Three Entire Malls Leave NYC… Over Theft

Cash Jordan2 minutes read

Retail theft in New York City is on the rise, leading to abandoned underground shopping centers due to an increase in brazen shoplifting incidents and a lack of action against criminals by the NYPD and Mayor Adams, with the decline of these malls attributed to crime, design flaws, and strict regulations hindering business success.

Insights

  • Retail thefts in New York City are surging to levels not seen since 1995, driven by organized criminal groups targeting retailers, causing a rise in abandoned underground shopping centers due to the lack of consequences faced by thieves, leading to frustration among small business owners and workers.
  • The decline of underground malls in the city is attributed to a combination of design flaws, lack of anchor stores, and deteriorating environments, exacerbated by subway-related crimes, stringent regulations hindering business operations, and lenient policies towards criminals, resulting in low tenant attraction and revenue generation, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive legal and operational reforms to combat retail crime and revitalize these spaces.

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Recent questions

  • Why are retail thefts increasing in New York City?

    Retail thefts in New York City are on the rise due to a spike in shoplifting incidents not seen since 1995. Professional thieves, often working in criminal organizations, are targeting retailers, leading to a lack of action against shoplifting. Small business owners and workers are frustrated with the lack of consequences for criminals, who feel emboldened and unafraid of repercussions. The mixed messages from Mayor Adams about the city's control over crime contribute to a sense of lawlessness, further fueling the increase in retail thefts.

  • What challenges do underground malls in New York City face?

    Underground malls in New York City are struggling due to various challenges. These include design flaws, a lack of anchor stores, and a deteriorating environment, resulting in high vacancy rates. The decline of these malls is exacerbated by crime in the subway system, with violent attacks and a lack of security deterring customers and businesses. Additionally, the city's policies protecting criminals and failing to address crime have led to the downfall of these underground malls, with only a few businesses like convenience stores surviving.

  • How do thriving malls in other parts of the country differ from those in New York City?

    Thriving malls in other parts of the country differ from those in New York City by adapting to include experiential elements like gyms and casinos. While these malls have evolved to meet changing consumer preferences and offer positive experiences for customers, underground malls in New York City struggle to attract tenants due to crime, dilapidation, and a lack of positive experiences. The contrast highlights the importance of adapting to consumer demands and creating engaging environments to drive foot traffic and business success.

  • Why are underground malls in New York City struggling to attract businesses?

    Underground malls in New York City are finding it challenging to attract businesses due to various factors. Despite increased rents for street-level businesses, the underground malls face issues such as crime, dilapidation, and a lack of positive experiences for customers. Additionally, stringent MTA standards for opening stores make it four times harder to open a store in the underground mall compared to on the street. These factors, combined with the lack of consequences for criminal behavior in the subway, create a lawless environment that hinders business success and deters companies from setting up shop in these malls.

  • What poses a significant challenge to combating retail crime in New York City?

    A significant challenge to combating retail crime in New York City is the issue of repeat offenders. Criminals are often released after minor offenses like shoplifting due to bail eligibility criteria, contributing to the rise in retail thefts. This poses a challenge to maintaining a safe, thriving business environment, necessitating changes in laws and enforcement to secure the subway system and prevent further abandonment of infrastructure. Addressing the issue of repeat offenders and implementing stricter consequences for criminal behavior are crucial steps in combating retail crime and ensuring a safer environment for businesses and customers in the city.

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Summary

00:00

Rising Retail Theft Plagues NYC Underground Malls

  • Retail thefts in New York City are increasing dramatically, with videos showing brazen shoplifting incidents, leading to many underground shopping centers being abandoned due to crime.
  • The NYPD reports a spike in shoplifting not seen since 1995, with professional thieves working in criminal organizations to steal from retailers.
  • Small business owners and workers are frustrated with the lack of action against shoplifting, as criminals feel emboldened and unafraid of consequences.
  • Mayor Adams sends mixed messages about the city's control over crime, leading to a lack of fear among criminals.
  • The city struggles to address the issue of abandoned shopping centers connected to the subway, which are now targets for professional shoplifters.
  • Underground malls in New York City face challenges due to design flaws, lack of anchor stores, and a deteriorating environment, leading to high vacancy rates.
  • Crime in the subway system further exacerbates the situation, with violent attacks and a lack of security deterring customers and businesses.
  • The decline of these malls contrasts with thriving malls in other parts of the country, which have adapted to include experiential elements like gyms and casinos.
  • The city's policies protecting criminals and failing to address crime have led to the downfall of these underground malls, with only a few businesses like convenience stores surviving.
  • Despite increased rents for street-level businesses, the underground malls struggle to attract tenants due to crime, dilapidation, and a lack of positive experiences for customers.

13:12

Challenges in NYC Underground Mall Operations

  • The city's underground mall operations only earned half their potential revenue last year, with reduced rents failing to attract businesses due to stringent MTA standards for opening stores, leading to many remaining abandoned.
  • Opening a store in the underground mall is four times harder than on the street due to numerous rules and restrictions, deterring companies, while the lack of consequences for criminal behavior in the subway contributes to a lawless environment, hindering business success.
  • The issue of repeat offenders in New York City, where criminals are released after minor offenses like shoplifting due to bail eligibility criteria, poses a significant challenge to combating retail crime and maintaining a safe, thriving business environment, necessitating changes in laws and enforcement to secure the subway system and prevent further abandonment of infrastructure.
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