STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island had the largest increase in new chain store openings in 2018 of any New York City borough, according to a new report.

Over the past year, the number of chain stores on Staten Island increased by 3.2 percent, according to the Center for an Urban Future’s 11th annual State of the Chains report.

Citywide, the number of chain stores actually decreased by .3 percent -- the first time there’s been an overall decline in chain stores since the report has been published, said Jonathan Bowles, executive director of the Center for an Urban Future, a Manhattan-based think tank.

“Staten Island is bucking the trend. I think there is more retail than ever on Staten Island. But I think there are some dark clouds overhead for retailers...with the kind of things you can buy these days online,” he added.

REPORT FACTS

The following are the findings of the report:

Dunkin , formerly known as Dunkin' Donuts, still has more stores -- 35 locations -- on Staten Island than any other retailer. But the number of Dunkin stores in the borough actually declined by one over the past year.

Metro PCS moved up to second place this year, with 24 stores on Staten Island. It added three new stores in the borough, overtaking Subway as the retailer with the second most chain stores in the borough.

Subway is now third on Staten Island with 21 locations. It had a loss of four stores in the borough this past year.

In addition to Metro PCS, two other retailers grew by three stores on Staten Island over the past year: Sprint and Domino’s Pizza.

Four other retailers had a gain of two stores on Staten Island: Dollar Tree, Home Goods, FedEx Office, and Kung Fu Tea.

The following retailers all had a gain of one store on Staten Island: Chipotle, Burger King, AT&T, Autozone, Shake Shack, Bed Bath & Beyond, Qdoba, Cohen’s Fashion Optical, Duane Reade, Five Guys, Tim Hortons, Mandee, Michael’s, Modell’s, Osh Kosh B’gosh, Planet Wings, Skechers, Spencer’s, Swarovski, TJ Maxx, T-Mobile and Zara.

CHAIN STORE CLOSURES

Of the retailers that closed stores this year, Bowles said it was mostly clothing and shoe stores.

“A lot of merchandise retailers are struggling in this era of eCommerce,” said Bowles. “And I think on Staten Island, like we’ve seen in the rest of the city, [closures are] by clothing companies, and those selling accessories and shoes. ...But I think we see less exposure to it on Staten Island than we see in other parts of the city.”

The Island chains that closed, according to the report, include:

Subway had a loss of four stores on Staten Island. Two other retailers had a loss of two stores this past year: Toys R Us and Starbucks.

The following retailers all had a loss of one store on Staten Island: Aamco, Aerosoles, American Eagle Outfitters, Auntie Anne’s, BCBG MaxAzria, Bebe, Chico’s, Family Dollar, Foot Locker, Fossil, Gap, Kmart, Liberty Travel, Mattress Firm, Papa John’s, Petland Discounts, Rainbow, Rockport, StrideRite, Original SoupMan, Tasti D-Lite, Traffic Shoes, and Wingstop.

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