Union Square sees retail surge

If pedestrian traffic seems denser in Union Square, there’s a reason — the glut of chain retailers and eateries — including Nordstrom Rack, Chipotle and T.G.I. Friday’s — in the neighborhood has caused a spike in the number of visitors coming to the area in recent years, according to the Villager. Foot traffic jumped 59 percent between 2003 and 2008, according to the Union Square Partnership, a business improvement group, while the the number of subway passengers coming to the area has increased 42 percent over the last decade. The recent flux of shoppers, however, has been a long time coming, according to industry insiders, who point to Whole Foods Market and Filene’s Basement as early pioneers of the Union Square retail scene. [The Villager]