By Bob Eckstein
About the cartoonist: Bob Eckstein is a writer, illustrator, author, and contributor of cartoons to The New Yorker and West Side Rag. Check out his popular newsletter, The Bob, and Read the Rag’s Q & A with him — HERE.
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This seems like Blank Street catching a stray and I’m here for it 😀
Its Luckin Coffee lol
Speaking of Blank Street, wasn’t the old Andy’s Deli location on Columbus / 80th supposed to be an % Arabica? But I just saw Blank Street has a sign up – ugh massive downgrade!!
When “empty storefront syndrome” began, the primary cause was greedy landlords seeking higher and higher rents. And while that is still extant in some cases, the more critical factor now is the existence of the Internet, and the ability to get things as cheaply or more so – and almost as quickly – as one can from “bricks and mortar” stores, which are becoming almost obsolete.
So the only new merchants who are opening up bricks and mortar establishments are “services” that one cannot get on the Internet: nail salons and spas (the first to take advantage of empty storefront syndrome and realizing that the Internet could not provide the services they provide), restaurants, coffee shops and the like. 90% of all new businesses that have started making an inroad into empty storefront syndrome are service establishments.
And while there is nothing wrong with this, we do have to find a way to get other businesses out there, and do more to conquer the syndrome, which has caused this city no end of issues.