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.
