Tracking the Increasing Number of Chain Stores in New York City

The Center for an Urban Future has released its tenth annual ranking of national retailers in New York City, finding that "the number of chain store locations across the city increased for the ninth year in a row, but fewer chains have expanded this year than in the past."

A website set up to announce and host the new report has more insight into the findings of the study. In one case, the story echoes a recent news report documenting retail closures around the city. The Center for Urban Future, however, notes that chain stores are included in the number of failed commercial storefronts:

Overall, a fifth of all national retailers in the city closed stores in the past year, and only one-in-seven retailers on our list increased their footprint—the smallest share since we began keeping track a decade ago.

The study also ranks national retailers in terms of their presence in New York City. "For the ninth consecutive year, Dunkin’ Donuts tops our list as the largest national retailer in New York City, with a total of 612 stores, a net increase of 16 stores since 2016—and 271 since 2008," according to the post. MetroPCS is second on the list this year for the first time. The dominance of Dunkin' Donuts on the list speaks to one of the big takeaways about national retailers in New York City as reported in the study: "the growth of restaurants and food retailers is leading the charge."