Despite Industry Tumult, National Retail Chains Growing in NYC

Jonathan Bowles, executive director, The Center for an Urban Future.

NEW YORK CITY—Although bricks and mortar retail has been facing unprecedented challenges, the number of national retailers in New York City continues to rise, according to a report released by the Center for an Urban Future.

The organization’s 10^th annual “State of the Chains” report notes that the number of national retailers in New York City rose 1.3% in 2017 from a year earlier to 7,317 locations. Manhattan, which last year suffered a slight decline in national retail locations in 2016, saw a 0.9% increase in 2017 to 2,734 locations. Brooklyn led the outer boroughs with a 3.1% hike in national retailer locations to 1,587 in 2017, followed by the Bronx, which posted a 1.8% increase to 907 locations, Queens came in next with a 0.9% increase to 1,680 and Staten Island posted the only decline in locations, down 1.9% from 2016 to 409.