5 ms·

This "stores as ads" trend has really destroyed a lot of previously nice neighborhoods in Manhattan, as all the commercial real estate is gobbled up in areas in

This "stores as ads" trend has really destroyed a lot of previously nice neighborhoods in Manhattan, as all the commercial real estate is gobbled up in areas in SoHo and Greenwich Village by stores that actually lose money based on retail sales at that location but use the store to create brand awareness and feature the store prominently in online ad campaigns. These drive up commercial real estate prices quite a lot forcing businesses that actually sell things to people out, so so for all the days you're not buying a suitcase with a built-in cell phone charger or a $7,000 neon orange jacket you'll have a harder time finding a bar, bodega, or any kind of shop you'd use on a regular basis. This make ironically some of the most prestigious addresses on some of the prettiest streets less nice. Particularly in SoHo there's a bunch of super fancy very beautiful lofts that sell for many $10s of millions, but if you need to "run downstairs for some eggs" or grab a coffee or something, you'll be walking many blocks through what's basically a luxury mall to get there. Also makes the streets feel deader at 7:00 when the shops all close down.

analog31 4y ago
It seems like the neighborhood retailers are getting it from both sides: Competing for space with luxury brands, and competing for sales with delivery services.
Swenrekcah 4y ago
This is a very real problem and the only viable solution I know of is for the local government to mandate a certain ratio (with error margins) of different types of establishments. For example, not more than 15% of a street can be hotels, or clothing stores, perhaps at least 25% be bars/restaurants/entertainment, etc.
- gowld 4y ago
  France does this.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
finnh 4y ago
Ugh. Similar to a local branch of big multinational banks - almost entirely pointless, basically always empty, but land-squatting to advertise the bank's brand. They are such a waste of retail space, and they are brutally common.
- Larrikin 4y ago
  Whenever I go in it's typically to take out large sums of coins and constantly see local business owners dropping off large amounts of cash or elderly people who are uncomfortable using ATMs or the Internet doing their banking. I definitely wouldn't call them useless. Their saving accounts on the other hand...
vmception 4y ago
"Destroyed", I love these experiences. If you're doing retail and haven't figured out that it needs to be instagrammable, then you're going to be gone when the lease renews. > you'll have a harder time finding a bar, bodega, or any kind of shop you'd use on a regular basis. I don't love that > but if you need to "run downstairs for some eggs" or grab a coffee or something, you'll be walking many blocks I don't love that either.... for New York City (almost no other place in this country has this luxury generally available) I'll resist saying something snarky and realistic about prevalent delivery services, but some compromise would be nice. I don't generally have sympathy for market based complaints that boil down to "oh no this thing makes rent prices go up", but I do have sympathy for a lack of services especially when paying to live in a premium desired area, services that remain available to people not paying a premium in a less desired area.
- anamax 4y ago
  > I do have sympathy for a lack of services especially when paying to live in a premium desired area, services that remain available to people not paying a premium in a less desired area. Umm, that's like having sympathy for folks who priced the gardeners out of their area.
  - vmception 4y ago
    Take it up with the landlords who unilaterally set the prices.
    - anamax 4y ago
      Why should I have sympathy for someone who rents at premium prices but doesn't get premium services? They can, wait for it, MOVE. (One benefit of being rich is the ability to respond when things are not as you'd like.)
      - vmception 4y ago
        I don't know or care about your class based disdain, I said I have sympathy for it and if I was in the situation I would have mild disappointment and consider moving but probably be content with delivery services
gowld 4y ago
If you life in > beautiful lofts that sell for many $10s of millions, then you are part of the problem and deserve nothing.

analog31 4y ago

It seems like the neighborhood retailers are getting it from both sides: Competing for space with luxury brands, and competing for sales with delivery services.

Swenrekcah 4y ago

This is a very real problem and the only viable solution I know of is for the local government to mandate a certain ratio (with error margins) of different types of establishments. For example, not more than 15% of a street can be hotels, or clothing stores, perhaps at least 25% be bars/restaurants/entertainment, etc.

gowld 4y ago
France does this.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

finnh 4y ago

Ugh. Similar to a local branch of big multinational banks - almost entirely pointless, basically always empty, but land-squatting to advertise the bank's brand. They are such a waste of retail space, and they are brutally common.

Larrikin 4y ago
Whenever I go in it's typically to take out large sums of coins and constantly see local business owners dropping off large amounts of cash or elderly people who are uncomfortable using ATMs or the Internet doing their banking. I definitely wouldn't call them useless. Their saving accounts on the other hand...

vmception 4y ago

"Destroyed", I love these experiences. If you're doing retail and haven't figured out that it needs to be instagrammable, then you're going to be gone when the lease renews. > you'll have a harder time finding a bar, bodega, or any kind of shop you'd use on a regular basis. I don't love that > but if you need to "run downstairs for some eggs" or grab a coffee or something, you'll be walking many blocks I don't love that either.... for New York City (almost no other place in this country has this luxury generally available) I'll resist saying something snarky and realistic about prevalent delivery services, but some compromise would be nice. I don't generally have sympathy for market based complaints that boil down to "oh no this thing makes rent prices go up", but I do have sympathy for a lack of services especially when paying to live in a premium desired area, services that remain available to people not paying a premium in a less desired area.

anamax 4y ago
> I do have sympathy for a lack of services especially when paying to live in a premium desired area, services that remain available to people not paying a premium in a less desired area. Umm, that's like having sympathy for folks who priced the gardeners out of their area.
- vmception 4y ago
  Take it up with the landlords who unilaterally set the prices.
  - anamax 4y ago
    Why should I have sympathy for someone who rents at premium prices but doesn't get premium services? They can, wait for it, MOVE. (One benefit of being rich is the ability to respond when things are not as you'd like.)
    - vmception 4y ago
      I don't know or care about your class based disdain, I said I have sympathy for it and if I was in the situation I would have mild disappointment and consider moving but probably be content with delivery services

gowld 4y ago

If you life in > beautiful lofts that sell for many $10s of millions, then you are part of the problem and deserve nothing.