Retail's Evolution in NYC
- Corey Cohen
- Feb 17
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 18
New York City's retail landscape is bouncing back, marked by a surge in restaurant openings, experiential activity, and revitalized landmarks. While rents are improving, they have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.
Rental Trends
The REBNY Manhattan Retail Report for 2024 indicates that, despite an upward trend, Manhattan retail rents remain approximately 20–30% below pre-COVID peaks.
Retail Evolution
Traditional vs. Modern: Established retailers are adapting to accommodate experience-driven brands appealing to contemporary consumers. Like Pete Davidson, I too, have sat in the 'boyfriend chair' at Reformation.
Luxury Expansion: Brands like Hermes are opening flagship stores in areas like Williamsburg, expanding beyond traditional Manhattan locales. This one is a brand new building at 111 N. 6th Street that was made to look like Olde New York.
Landmark Revitalization: Iconic sites, including Rockefeller Center, are blending culinary retail between the likes of Jupiter and Pebble Bar with immersive experiences.
Atlantic Avenue, west of Barclay's Center, is seeing a surge in leasing activity from 'makers' that pair light manufacturing with retail sales - thereby reducing the vacancy rate to 11.8%.
Wellness and Athletic Experiential through the growth of Tenants like Padel Haus who we helped lease 24,000sf of space to in DUMBO. Wellness outfits like Othership and Bathhouse are providing new opportunities for healthy socializing.
Vacant Storefronts
Retail Shifts: The closure of numerous pharmacies reflects evolving consumer behaviors. Online shopping and in-person theft has dampened large footprint demand from retailers like CVS and Walgreens. This is an issue for some cooperatives that rely on retail revenue if they recently lost a large tenant.
Regulatory Effects: Crackdowns on illegal cannabis dispensaries in 2024 led to over 1,100 storefront closures, presenting opportunities for innovative, compliant businesses.
Notable Lease Agreements
January 2025 saw significant lease activities across various sectors, including Aritzia's 30,000-square-foot renewal in Soho and Gitano's 13,600-square-foot lease in the Seaport District.
Culinary Resurgence
The city's dining scene is evolving, with several notable openings in the past year:
Chez Fifi: A French-Basque bistro on the Upper East Side, offering dishes like foie gras torchon in a 1930s Parisian-inspired setting.
Clemente Bar: An intimate cocktail bar above Eleven Madison Park, featuring plant-based menus and artworks by Francesco Clemente.
Bungalow: An Indian restaurant in the East Village, founded by chef Vikas Khanna, inspired by Indian country clubs.
Is your business expanding or on the move this year? We have the latest insights into the newest frontiers of New York City's retail market.
Best,
Corey Cohen
Founder
The Roebling Group
646.939.7375
@mrcoreycohen
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