The decline of New York's retail diversity?

[ryan]

This statement betrays a limited view of what the word "artist" means.

Do educate me about what the word means. Here I was thinking my friends with MFAs who show with Mary Boone, Deitch, Bellwether were artists.

[MikeW]

What you're seeing is economic darwinism. Why is there a Starbux every three blocks? Because they're all making money. Given the rents they're paying, they have to be. The chain stores are more effective and efficient, and in lots of quanifiable ways, serve their customers better. So the customers vote with their feet and shop there.

And, why are they every three blocks? How far are you willing to walk for a cup of coffee (or to fill a prescription, or to deposit a check, etc.). NYC in general, and Manhattan in particular is a pedestrian town. every 3-6 blocks is a separate market. So the stores figure out what interval they need to be at, and the locate at that interval.

[MrSpice]

What you're seeing is economic darwinism. Why is there a Starbux every three blocks? Because they're all making money. Given the rents they're paying, they have to be. The chain stores are more effective and efficient, and in lots of quanifiable ways, serve their customers better. So the customers vote with their feet and shop there.

And, why are they every three blocks? How far are you willing to walk for a cup of coffee (or to fill a prescription, or to deposit a check, etc.). NYC in general, and Manhattan in particular is a pedestrian town. every 3-6 blocks is a separate market. So the stores figure out what interval they need to be at, and the locate at that interval.

Excellent analysis - totally agree. At the end, companies give people what they want to have. People lament about disappearing coffee houses that are often being displaced by chains like Starbucks. But the right question should be: why is it that people prefer Starbucks to that mom-and-pop coffee shop? After all, Starbcuks is not cheap - they have significant profit margins. Those mom-and-pop shops that are creative and good (like "Lalo" on Upper West Side or Veniero's in East Village) succeed and prosper.

[ablarc]

I hate that Starbucks are everywhere, and I patronize them in spite of myself. What makes them irresistible is what makes them repulsive: they're predictable and uniform. You always know what you'll get. And what you get is good enough so you don't have to take chances.

[MidtownGuy]

Do educate me about what the word means. Here I was thinking my friends with MFAs who show with Mary Boone, Deitch, Bellwether were artists.

See, that's just it. Not all artists work in those mediums, or show at the typical, sanctified galleries. You seem to have a very elitist idea of art, and that confirms it.

[MidtownGuy]

Excellent analysis

Excellent analysis, or over simplistic rubbish? There's more to it.

[lofter1]

... why is it that people prefer Starbucks to that mom-and-pop coffee shop?

Marketing ... + sugar.

And convenience -- people in NYC have convinced themselves that avoiding an extra 5 minute walk makes spending more money in a nearby shop worthwhile.

Why do some people spend $50 on a face cream that has been shown to be no better than what you can buy for $8?

I recently enjoyed a fantastic $9 bottle of Prosecco (won't tell you where I got it because I plan to go back for more ) that all my Italian friends agreed was far smoother and tastier than a better known $19 bottle.

[ryan]

See, that's just it. Not all artists work in those mediums, or show at the typical, sanctified galleries. You seem to have a very elitist idea of art, and that confirms it.

You were the one telling me I didn't know what an artist was. You're not making any sense.

[ablarc]

^ It's someone with an MFA ... right?

[pianoman11686]

I find myself agreeing with Mr Spice and MikeW.

MidtownGuy, I think you're being overly dramatic on this.

[ablarc]

^ Actually, they're ALL right.

[antinimby]

If you want to go to Europe, don't let the door hit you in the a$$ on they way out. But it probably suits you better. They like stagnation over there.

No, no, no.

MidtownGuy is the creative type we need more of.

Don't listen to him and don't leave MTG.

Just ride it out and do your part to ameliorate the situation.

[pianoman11686]

^ Actually, they're ALL right.

Can you elaborate?

[antinimby]

First of all go to Brooklyn for all the flower shops and flea markets you can handle. Brooklyn is a boom town right now, you walk through any neighborhood south of Prospect Park or Williamsburg or even Bay Ridge and you will see tons of non-chain shops and stores.
Brooklyn is the new cultural center of NYC that is going to be more diverse and more exciting than Manhattan ever was.
Brooklyn is small business heaven.

Just give it some time.

I have a sneaky suspicion what's happening in Manhattan won't be too far behind in the outer boroughs.

The saving grace is that the outer boroughs are still primarily middle-class as opposed to the more yuppified Manhattan, so it'll take some time but it's still inevitable, I'm afraid.

[ablarc]

^ It's economic Darwinism, and it's a crying shame.