Word from Jeremiah at Vanishing New York is a 7-Eleven located at 247 3rd Avenue forced out Gramercy Corner. The owners of the local business reported a 25%-30% drop in business after 7-Eleven opened right next door. From Vanishing New York:
“Last summer, an invading 7-Eleven pushed out a local convenience store from the corner of 20th St. and 3rd Ave. The owner of Gramercy Corner reported at the time that 7-Eleven had taken away 25-30% of his business. Luckily, he found a new spot nearby, albeit a much smaller one.”
What is moving into the location? Orange Leaf fro-yo, another chain! This one based in Oklahoma. Again to Vanishing:
“Orange Leaf, like 7-Eleven and so many other chains, is spreading rapidly and aggressively, a fact they celebrate. Their website announces “235 stores and 138 coming” and “new stores open every week!” It features a map with the slogan, “We came, we conquered.” In New York City, they’ve got 5 stores “coming spoon!” [sic], including this one.”
Similarly, last September the owner of Kyung’s Deli and Fruit Stand in Chelsea also reported a 25% drop in business since 7-Eleven opened right next door to him.
“I don’t know. I don’t know why they do that to me?” he says as he stands in the corner deli in Chelsea he’s owned for years. After 7-Eleven opened next door recently, his sales are down 25 percent. “Time by time, little by little, they’re taking my customers,” he laments.
So much for these areas being “underserved.”
Related
Orange Leaf [Vanishing New York]
7-11 Strikes Again [Vanishing New York]
7-Eleven Tries to Retake Manhattan [Marketplace]
No 7-Eleven 