Number of vacant NYC storefronts doubles since pandemic: - Council blames "zoning"

Empty retail space in New York City has nearly doubled since the pandemic, according to data released Wednesday — as officials warned the troubling vacant storefronts aren’t going away.

Only 6% of Big Apple storefronts sat empty in 2019, compared to nearly 11.2% this year, statistics from the city Department of Finance show.

“These vacancy issues, I thought they would end when the pandemic ended but it has not. It continues to be a problem,” said Councilmember Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan), whose Upper West Side district has been hit hard by the scourge.

“They are creating havoc because there is homeless, garbage and the business next door hurts,” she added.