FEBRUARY
2016

ISSUE
No. 08

SHOP TALK
What's Noteworthy?
Valentine's Day Spending Increases
Americans' possess a clear desire to celebrate holidays with their pets. Consumers will spend $681 million to treat their favorite pets to Valentine's Day delights.
 
Lovestruck consumers will spend nearly $147 this Valentine's Day. From a night out at a restaurant, tickets to a show or another experience, Americans are planning to spoil their loved ones with flowers, jewelry, candy, apparel and more.
 
According to the National Retail Federation's Valentine's Day Consumer Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics, 54.8 percent of consumers will celebrate Valentine's and spending is expected to reach $19.7 billion, a survey high.* Read More.  
What's New?
7 New Businesses Gained in 2015
2015 began the year with 90% of its 342 spaces occupied. The 9.9% vacancy rate held through the end of Q2 2015.   In Q3 2015 the vacancy rate was decreased to 8.4% and ended Q4 2015 with an 8.7% vacancy rate.

Over the course of the year, Chapel and 9th Square Districts reported gains in new businesses. 9th Square had a net gain of six (6) new businesses, while Chapel had a net gain of one (1). Broadway and Audubon Arts and Retail Districts remained flat.

A total of thirty-three (33) businesses opened and twenty-six (26) businesses closed for a net gain of 7 businesses.
To review the activity of 2015, click here. For the Q4 2015 report, click here.
Pedestrian Count Reports
The new pedestrian counters,  located on Chapel at High Street and on Orange Street between Chapel and Center began counting visitors on  Monday, November 16, 2015.

The total number of visitors in these areas through January 3, 2016 was 455,775. The busiest day in this time period was Saturday, November 21 (Yale-Harvard Game) with 22,004 visitors. Slowest day of the year was Friday, December 25 (Christmas Day) with 2,276 visitors. Read More.

Our latest report, ending January 31, 2016 now totals 684,753 visitors of which 228, 978 were recorded between January 3 through January 31, 2016. Click Here for January 2016 Report
What's Coming?
Lebanese Cuisine
After several years of waiting for the right client, 27 Church Street finally has a new tenant. Aliyya Swaby for New Haven Independent writes about the   private hookah club planned for Church Street.   

After working 38 years at a spinal implant company he started, Hosam Afifi is on to a new venture - opening a private hookah club and food court on Church Street.  
Read More.

A New Look at 195 Church Street
Over the past two years, the two corners of Church and Elm Streets have seen major changes. First, there was the exterior renovation of New Haven Superior Court, then the redevelopment of 205 Church Street into The Union, a luxury apartment building.

Now, the opposite corner, 195 Church Street has been targeted for redesign, retail and restaurants. Paul Denz, who bought the   former First Niagara Bank building, plans to make the 18-story structure greener and more attractive to technology firms. Read more.
What's Trending?
Cameras In Business
Cornell Wright is the lead consultant at The Parker Wright Group Inc. in Stratford, with a focus on benefits of strategic customer service. A recent column appeared in the New Haven Register entitled "Plan Well & Execute: Cameras have growing applications in business."  Is this a growing trend? How are you using cameras in your business? Read More.
Food Halls
Recently, a new tenant for 27 Church Street was announced. The project, located across the street from Gateway Community College, includes a "food hall" which has become one of the hottest trends in New York City's culinary scene. The food hall concept provides residents, workers, students, and visitors alike an array of cuisines all under one roof. Read More.
Creative Reuse
'We love local businesses' is a slogan for the   Nutmeg Collective  blog which recently featured one of our 9th Square businesses. Check out what Cyn at RiverDog Prints has to say.....

Have you heard of creative reuse? Learn about it from   EcoWorks  creative reuse center in New Haven. Read More.
IN THE NEWS...
The Great Wall
Enclave of Asian culture on Whitney Ave.
Read More
B & B
Prime 16 a go to place for burgers and beer
Read More
Nuevo Haven
Pacifico has been serving New Haven for 10 years.
Read More
Welcome to SHOP TALK, published monthly by Retail Sq. Ft. SHOP TALK discusses What's New, What's Here, What's Coming, and What's Trending in Downtown New Haven's Retail Community.     
Retail Sq. Ft. @ Town Green District is ready to help with retail information and demographics, referrals, and all the resources needed to make Downtown New Haven your ideal business location.