Here's How Many Chain Stores Shuttered On The UWS In 2020: Study

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating effect on small businesses in New York City, but a new report also shows that the crisis has shuttered hundreds of retail chains across the city — including on the Upper West Side.

Overall, 42 national chain stores closed this year on the Upper West Side, with all three of the ZIP codes in the neighborhood seeing a decline, according to the report released Wednesday by the Center for an Urban Future.

Here's the full break down for retail store closures within the 10023, 10024, and 10025 ZIP codes.

10023

• 2020: Chain Stores — 68
• 2019: Chain Stores — 86
• 21 percent drop

10024

• 2020: Chain Stores — 51
• 2019: Chain Stores — 62
• 18 percent drop

10025

• 2020: Chain Stores — 81
• 2019: Chain Stores: 94
• 14 percent drop

Overall, the 13.3 percent citywide 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.

This year, the chain with the most closures in New York 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.

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 conducted a survey that found 57 storefronts stand empty on just 30 Upper West Side blocks.

• Broadway In Crisis: 57 Shops Stand Empty On Just 30 UWS Blocks

"This increase in storefront vacancies is not good for the UWS nor the economic health of the City. COVID made what has been an ongoing problem even worse," Council Member Helen Rosenthal said.

Read the full report here.

Patch reporter Nick Garber contributed to this report.