Midtown's '42 Below' Sees Retail Surge

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According to a report by New York Real Estate Journal, the area of Midtown Manhattan known as '42 Below' has seen retail occupancy grow 65% faster than Manhattan overall. The district, roughly bounded by Sixth and Eighth avenues and by West 30th and West 42nd streets, has seen a 19% drop in storefront vacancies over the past two years, with new food and fitness concepts moving in.

Why it matters

The growth in '42 Below' reflects a broader revitalization of the area below Times Square, which has historically struggled with high vacancy rates. The influx of new businesses and lower vacancy rates suggest the district is becoming a more vibrant, people-friendly environment for shopping, dining, and entertainment.

The details

According to the report by Live XYZ, a mapping and analytics firm, some of the notable new arrivals in '42 Below' include Sora, a complex of eight Japanese and Chinese food concepts in a 20,000 square foot space, and Kaza, a new Japanese restaurant. Fitness and personal care businesses also saw significant growth, increasing from 22 to 33 storefronts in the area.

• Over the past two years, storefront vacancies in '42 Below' fell by 19%.