Number of chain stores across NYC, including Staten Island, decreased in 2024, study says

New York’s Staten Island — According to a recent study, the number of Staten Island chain stores decreased by 1% in 2024. The borough lost roughly five big-box stores as 18 merchants increased their retail presence on the borough and 21 chain retailers decreased their Staten Island footprint. Additionally, the data showed that the declines were felt throughout the rest of New York City.

The Center for an Urban Future (CUF), which conducts this regionalized retail survey annually, said that chain stores in the five boroughs of New York City had decreased by 1.3% in the last year, according to our sixteenth annual ranking of more than 450 national retailers in the city. The overall number of chain stores has decreased for the fifth time in the last seven years, indicating that even though storefronts in many of the city’s commercial districts have recovered well, the climate for many national retailers is still difficult.

According to the annual State of the Chains report, which examines variations in the number of chain stores in the city and each of the five boroughs, New York City experienced losses that were widespread, with a drop in a variety of categories, including food and pharmaceuticals.

According to the survey, national retailers that sell merchandise, including vitamins, cell phones, apparel, shoes, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products, saw the largest year-over-year shop decreases, continuing a trend that has been observed for a number of years. This decline was clearly caused by the increased competition from e-commerce. However, this year’s chain store fall was widespread, with all five boroughs reporting a net decrease in chains and numerous food retailers cutting back on their store presence.

Not all of the news is bad, though, as Dunkin’, which has 626 locations across the five boroughs, is doing well and has been the merchant with the most outlets in New York City for 17 years. Additionally, the Staten Island Ferry concession stands will be run by the well-known doughnut company; the first one opened on the Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis ferryboat last week.

The following are the other retailers in the top 10 in NYC:

• 
  Starbucks, 328
  
• 
  Metro by T-Mobile, 239
  
• 
  Subway, 202
  
• 
  Duane Reade, 189
  
• 
  McDonald s, 188 stores
  
• 
  Baskin-Robbins, 181
  
• 
  CVS, 160 stores
  
• 
  Popeye s, 157
  
• 
  T-Mobile, 156 stores
  

Currently, Staten Island is home to 484 chains, accounting for 6% of the city’s nationwide retail establishments. These are the top ten chain stores in the borough right now, per CUF’s findings:

• 
  Dunkin, 39 stores
  
• 
  CVS, 16 stores
  
• 
  Starbucks, 15 stores
  
• 
  Subway, 15 stores
  
• 
  Metro by T-Mobile, 12 stores
  
• 
  Carvel, 12 stores
  
• 
  Duane Reade, 9 stores
  
• 
  Verizon Wireless, 9 stores
  
• 
  7-Eleven, 9 stores
  
• 
  T-Mobile, 8 stores
  

Staten Island lost the following five chain stores in 2024:

• 
  Metro by T-Mobile, 1 location
  
• 
  Subway, 1 location
  
• 
  CVS, 2 locations
  
• 
  T-Mobile, 1 location
  

The survey stated that the difficulties faced by the biggest merchants in New York had been evident since the beginning of the pandemic. Overall, the 13 biggest retailers included in the Center for an Urban Future’s State of the Chains report from December 2019 have 797 less stores in the city now than they did in 2019—a loss of 61 stores on average.

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