By Gina Martinez
Queens has seen steady growth in national chain stores, including Dunkin’ Donuts and MetroPCS, according to a new study from the Center for an Urban Future.
The nonprofit’s 10th annual “State of the Chains” report recorded the patterns of retail growth in New York City over the past decade. According to the report, national retail chains fared well in Queens in 2017, with an 0.9 percent increase from 1,665 stores to 1,680. The number of chain stores in Queens has been steadily making gains since its 2014 high, when chain retailers in the borough rose by 5.3 percent. In 2016 the increase in Queens was 1.6 percent.
Citywide, every borough gained chain store locations except Staten Island, where they declined by 1.9 percent, from 417 locations to 409. The largest increase was in Brooklyn: 3.1 percent, from 1,540 locations in 2016 to 1,587 in 2017. Locations in the Bronx grew by 1.8 percent, from 891 locations to 907; and in Manhattan, the gain was 0.9 percent, from 2,710 locations to 2,734.
In Queens, certain retailers expanded their presence, including cell phone store MetroPCS, which opened 34 stores in the borough. According to the report, MetroPCS’s expansion in Queens was the largest of any retailer in the borough and citywide. The cell phone store now has 122 locations in Queens, and has the second-most chain locations in the borough, right behind Dunkin’ Donuts. The report said the coffee shop chain opened eight new stores in Queens, bringing its total in the borough to 187. T-Mobile added four new locations in Queens, raising its number to 76, Baskin-Robbins added two stores, for a total of 77.
Despite the gains in locations, several national retailers reduced their presence in Queens. CVS pharmacy reduced its presence by 14 locations, while Duane Reade and Walgreens pharmacy closed eight stores.
Overall, C.U.F.’s study shows a 1.3 percent in retailers citywide. Retailers expanded their footprint in New York City by 94 store locations, growing from 7,223 stores in 2016 to 7,317 stores in 2017.
Reach Gina Martinez by e-mail at gmart
