Amsterdam Avenue had a 9.6% vacancy rate at the start of 2020. By the end of the year — while hundreds of businesses around the city had closed because of Covid-19 — Amsterdam’s vacancy rate had actually fallen, to 7.4%.
The Wall Street Journal investigated what’s happening on Amsterdam to help retailers stay in business — and even draw new ones — and had a few ideas as to why.
Some small independent stores have done better during Covid than larger chains, as people focused on shopping local at places they wanted to survive. Some shop owners the Journal talked to said that Upper West Siders have been particularly good about that. In fact, Amsterdam felt to some business owners like the friendliest avenue in the area.
“I don’t think Broadway or Columbus Avenue appealed to me. They felt less community-oriented,” says Rhonda Stober, who opened her gift shop, Happy Kangaroo, on Amsterdam in 2019 and is launching a second store, Happy Kangaroo Home, down the block.
In addition, the Journal cites a law introduced by then-Councilmember Gale Brewer in 2012 limiting the size of storefronts on Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues. It was intended to make sure that landlords couldn’t combine retail spaces and then rent them out to big box retailers and large banks.
“The result? On the stretch of Amsterdam between 72nd and 86th streets, I noted just 10 national chains amid the 176 storefronts. The same stretch of Broadway a block west—which escaped the zoning restrictions—has three times as many national chains and more than double the vacancy rate,” the Journal reported.
Landlords have also been helpful by being patient about rent, according to some businesses the Journal interviewed.
George Beane, who owns a five-storefront building on the avenue, says it’s just good business. “If my retail tenants can’t survive, I can’t survive either,” he says. “Most small-business landlords like me have to think that way.”
Check out our small business series to find Upper West Side shops that are still working to serve locals.
Photo by Martin de Witte.
Very happy for the statistics but they don’t mesh with my own observation. Also I am glad to hear Happy Kangaroo is succeeding but since I pass by it often and have never seen a customer inside, do they have any secrets to share with other struggling retailers? Are they doing a lot of delivery or curbside pickup? Are they super busy on one day a week or a specific time of day and that makes up for the rest? Serious question!
There’s opportunity to infill this small amount of empty space with cannabis lounges and licensed sex services.
The owner of Happy Kangaroo is very friendly and lovely, and she has beautiful and unusual things. I think she has a very loyal customer base and that is part of her reason for success.
I wish the politicians would do more to help our businesses, and to motivate landlords to fill vacancies.
Also, a bike lane.
Nah, only data and statistics, which show business has a net increase after a bike lane is installed, back that up. But all the commenters on here know the truth that bike lanes make business go down. And their truth is better than your truth, because, well,….
It’s not just the retailers but the wide variety of independent restaurants and small, local chains. The street scene is vibrant and that encourages consumer spending. Columbus has some pockets of vibrancy, but it doesn’t go on and on for blocks like it does on Amsterdam.
George Bean should be the head of the business development organization for Amsterdam! His attitude is great and I am sure his tenants are grateful for his foresight.
Continuity is such an important quality, and I think restaurants are the key element. Columbus Ave has a lot of the same potential, but the lack of many avenue-facing restaurants between 74th and 81st creates a dead zone during evening hours. Otherwise, if you look at Columbus Avenue between 81st and 86th, and Columbus Ave between 68th and 74th, you get a lot of the same appeal as Amsterdam Ave.
Agreed, this segment of Columbus really needs some new businesses! So many great spaces for lease… hopefully they become occupied soon and bring some new life to the area.
While I’m excited for the energy that is coming back, it leaves apartment tenants, like me, above these restaurants frustrated by the incredible noise. It was never a problem when there were 10 or so tables outside. But, now with a full restaurant and no sound barrier, the noise is magnified. It’s going to be a long summer for us.
the outdoor diners have nothing on the cars, motorcycles, and trucks…
It doesn’t hurt that there’s money here and a relatively low infection rate. But good for Gale and her zoning regs.
I don’t see how Amsterdam Ave is a thriving and bustling area. There are many empty storefronts.
Many? Where?
well, what do you know… Gale Brewer’s much maligned zoning regulation, aimed at being supportive of small local businesses, actually worked.
Love this. Also: Magpie on Amsterdam 83/84. Great post WSR
There are about 10 storefronts per block, so that’s one empty storefront on each side of the street. Seems about right, maybe a little low.
Amsterdam near 110th is also hopping. Wish Broadway was too. Even the bank branches are closing up, not that we ever asked for them.
So grateful to Gale Brewer for having passed that legislation. NO MORE TARGETS! Our small independents offer so much more than the bland big chains.
But many bars and much noise from bar goers and from traffic The businesses, city and community could do better with sprucing up sidewalks and adding trees.
WSR – great reporting here – needs to do a story on Gale Brewer and her insightful and impactful small business zoning regulations that seem to be working all over Amsterdam Ave. Will she be running for NYC Mayor?
Good article