A developer says T.J. Maxx and Whole Foods could use new neighbors. But surrounding small businesses say they’re not convinced.
Winick Realty Group, the company responsible for leasing in the Columbus Square development on Columbus Avenue from 97th to 100th streets, announced last week that they want to bring locally-owned businesses into the smaller spaces in the development. The superblock is marked by chain stores, including Whole Foods and Sephora.
“We now look forward to putting the whipped cream and cherry on top with the smaller retail and complete this project,” Winick’s executive vice president Lori Shabtai said in a press release.
Some local business owners, wary of what they see as the development’s negative effects on their bottom lines, say they aren’t sold on Winick’s commitment—especially since the development began construction in 2006.
Leena Sharma, an employee at Sing & Sing Market across the street, said she finds it hard to believe that Winick is genuinely interested in the welfare of local businesses.
“It’s all about money,” Sharma said. “This section isn’t changing for good – it’s changing into 72nd and Broadway stores,” referencing that area’s busy retail strip.
Leasing smaller spaces to local retailers, however, has always been part of Winick’s vision for Columbus Square, Winick broker Kelly Gedinsky wrote, in an email statement.
“This is not by any means a new idea,” she wrote. “When leasing a project of this magnitude, as a broker, it is our responsibility to ensure that the retailers who are occupying spaces of 25,000-60,000 square feet are given the chance to lay out their stores to maximize the brand’s efficiency and to fit the incoming brand’s prototype. Now that we have completed all of the lower level leasing, all of the ground floor layouts are for the most part set and we can focus our attention on the smaller requirements.”
Anne Cottavoz, who owns the Columbus Natural Food store located a block from Columbus Square, has been an outspoken critic of the development’s effects on small business. Last summer, she organized a successful public campaign to save her property, as well as a neighboring Subway sandwich shop and a Chinese restaurant, from being torn down by the Witkoff Group—separate from Winick Realty.
While she said she said she’s glad she could keep her store, Cottavoz said that competing chain stores might still drive her out of the area.
“To say that they’re promoting local businesses is a lie,” Cottavoz said.
Gedinsky said that Winick has been meeting with community boards and fielding calls from locals to respond to concerns. Although Winick declined to comment on rental rates, Gedinsky said they will try to make their new rental spaces accessible to smaller businesses.
“We have made sure to price the Amsterdam side of the project to be more attractive to neighborhood retail. As brokers, we listen to what the market and the neighbors tell us and we have received numerous calls requesting area retail. The area is demanding small business and we have space small enough to accommodate them.”
But Cottavoz said she’s not buying it.
“If people don’t shop here, it doesn’t serve any purpose,” said Cottavoz. “I am disgusted when people come into my store and tell me they go to Whole Foods once a week and come into my store to get extra items. They don’t understand that chains are able to squeeze money out of their suppliers, and I cannot.”
Holly Berlin, CC ’13, said she regularly shops at Columbus Square, but she usually frequents the newer stores.
“I like that they have chain stores, and I mostly go to T.J. Maxx, Sephora, and Whole Foods,” she said.
Julia McGill, a local resident, said she shops at local small businesses but she also supports new stores like Whole Foods.
“It’s a great, great idea,” she said of the mix of retail stores. “It helps promote expansion.”
But whether it’s resident enthusiasm for the new retail options or residents’ apathy, Cottavoz blamed big-box retail for hurting her business. “Business is hard. Every day it is a struggle.”
COMMENTS
Comments will be moderated in accordance with our comment policy