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Report: Amount of chain stores growing in Brooklyn

<p>Brooklyn is seeing a growth in chain stores, according to a recent report.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jan 2, 2018, 10:46 PM

Updated 2,544 days ago

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Brooklyn is seeing a growth in chain stores, according to a recent report.
The Center for An Urban Future's report says 47 chain stores were added to the borough from 2016 to 2017, a 3.1 percent increase.
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce says it noticed a pattern of Brooklyn residents leaving the borough to shop on Long Island or in New Jersey, taking dollars away from the borough. The report shows that Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts are among the most prevalent retailers in all of New York City.
Another big-box store heading to Brooklyn is Wegmans. The Chamber says it will be a big benefit in that it will likely employ neighbors, many of whom live in NYCHA housing.
"I think that investment is a clear signal that the borough's economy is strong. Retail usually follows income, so that means that income growth is happening," says Andrew Hoan, of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.
Hoan says many chains employ workers from the community, but some are unsure whether the increase is a good thing. 
"The small stores, it's very difficult to compete against the big stores. There's no personal feelings in a lot of these chain stores so that's another problem. Sometimes the prices are cheaper, which might be good, but then it's not the same as it used to be," says Queens resident Michael Rollhaus.