PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Center City District’s annual retail report shows downtown Philadelphia has mostly recovered from the pandemic, with a stable occupancy rate and even more retailers than before COVID-19.
The Center City District surveys every storefront from Vine to Pine streets between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, and for the second year, it found that 83% were occupied. That’s not far off from the peak pre-pandemic rate of 89%.
“Even though we can all remember periods of time after the pandemic where certain retail corridors were struggling to maintain occupancy, we’re happy to say occupancy seems to have stabilized at that 83% mark,” said Clint Randall, CCD vice president for economic development.
In the two square miles that make up the district, there are 3,000 stores, services, and food and drink outlets — more than there were pre-pandemic. In fact, the number of retailers downtown is up 15% from 2019.
Of course, stores come and go. Center City has lost several art galleries and shoe and women’s wear stores, but it has gained more bakeries, ice cream shops and “experiential” retail shops — places like Puttshack, Five Iron Golf and Beat the Bomb. But Randall said most of the storefronts are unique to Philadelphia.
Large chains like Macy’s occupy the bigger footprints, but three-quarters of the stores are locally, independently owned. There’s even a whole corridor of stores that began as online retail.
“More and more of these ‘clicks to bricks’ retailers [are] aggregating in and around Rittenhouse Row,” he said.
Add in Christmas Village in LOVE Park and the Made in Philadelphia Market in Dilworth Park, and Randall said shoppers “can really find so many unique and independent retail concepts downtown in addition to the types of things you would expect to see at your local mall.”
One trend the report laments is the loss of the streeteries that sprang up during the pandemic. The Center City District has long championed outdoor dining to create vibrancy and a sense of safety. While Randall said there are more outdoor seats than pre-pandemic, the number is down from 2021.
The district is trying to countermeasure that by occasionally closing streets to cars to allow more foot traffic around Rittenhouse Square. Two more open streets days are set for Dec. 8 and 15, during which parts of Walnut and 18th streets will be closed to cars.