“What it is, is a sign of chains driving out small stores.”
This may be true in other locations but it is my understanding that there are no chain stores in NYC because the unions have kept them out. Same same in a lot of big libtard cities. My son lives in Seattle and the nearest Walnart is over 20 miles away in one of the suburbs.
Wal-Mart is not the only chain store.
Every mall within 50 miles has almost exactly the same stores. You can’t walk a quarter mile without seeing a CVS and Walgreens.
Most non-chain stores in NYC are restaurants/bars and most of them go out of business within 5 years. The small store owner is a victim of runaway rents.