Since I came to New York, I always walked to school; I never take any trains or buses to school, so it is so difficult to me to find the way out of the station and the way to my college. I still remember that was the first day of my school, I took the A train in Fulton Street and stopped at the station at Fulton, Jay street. I thought I lost and never left the Fulton Street in Manhattan, but the train did move in the same direction and pass through a stop. Therefore, I got out of the station and finally I found out where am I?
Brooklyn Fulton Street, the same street name in Manhattan downtown. It is named after Robert Fulton, who owned the monopoly business of steam ferries. In that time, the only way traveled to Manhattan and Brooklyn is by the steam ferries, and these two Fulton Street is where the steam ferries linked with. So as we can see Robert Fulton is the huge character in hundred years ago and his name still remain on today local history. Even though Fulton’s monopoly steam ferries business is no longer exist now, the monopolistic business along the Fulton Street still going on; the national chain stores vs. small local retail stores, and who will be last longer?
On Fulton Street, the 17-block corridor stretching from Boerum Place to Flatbush Avenue features a mix of national retailers like Macy’s, H&M, and the Gap; local chains like Brooklyn Industries, Cookie’s, and Shake Shack; and independent shops like Heart & Sole and Mirage Boutique. The retail business along Fulton Street cannot go without its transportation. From the past century, the road structure has great change and influences the area efficiently. Fulton Street has been a marketplace since early 19th century, âthe street is full of pedestrians. A trolley track line was next to the (Orpheum) Theater and an over pass train track as wellâ (Afo). Today, there are no more train tracks, the MTA subway trains and buses replace the streetcars. And it easier for people come to Fulton Street and shop along the street. The great transportation gathers lots of customers to this street, the store owners have more chance to sell their products; however, too much customers also give the land lords an opportunity to increase the rent.
From the last century, people are more flavors to the local stores on Fulton Street, like the shops that sell hip-hop fashion, cellphone, sneaker and gold jewelry⌠however, in recent years, those local and independent shops are disappeared, since they cannot afford the high rent in that area and the competition with national chain stores. An associate director at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank Retail, Hymie Dweck said, ârent on Fulton Street were always around $150 to $200( square foot), but they are pushing past that nowâ (Julie Satow). Rent is one of the important factors that they cannot compete with the national stores. The owner of Stellar European Design, Sam Yung Kim said âdriving up rents beyond $200 a square foot that may make it impossible for him to remain when his lease comes up for renewal in a yearâ (Berger, Joseph). Since the small retailers cannot earn as much as the national chain store did, and they still need to pay the same high rent, many stores closed, in this cruel competition, rent is like the salt, putting on their open wound, and make their situation worse.
The disappearance of those local stores make some people worry that Fulton Street will lose the African-American and Caribbean-American customers, since they like the unique style and bright color clothing, which make them show off their figure. On the other hand, âsome small stores are pleased with the chainsâ arrival. âThey bring more people in this area and itâs better,â said Frank Flower, an Egyptian immigrant who owns a hole-in-the-wall shop that sells gold chains and earringsâ (Berger, Joseph). Do the national chain stores join in Fulton Street really change the peopleâs visit? Vicki Weiner, deputy director of the Pratt Center for Community Development who also worried about the unbalance between national retailers, local retailers and the independent shops did a survey in 2006, asking the architectural significance of the mallâs buildings, testing if the new stores in the mall did change the customers visiting. At the end, she found out that street is still âfunctioning like a traditional marketplace, where people see people they know and come to network and socialize as well as shop.â Weiner believed Fulton Mall (on the center of Fulton Street) has not lost its character (Berger, Joseph).
From these two stories, we understand the factor of rent influences the competition between the local retail and the national chain stores; and also the view from people about the national chain stores joining in Fulton Street. Because of the great transportation along the Fulton Street, many retailers want to join in this fantastic market; however, on the other hand, the more retailers want to join in, the higher rent they have to pay. And as we know only the large national stores can afford this high rents with ease. In the customersâ views, Fulton Street is still the same amazing shopping pedestrianized mall; but, it is a little painful to the small retailor.
In this monopolistic market, the local stores seem weaker than the national chain stores; however, generally, Fulton Street stills the unique place for the people, a mix of national stores and local retail stores. Even though the national chain stores joining did hurt some of the small businesses, and push them out of the competition; with the loss of some loyal local customers, Fulton Street still stands, continued to expands its fame, and attracts more new customers to here.
Cited Work
Afo (Aqbere, Dawuda), âVaudeville Project-Orpheum.â What is Vaudeville? The Brooklyn Experience. OpenLAB AT CITY TECH, November 7, 2013. Web. November 20, 2013
Berger, Joseph. “On Fulton Street, Worries about Change.” The New York Times Online 20 September 2013. 20 November 2013.
Downtown Brooklyn. . Historic Downtown Brooklyn Walking Tour. Web. 28 November 2013
Satow, Julie. “National Retailer Discover a Brooklyn Mall.” The New York Times Online 28 August 2012. 20 November 2013.
