New York City shoppers are in no jeopardy of going without coffee, deodorant or cell phones anytime soon.
The latest “State of the Chains” report by the Center for an Urban Future found that 2014 was a big year for national chains in the Big Apple, with brands like the burger joint Checkers and cell phone provider metroPCS among the dozens of companies adding NYC outposts. In addition, as The Real Deal reported last month, organic grocer Whole Foods, discount clothing store Marshalls and craft retailer Michaels inked the largest leases in Brooklyn in 2014. While several retailers’ footprints shrank, the city overall saw chain store numbers rise by 2.5 percent, with Queens leading the way. That translates into a stunning 185 new national retail storefronts, significantly higher growth than in 2013, when the number increased by just .5 percent. Retail brokers say the trend is not surprising. National chains like to establish outposts where the financial industry that backs them can see their operations, said Chase Welles, executive vice president of SCG Retail. They also seek the city because it brings them to the “heartbeat of retail,” with access to the industry’s top designers and cutting edge trends. “It’s not simply a case of coming to New York to make money,” Welles said, though he added that of course the volume of business provided by NYC’s masses also increases the appeal.
7,473
The number of national retail chains in NYC in 2014, according to the Center for an Urban Future’s report, a 2.5 percent increase over 2013. The year before saw just a .5 percent gain.
536
Number of Dunkin Donuts locations in NYC. The chain has more franchises than any other in the five boroughs. In 2008, there were 341 Dunkin’ Donuts in New York City. By comparison, there are just 67 locations in Boston, Dunkin’s hometown.
205
The number of Starbucks outposts in Manhattan. The coffee powerhouse has more locations than any other retailer in the borough. There are 203 Starbucks in all of Ohio. Dunkin’ Donuts has 140 Manhattan locations, while Subway has the second-most in the borough with 171.
38%
The portion of all stores in Manhattan that are national retailers. There are 2,807 chain stores in the borough, up 10 percent from 2,552 stores five years ago. Manhattan averages 118 national chains per square mile.
16
Number of retailers with more than 100 locations across the five boroughs. However, 97.7 percent of growth in business citywide came from small companies — fewer than 50 employees — between 2000 and 2013.
76
Number of locations H&R Block — the fastest growing chain in the city — has added in NYC since 2012. This brings H&R Block’s total to 117.
318
Number of Duane Reade/Walgreens in the five boroughs. That makes it NYC’s largest pharmacy chain, topping 200 Rite Aid and 138 CVS locations. However, Duane Reade/Walgreens did not add any new stores in 2013, while Rite Aid added 10 locations and CVS 20.
87
The number of new chain locations added last year in Queens. The 5.3 percent growth in the borough topped all other boroughs in 2014.
4
Number of ZIP code areas in Manhattan with zero chain retail locations. Two of those ZIP codes are in the Financial District (10285 and 10286) and two are in Midtown (10110 and 10165). Manhattan has 74 ZIP codes.
180
Number of chain retail locations in the ZIP codes that include Penn Station (10001) and the Staten Island Mall (10314). The two areas tied for having the highest concentration of chains in the city.
14
Number of J. Crew locations in Manhattan. The chain had the largest NYC presence among clothing chains with no outerborough stores until September, when it opened in Williamsburg.
33
Number of locations metroPCS added last year, for a total of 290, the largest increase of any national chain in the city. T-Mobile added 23 locations, to 181, while AT&T added just 1, to 60. Verizon Wireless cut its total by 7 stores, to 35.
Sources: Center for an Urban Future; Business Insider; Capital New York; Boston Globe and TRD reporting.