 10003, which we all know as the East Village, now has the most national retail stores of any zip code in nyc (except for one that has a huge shopping mall). This means Subway instead of CBGB, 7-Eleven instead of your friendly neighborhood bodega, Starbucks galore, and more banks that any human possibly needs.

It's time to stop the madness. It is time to say no to giant corporations and to gentrification. It is time to save whatever is left of this neighborhood's character.

Back in November, The Center for an Urban Future released its fourth annual study ranking the national retailers with the most store locations in New York City. The 10003 Zip Code, which includes Union Square and parts of Fifth Avenue, came in third for most chains overall in New York City with 169.

Meanwhile, you can find the petition here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Zip Code 10003 has 169 chain stores

Yet another Subway opening in the East Village

So, you remember that computer repair shop-plasma TV installers-DVD rental place on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street? Yeah, Intervideo Electronics. They closed in June.

When the "for rent" signs went up during the summer, we were filled with The Dread... and it turns out that this was all for good reason.

Last night, a tipster told us something that no one wants to hear: A Subway (sandwich shop) is opening here at 108 First Ave. Workers on the scene confirmed it to the tipster.

And a look at DOB documents doubly confirms it...

How many more times will we see this: Cluttered little mom-and-pop shop closes; chain store opens.

So now, the east side of the street will stack up like this:
Saifee Hardware
Ricky's
Whatever takes over for the shuttered Polonia
Subway
McDonald's
The best newish bar in the neighborhood
Dunkin' Donuts

Wal-Mart passes on Virgin Megastore space at Union Square, though are "still interested" in cracking the Big Apple

From the Post today:

Manhattan's retail rent rollback is causing Wal-Mart to give the city another look.

The giant discount chain has shopped for space in Union Square and among the big-box stores along Sixth Avenue in Chelsea, The Post has learned.

Wal-Mart recently passed on a proposal by Related Companies for a two-level store of about 57,000 feet in Union Square where Virgin Megastores and Circuit City are closing, sources said.

The company's real-estate scouts have also been roaming the area around 620 Sixth Ave., said the sources.

Wal-Mart spokesman Steven Restivo said the Union Square sites "were never under consideration." But he said the company is "still interested" in opening stores in New York, despite strong political and union opposition.

The last American Virgins to close

You probably saw the news last Friday that the two Virgin Megastores in New York (Union Square, Times Square) will close in the coming months. (It was previously reported that just the Times Square location would shut.) Then late yesterday, Billboard reported that all of the remaining Virgin stores in the United States were being shuttered.

This has certainly been discussed somewhere...but! Are there any chain record stores left in NYC? I've lost track. The F.Y.E. on Sixth Avenue near Radio City is long gone, right? And I don't count those combo chains like Best Buy or Barnes & Noble that may sell music...or locals like J&R.

Anyway, I'm no fan of Virgin or any national chains...And Alex expressed exactly how I feel about all this in a post from this past January:

I don't honestly believe the Virgin Megastore is all that great. Sure, it's convenient, but it's ultimately just an arguably soulless chain store that caters to the lo.com.denom-addicted masses. That said, it's yet another place to buy music that is vanishing, and I find that rather sad.

So maybe this is a little good news for the remaining indie record shops around town? Otherwise, like everything else, it's a bad time for music...including Mondo Kim's, Etherea (a new record shop at this spot is in the works with a different vibe)...Strider Records maybe... Vinyl specialist Malachi Records quietly closed after just six months. They were in a rather obscure second-floor location at Fulton and Nassau in the Financial District....What else am I missing? Oh, and not to forget what's happening to Music Row.

Related:
In case you haven't seen Ben Sisario's "The death and life of great Manhattan record stores" piece from last April.

Is Walmart sniffing around Union Square?

Maybe! Patrick Hedlund has the story in his Mixed Use column this week in The Villager. Best Buy's name has also been floated, he reports.