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What does Binghamton have to do with Buffalo's retail outlook? Why do we keep changing the subject? Lets keep this to Buffalo.
Well, Jacksonville was mentioned. So, couldn’t the same be asked for that?
My point was to show how a smaller city at least in the same state with some similar aspects can have viable retail. In turn, the answer isn’t as simple as we may think it is.
Even within Buffalo and as mentioned in the OP, Elmwood and Hertel are viable retail corridors within the city. Delaware Avenue near Kenmore Avenue also has some shopping: https://images3.loopnet.com/d2/NRS1a...4/document.pdf
Not to get to far off topic, but given that Binghamton is able to keep a department store in its Downtown and it isn’t an area that others describe, how are they able to do it? This is for a city of 45,000 and less people in the metro area than there are people in the city of Buffalo. So, this may be more complicated than thought.
Boscov’s appears to be a legitimate department store that is based in Reading PA(again, how?).
My point is that both cities have similar characteristics, though the Boscov's HQ's are technically just outside of the city of Reading in Exeter Township.
As for the other question, they are coming, but perhaps there aren't enough people for retailers to make the move or they may feel that the retail on Elmwood, Hertel and Delaware is enough. Let alone the other factors mentioned earlier in the thread.
Because the demise of downtown shopping isn't unique to Buffalo. In 1950, most American cities had a retail shopping district in/near the CBD in the downtown area. By 1990, virtually all of those shopping districts were gone, and AFAIK few if any retail shopping districts have been revived except perhaps in the largest cities with significant population in/near downtown.
I'm curious what's taking so long. The longer they stall, the less I will trust the results.
Likely COVID adjustments. To be honest, the Census has a history of underestimating certain groups, states and areas. So, even the "official" information likely has some margin of error.
Just to get back on topic and to add to the statement I made about how retailers may feel that the stores in certain corridors are enough, I found some information from the property owners about a couple of shopping plazas/centers in between Elmwood and Delaware just north of Hertel. It appears that they feel that this area also serves Downtown: https://dlc.propertycapsule.com/prop...t/view/id:6318
Likely COVID adjustments. To be honest, the Census has a history of underestimating certain groups, states and areas. So, even the "official" information likely has some margin of error.
Just to get back on topic and to add to the statement I made about how retailers may feel that the stores in certain corridors are enough, I found some information from the property owners about a couple of shopping plazas/centers in between Elmwood and Delaware just north of Hertel. It appears that they feel that this area also serves Downtown: https://dlc.propertycapsule.com/prop...t/view/id:6318
So, it looks like some of the retailers in that general area feel that their stores/shopping centers can serve Downtown as well.
The information you are quoting is from leasing agents promoting their property for rent. These big box strip malls sucked the life out of what was left of downtown shopping. I had a retail store in the heart of downtown and one in the Elmwood Village and when these opened we could see a huge drop in shopping traffic in the area. This is from first hand experience. I was forced to close after 50+ years serving downtown Buffalo. These strip malls offer acres of free parking right near the stores vs impossible to find and expensive parking downtown. We lost 30-40% of our business over a period of years making it no longer profitable. It pained me to close, but we had no option.
Likely COVID adjustments. To be honest, the Census has a history of underestimating certain groups, states and areas. So, even the "official" information likely has some margin of error.
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They had to have the local numbers before they could give the state total, so what's the delay? The "official" data is all that should be used. Making "adjustments" is just not right.
They had to have the local numbers before they could give the state total, so what's the delay? The "official" data is all that should be used. Making "adjustments" is just not right.
I understand, as you would think the earlier population information would be enough. They haven't come out with any city or county information yet. So, perhaps that is what's holding things up.
The information you are quoting is from leasing agents promoting their property for rent. These big box strip malls sucked the life out of what was left of downtown shopping. I had a retail store in the heart of downtown and one in the Elmwood Village and when these opened we could see a huge drop in shopping traffic in the area. This is from first hand experience. I was forced to close after 50+ years serving downtown Buffalo. These strip malls offer acres of free parking right near the stores vs impossible to find and expensive parking downtown. We lost 30-40% of our business over a period of years making it no longer profitable. It pained me to close, but we had no option.
Yeah, it is the case of chains hurting the Mom and Pop businesses at times, because they know that people will go to the "brand name" store. Even when reading the information from the DLC site, it basically lets you know that "this is it" for those that live Downtown, if you what that type of store nearby. This means that if you want to shop at Kohl's or Target, you'll take to take a 15 minute drive or take a bus to these places.
Good point about parking, as some people(rightly or incorrectly) feel that Downtown parking is a pain. You hear this in Syracuse occasionally too.
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