What is happening to 7th Ave businesses?

I walk fairly frequently down 7th Avenue (at least once a week), and I was horrified today to see several businesses closed, or shut down. This is one of the most affluent areas in the country -- what is going on? Very worried about another downturn.

Rents.

Americanization.

Franchises are slowly replacing many stand alone businesses.

whynot_31 said:

Americanization.

Franchises are slowly replacing many stand alone businesses.

whynot_31 said:

Americanization.

Franchises are slowly replacing many stand alone businesses.

Agreed.

I was walking down 8th street in the west village, remarking the same thing, and noticing that all my favorite stand alone businesses were closed, but the awful franchises like Dominos, Subways, BBQ etc on that street are still very much open.

I try so hard to do much of my shopping at stand alone stores. I never get coffee at StarF*cks, I will go to a food cart first.

greedy landlords wanting outrages amounts for rents. they rather let it sit empty some of them anyway.

One of things that a commercial landlord told me was that because of the way the city keeps on raising taxes on commercial property it is not always a negative for the landord when a unit become vacant. The landlord will let it stay vacant and use the loss of income to start an appeal process on the real estate tax.

^ ding, ding. We have a winner. ^