By Joseph Morales

The NYC Subway is by far the busiest subway system in the United States. Despite ridership still being below pre-pandemic levels, 3.2 million people rode the rails in the city in 2022. That is about 500,000 more people than there are residents in the City of Chicago. 

                 The NYC Subway has so many riders in large part because of how transit-dependent the city is. According to data from the NYC Department of City Planning, only 46% of households in the city have cars. Even for households that do have cars, most people still rely on the system to get into Manhattan due to the time and money associated with congestion and parking in the core of the city. The number of subway riders going into Manhattan will likely only rise even more once congestion pricing is implemented, where motorists are expected to be tolled $15 to drive in Manhattan below 60th Street. 

Hence, there are and there will be many New Yorkers who have to be on the subway daily, and that’s why a lot of businesses operate successfully in the system. From the Oculus at the World Trade Center, to the eclectic Holiday Fair at Grand Central Terminal, there is clear evidence that public transit hubs can be an extension of the city’s bustling commercial core when space is occupied by retailers. 

                  The MTA recognizes this and as a result, the MTA Real Estate Deprtament has launched several RFPs(Requests For Proposals) for businesses to bid on retail space in several of Manhattan’s busiest subway stations along with the Jay St-MetroTech(A,C, F) station in Downtown Brooklyn. The Manhattan stations are 34th St-Penn Station(A, C, E)(4 units), Grand Central-42nd St(4,5,6,7,S)(4 units), Times Sq-42nd St(1,2,3,7,N,Q,R,W)(1 unit + 8 kiosks)  and 47-50th St Rockefeller Center(B,D,F,M)(9 units). Some units at the Rockefeller Center station also allow for food-related businesses. This is separate from the 30 vacant subway retail sites for which the MTA is seeking non-retail uses such as those for the arts or other community benefit.

                   There is one RFP per station with the exception of the 42nd St stations which have one RFP. Some of the RFPs also have different packages, where a bidder can potentially win a portion of the available retail spaces should they only win one package. However in situations, like this, the MTA prefers for one bidder to win both packages. 

                    Rather than the proposals for non-traditional uses, the MTA is seeking retailers who plan to use these sites for commercial purposes. One can use the spaces for just about anything with the exception of adult uses, cannabis-related uses or for cooking involving gas. The use of portable space heaters are also prohibited in these stations as they are all located underground. To be considered for tenancy of a retail space, businesses will have to submit proposals that adhere to MTA guidelines on items such as lighting, space configuration and design.  The MTA will then evaluate these proposals based on business experience, financial qualifications, potential income to the MTA and the company’s plans for the site to decide the winning bidders. The deadline for proposals at each station will be listed in a table at the bottom of the article.

                   New retailers at the sites the MTA is seeking tenants for can go a long way toward supporting the MTA’s other initiatives at the stations in which they will open. For instance, at 34th St-Penn Station, the addition of four new stores, will help to further the MTA’s goal of making Penn Station as a whole “a first-class transit hub”. In addition to retail, the agency has also taken other initiatives to reach this goal that has included raising the notoriously low ceilings and constructing a new station terminal to double passenger space. At Grand Central-42nd St, the new retailers will help to add to what is already a significant commercial scene inside the East Side’s largest transit hub. With the recent opening of Grand Central Madison, the addition of retail to the subway portion of the complex demonstrates a commitment from the MTA for Grand Central to continue to grow as more than just somewhere to catch a train.  As for Jay-St MetroTech, the new retailers will be just another sign of growth in a Downtown Brooklyn neighborhood that has been considered one of the fastest growing in the city. As a reference, Downtown Brooklyn has had a population growth rate of 16% since 2018, which is more than three times the pace of New York City.

                       While most of the new retailers are coming to more decorated transit hubs, the new shops will take on a whole different meaning for the 47-50th Rockefeller Ctr station. The Rockefeller Center Plaza is known for its world-famous Christmas Tree, ice skating rink and is often the first thing people think of when it comes to holiday cheer in New York. Many visitors also enjoy the underground mall directly connected to the subway station. However, a walk through the mezzanine of the subway station, likely does not give off the feel of vibrancy people associate with Rockefeller Center. This is simply because the large mezzanine has several vacant storefronts giving the station a sense of abandonment if not for the sound of frequent trains passing by. One establishment that was formerly a Subway even had signs stating that all orders had to be takeout and delivery due to COVID-19, despite the most recent restrictions on indoor dining not being in effect in NYC for almost three years. Hence, new retail spaces will bring back a new sense of liveliness to the subway station and give Rockefeller Center the subway station it deserves. It will also help to give tourists and other visitors a positive first impression when they enter one of the city’s most vibrant communities. 

                       As for when the new retailers will move into the storefronts at any of the stations, the MTA has to first accept a bid from a potential tenant. Since the due dates for proposals are either soon or have just past, the MTA will most likely review proposals in the near future. As commerce in subway stations is a large part of what makes New York unique, there is hope that new retailers will continue to catalyze vibrancy and economic growth in the subway system.

Subway Station	Proposal Due Date
47-50 St Rockefeller Center	2/8/2024
Times Sq/Grand Central-42nd St	2/8/2024
34th St-Penn Station	11/30/2023-3PM
Jay St-MetroTech	12/7/2023-3PM

Works Cited

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U.S Census Bureau. “Chicago city, Illinois; United States.” Census Bureau, 1 July 2022, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/chicagocityillinois,US/PST045222. Accessed 2 December 2023.

New York City Department of City Planning. “Car Ownership In NYC.” Tableau, 24 November 2022, https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/dcptransportation/viz/ACSProfiles/Dashboard1. Accessed 2 December 2023.

Kramer, Marcia, et al. “Congestion pricing draft report obtained by CBS New York shows $15 toll for most drivers entering Manhattan’s Central Business District – CBS New York.” CBS News, 1 December 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/congestion-pricing-costs-new-york-central-business-district/. Accessed 2 December 2023.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority. “Leasing & Sales Request for Proposals (RFPs).” Nymta.info, https://enterprise.nymta.info/MTA_Real_Estate_RFP/. Accessed 2 December 2023.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority. “MTA Seeks Creative Proposals to Fill 30 Vacant Ret.” MTA, 30 October 2023, https://new.mta.info/press-release/mta-seeking-reinvent-subway-retail-locations-arts-or-cultural-spaces-and-other. Accessed 2 December 2023.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Times Square–42 St and Grand Central-42 St Subway Station Retail Program-Request for Proposals. November 2023. Accessed 2 December 2023.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 47-50 St Rockefeller Center Station Retail Mezzanine Program. November 2023. Accessed 2 December 2023.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS JAY STREET – METROTECH, RETAIL: DOWNTOWN, BROOKLYN, NY. September 2023. Accessed 2 December 2023.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Request for Proposals: RFP MT092023– Retail Space located at 34 Street- Penn Station (8th Avenue Line, A/C/E Trains, Manhattan, NY). 29 September 2023. Accessed 2 December 2023.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority. “MTA projects – Penn Station Reconstruction.” MTA, 5 October 2023, https://new.mta.info/project/penn-station-reconstruction. Accessed 2 December 2023.

Downtown Brooklyn. “Downtown Brooklyn’s Residential Growth, 2018-2022 by DowntownBrooklyn.” Issuu, 8 May 2023, https://issuu.com/downtownbrooklyn/docs/downtown_brooklyn_partnership_resi_growth_2023. Accessed 2 December 2023.

McCarthy, Kelly. “NYC restaurants to reopen Friday at 25% indoor capacity ahead of Valentine’s Day: Cuomo.” ABC News, 8 February 2021, https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Food/york-city-restaurants-reopen-25-indoor-capacity-valentines/story?id=75564883. Accessed 2 December 2023.