Former Citibank branch on Avenue A hits the market

The for rent sign arrived last week at 50 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street.

I was curious what this former Citibank branch would be going for... Unfortunately, the listing at the Heller Organization doesn't provide many details ... other than:

-Prime East Village Retail availability
-Retail and/or F&B uses welcome
-Very high street Retail & Restaurant traffic
-Top location for proximity to nightlife

It's deceptively large too at 4,400 square feet.

The former Chase branch on Avenue A at Second Street is looking for $49,947 a month (or $139 a square foot). That's one good reason why the space has sat empty since November 2015.

Back in July 2013, Citibank's former building neighbor, Native Bean, moved down the block to 36 Avenue A. At that time, the asking rent for the space was $9,500. Villacemita eventually took the storefront, opening in March 2015.

Citibank closed on Jan. 13.


[Photo from 2012]

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.

Former space housing 1st bar for pregnant women returns to market on Avenue A

[EVG photo from September]

The corner retail space on Avenue A and East Fifth Street served as an advertising repository last October for some bar-finding app disguised as Gestations — "NYC's first bar for pregnant women."

The storefront has sat empty since East Village Pharmacy moved from here to 41 Avenue A in early 2011.

And now there's a new broker for the space…





So far, we haven't spotted the listing online at the Tower Brokerage website. And is the space next door that housed Twist for lease as well?

In any event, this is a good block for independent retail here between East Fifth Street and East Fourth Street … you have a coffee shop/cafe (Croissanteria), a housewares shop (Lancelotti), a used bookstore (Mast), a magazine shop (Ink on A), a gift shop (Alphabets), a dry cleaners … not to mention the lottery place and the liquor store.

Previously on EV Grieve:
No, 'NYC's first bar for pregnant women' isn't opening on Avenue A

People behind Gestations still pretending to be opening a bar for pregnant women on Avenue A

Looking at the retail component of recent East Village developments

There are currently three major upscale housing developments in progress in the East Village ... each of which will have a retail component:

• 21 Jupiter

A 4,300-square-foot TB Bank branch has inked a deal here at Second Avenue and East First Street. And there are those Mars bar comeback rumors too.

• The Jefferson



There are two retail spaces available here on East 14th Street at the former Mystery Lot...

• 84 Third Ave.

As far as we know, there aren't any deals in place yet for 84 Third Ave., the 12 story retail-residential combo coming to the corner of East 12th Street.

There you have all that.

So let's take a look back at three recent developments to see how the retail component fared...

• 2 Cooper Square



The retail space remains empty... and on the market since the apartments hit the market in 2009...

• 52 E. 4th Street



The retail portion of the 15 stories of condo on the Bowery and East Fourth Street sat empty, save a few odd pop-up shops (remember Bowery Bazaar in 2009?)... until plans for a 7-Eleven were eventually unveiled ... the convenience store opened on Dec. 23, 2011.

• The Copper Building



The retail space here on Avenue B and East 13th Street remained vacant for several years until the East Side 99¢ shop moved in last October.

So, the three high-end developments have yielded a 7-Eleven and a 99-cent shop (which relocated from around the corner). Residents are willing to pay big money to live here, but retailers aren't as interested to follow suit... What's going on here?

Speaking of retail diversity: CB3 makes pitch for businesses other than bars

[Subway on Avenue B]

Community Board 3 has been working on a letter to send off to property owners and real-estate types with the aim of helping persuade local landlords to rent "to a diverse mix of commercial renters, not just to nightlife businesses, banks and chain stores."

The letter has been making the round in various inboxes... The Lo-Down posted the whole thing on Tuesday. Here's most of the letter from CB3 Chair Dominic Pisciotta:

Residents and business owners in CB 3 are working together to ensure the economic vitality of our neighborhood. We believe it is important to involve property owners in this planning as well. Among our chief concerns are maintaining economic diversity and serving local retail needs. Our community has a high demand for more daytime retail business such as grocers, butchers, shoe stores, stationery stores and other businesses that serve our local residents. Research and public input have indicated that our current condition of too many bars and eating/drinking businesses works against promoting a diverse economy.

We want to ensure that you as property owners are aware of these community needs and priorities and that you relay them to your prospective commercial tenants. It is important for new prospective businesses to understand community priorities and plans before finalizing leases and investing money. In this effort, we welcome your participation in our planning and outreach. Please consider the following factors before signing a lease with your next retail tenant:

• Business owners who live and participate in the neighborhood are considered more community‐ friendly than absentee owners.

• Businesses should have diverse price points for our diverse community.

• Businesses open during the day and that attract daytime street traffic are a current priority.

• Businesses that offer a product or service other than eating and drinking are a current priority.

Some areas in our neighborhood have been overwhelmed with bars and restaurants. Our community does not have the infrastructure to be an entertainment zone. CB3 recommendations to approve liquor licenses will reflect this. It is important and fair for potential businesses to be aware of these priorities and areas.

Let's hope that it does some good... in just the last week, we've seen two small restaurants close (Polonia and Itzocan Café) and two small businesses shutter (Vampire Freaks and the Autumn Skateboard Shop). ... and the arrival of yet another Subway...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Of the 147 storefronts on Avenue A, 70 of them are bars, restaurants or vacant

Shopping today?

As we first reported, some people shop today, also known as Freaky Friday. So on this occasion, we're reposting this from Oct. 21...

From the EV Grieve inbox...

[EV resident Dominique Camacho in front of her store and cafe, Sustainable NYC, on Avenue A with the new Get Local Guide.]

In an attempt to keep our neighborhood independent and unique, the East Village Community Coalition (EVCC) publishes the free Get Local! Guide to East Village Shops each year. The updated 5th Edition is available now!

Spending your money locally helps small businesses thrive in the East Village. Local shopping also:

• Keeps more money in our community

• Creates local jobs

• Sustains small business owners who defend our neighborhood's identity

• Chooses creativity and personality over uniformity

The newly available 5th Edition lists 400+ local merchants and is available in shops and cafes in the neighborhood. You can download the online version here. (PDF)

We are working to preserve small businesses as an integral part of maintaining our diverse, livable community. In addition to the Get Local! Guide, the EVCC is researching ways to maintain retail diversity in our community.

5th edition of the Get Local Shopping Guide now available

From the EV Grieve inbox...

[EV resident Dominique Camacho in front of her store and cafe, Sustainable NYC, on Avenue A with the new Get Local Guide.]

In an attempt to keep our neighborhood independent and unique, the East Village Community Coalition (EVCC) publishes the free Get Local! Guide to East Village Shops each year. The updated 5th Edition is available now!

Spending your money locally helps small businesses thrive in the East Village. Local shopping also:

• Keeps more money in our community

• Creates local jobs

• Sustains small business owners who defend our neighborhood's identity

• Chooses creativity and personality over uniformity

The newly available 5th Edition lists 400+ local merchants and is available in shops and cafes in the neighborhood. You can download the online version here. (PDF)

We are working to preserve small businesses as an integral part of maintaining our diverse, livable community. In addition to the Get Local! Guide, the EVCC is researching ways to maintain retail diversity in our community.

Meanwhile, 24 Avenue A remains empty

Well, while on the topic of Avenue A retail... I recently noticed new(ish?) plans in the window of the former Graceland space at Second Street... (And it seems longer than six months that Graceland has been gone...)

Anyway the space can be chopped up into one, two or three storefronts... (Here's the listing.)



The one storefront might be best suited for the threatened 7-Eleven. And what do you think life would be like here had the CB3 approved Frank's plan for fast-food Italian (Raguboy) back in June?

Meanwhile, the FDR cheap pizza place behind the space on Second Street is ready for action... as you can see from the canopy, you can get 99-cent pizza, Indian snacks, tea...



Previously on EV Grieve:
"All uses considered" at former Graceland

More here.