It really brought us a good connection with TF Cornerstone’s tenants. “It was very nice to know the neighbors more rather than having them be just anonymous people that come in, buy a thing, and leave. “We talked to customers a lot more frequently and were able to give them more hands-on recommendations and more customer service,” said Bralow. Bralow burnished his online sales and set up a kiosk at the store’s front door, which resulted in a great opportunity to forge community. Since liquor stores were regarded as essential businesses early on, Blue Streak never closed once the pandemic hit. Rob Bralow owns two stores in Long Island City, Blue Streak Wines & Spirits and the neighboring wine bar BLVD. That was a real benefit of Long Island City.” Many have their very own outdoor terraces with views of the Manhattan skyline. “A lot of retailers took advantage of outdoor seating, benefiting from the wider sidewalks. “By the end of 2020, all Long Island City retailers were off the program,” said Gonzalez, who notes that the area’s special qualities helped make this happen. “We wanted to keep tenants committed to their spaces.”Īs a testament to the strength of the local retail community, Gonzalez notes that out of the entire TF Cornerstone portfolio, which extends throughout Brooklyn, Manhattan, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., retailers in Long Island City were the first to completely exit the rent relief program. We were in the tenant retention business,” said Steve Gonzalez, vice president of retail for TF Cornerstone. “We were no longer in the leasing business. “The bar did very well.”Īlong the way, TF Cornerstone helped its retailers survive, initiating programs that allowed them to pay rent as a percentage of sales and by borrowing against their security deposit. “Nobody wanted to go to a bar, but people picked up a lot of drinks to go and drank in the park,” said Nieto. The fact that the pristine Gantry Plaza State Park, a gorgeous 12-acre park that abuts the East River with incredible, upfront views of the New York City skyline, is right across the street did wonders for their takeout business. Fewer people came in, but the average ticket sale grew because instead of spending $5 on a latte, people were spending $30 on pastries and bulk coffee.”Īs COVID restrictions loosened, Sweetleaf began selling cocktails to go. “We started selling bags of whole beans and growlers of cold brew. People wanted things to make at home,” said Sweetleaf owner Rich Nieto. When the pandemic hit, local coffee shop/cocktail bar Sweetleaf Coffee Roasters kept its business going by pivoting from retail to wholesale. SEE ALSO: Air Quality Measures for the Whole Neighborhood? A Tampa Project Tries It Out.īut the story of retail success in LIC is also one of retailer resilience and ingenuity.
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