Chain Stores Shut Down Across Harlem In 2020, Report Finds

HARLEM, NY — It is no secret that the coronavirus pandemic has posed an existential threat to New York's small businesses, but a new study shows that the crisis has also wiped out hundreds of retail chains across the city — including in Harlem.

In Harlem, 40 national chain retailers closed this year, with every neighborhood ZIP code seeing a decline, according to the report released Wednesday by the Center for an Urban Future. More than 1,000 chain stores have closed around New York this year.

Here is the number of national retail chains now open in each Harlem ZIP code, compared to last year:

• 10026 – Central Harlem: 17 chain stores, down from 21 in 2019 (19 percent drop)
• 10027 – Central/West Harlem: 80 chain stores, down from 90 (11 percent drop)
• 10029 – East Harlem: 48 chain stores, down from 61 (21 percent drop)
• 10030 – Central Harlem: 10 chain stores, no change from 2019
• 10031 – Hamilton Heights/West Harlem: 32 chain stores, down from 35 (9 percent drop)
• 10035 – East Harlem: 36 chain stores, down from 43 (16 percent drop)
• 10037 – Central/East Harlem: 6 chain stores, down from 7 (14 percent drop)
• 10039 – North Harlem: 13 chain stores, down from 15 (13 percent drop)

Overall, the 13.3 percent decline in the number of chain stores this year is by far the largest in the study's 13-year history. Manhattan saw the steepest losses, with its chains shrinking by 17.4 percent.

The chain with the most closures in New York this year was Metro PCS, which closed a whopping 134 locations — partly due to consolidation with its parent company T-Mobile. Dunkin' Donuts, the largest national chain in New York City, lost locations for the first time in the study's history.

Related: Pandemic Closes 2 More Harlem Coffee Shops: 'Feels Like Tragedy'

The study was conducted between mid-November and early December, using information on each retailer's website about its open locations. About 2 percent of the closures it measured were temporary, while the rest were permanent.

In October, Patch found 42 retail vacancies along a stretch of 125th Street in Harlem. Many of the empty storefronts had formerly housed small businesses and had been vacant for years. But others had housed larger chains that closed more recently, like the former Duane Reade pharmacy on Frederick Douglass Boulevard.

"Among retail categories, all sectors were impacted by the decline in growth, with only three exceptions, home centers, wholesale clubs and jewelry and watches, which each saw a gain of just one store each," the report found.

Raed the full report here.

Related coverage: Harlem's Empty Storefronts: 42 Vacancies Along 125th Street