A new Dunkin Donuts opened this year on Amsterdam Avenue near 77th street.
The number of chain stores rose again on the Upper West Side in 2016, according to a new report from The Center for an Urban Future.
The report actually found that the number of chain stores was sightly down in Manhattan, while it rose in the other boroughs. But the Upper West Side continues to see more chains.
There were 89 in zip code 10023, up from 85. There were 67 in 10024, up from 64. And there were 81 in 10025, up from 78.
The report doesn’t say which chains are in which neighborhood, but we did notice more Dunkin’ Donuts outlets in the neighborhood this year.
Dunkin’ expanded more than any other brand throughout NYC this year, according to the report. Meanwhile, McDonald’s, Subway and Staples are among the brands that have been retreating somewhat from NYC.
Starbucks has the most outlets in Manhattan, with 223, with Duane Reade/Walgreens not far behind with 160. While the UWS lost a Starbucks this year it gained a new one just days later.
Most people on the UWS walk around with their faces in their phones and will probably not even notice the change in stores.
People are chained to their “phones” (mobile personal computer/ toys, in reality)– more so than to any stores.
Added Value= Zero
Thanks DiBlasio
(FIRST TO BLAME THE MAYOR!! WOOOOOT!!
I WIN!!)
This has been going on long before DiBlasio!
No huge surprise here; chain stores and banks are pretty much the only ones who can and or are willing to pay the huge rents being asked for commercial space today.
Landlords are not getting rich on the rent in these spaces. They need to charge a going rate in order to survive the cost of owning a building in NYC. I’d rather see a chain store with security cameras and good business practices than these bodegas that pop-up and sell 40oz. and blunts and have thugs attracted to them for their daily begging of anyone walking by.
Security cameras, bodegas and blunts – have you left your apartment since 1978?
Blunts? More like 1986!
The market will bear what the market will bear. The landlords are getting market rent, and the chain stores are satisfying customers. If people didn’t patronize them, and like them, they wouldn’t open here. There is clearly a market for them, indeed it’s a high demand. I welcome the chains, they provide speedy and cheaper service, why wouldn’t we welcome that? Plus, they are supporting small business, which most landlords are. It’s a win win.
Where’d you fly in from?
Exactly!
Regarding the “cheaper service”, you get what you pay for.
“Dunkin Donuts minimizes quality, passing the savings on to YOU!”
For all of those complaining… don’t bother… I support local business as best I can… it’s called capitalism…the unfortunate side effect of which is that money begets money…
Although I would prefer to see fewer “chains”, we ought to distinguish those which are franchise operations, in effect run by small businesspeople, many of them immigrants, who are looking to make a living. That’s different than having a Duane Reade on every block, and banks everywhere. Does anyone know if the 7 Elevens are franchises? I believe, but am not sure, the Dunkins are.
Yes, 7 Eleven are franchises, though IIRC some can be under different forms of ownership.
https://franchise.7-eleven.com/franchises-for-sale/new-york-ny
https://franchise.7-eleven.com/franchise/franchises-for-sale
Am surprised there aren’t more 7 Eleven places in Manhattan, especially as more and more 24/7 diners have closed down.
There is one on Third Avenue and 83rd that is very busy both day and overnight. Everything from bar hopping young adults to NYPD,EMT and others working nights.
Sorry to see Willow go.
“Meanwhile, McDonald’s, Subway and Staples are among the brands that have been retreating somewhat from NYC.”
Staples is retreating across the United States, not just NYC. They closed about 50 stores in 2016, and more are probably going that why as leases expire in 2017 onwards.
Staples like other physical retailers is being hit hard by Amazon.com, especially Prime with its speedy delivery. Other factors include office environments increasingly moving over to digital (less printing of things means less need for paper and other supplies), and a failed merger.
McDonald’s also was on a closing binge this year (about 500 worldwide but bulk of that number were be in USA). Blame people like Mike Bloomberg, Michelle Obama and others getting at people about eating “healthy” avoiding trans fats and so forth. There is also increased competition from places like Chipote and SweetGreens.
Chipolte is not healthy. it has the same fat and calories as Taco Bell and Del Taco. They just dress their stores in a Starbucks chic style and make you think that the food is heathy because they use “organic” food.
I’m a small business owner on the UWS and I always try to support other small local businesses as I feel it is important to keep these businesses running so that the UWS keeps it’s charm and community feel. That being said. I’d much rather see a franchise chain open up instead of walking by all the empty spaces that line Broadway & Columbus Ave. I feel like all the empty store fronts look bleak and promote more homeless to camp out in front of them. While I agree that commercial rents are ridiculously high these days you cannot exactly blame most of the building owners as they are going with the market trends. Unfortunately this carries over to the small biz owners who eventually get priced out of the neighborhood and replaced by another Duane Reade or big bank. It’s up to us, as a community, to support the local businesses and help keep the UWS’s unique community feel.
Just curious…do you live in Manhattan? On the UWS?
I live and have my business on the UWS.
One piece of advice for Westsiders who bemoan the influx of chains. DON’T PATRONIZE THEM. If they don’t sell anything they will leave and the landlords will find local merchants who will pay the rent. Look at the merchants that patronize this website which we read. None of them are national chains. We can complain or we can do something. IT begins with us.
Of all the chains, DD may be the one I hate most in the neighborhood. That ugly orange, pink and brown decor is just hideous and why would anyone go there when the local deli next door serves the same stuff but better.
Dunkin Donuts locations are often open 24/7, many delis are not.
Due to their hours of operation and other factors many DD locations have become de facto taxi “rest” stops. Drivers gather to get coffee or whatever, use restroom and so forth.
Personally if had a choice between Starbucks and DD coffee, the latter wins almost every time. Even DDs packaged coffee sells very well.
Oh the horror!
Let’s hope Dunkin Doughnuts goes the way of McDonalds. The neighborhood is starting to look like a Mall.