Japanese megastore UNIQLO has finally arrived at the northwest corner of Union Square in the former PETCO location. It was also the location of one of the final versions of Andy Warhol’s factory. Stop by to see some special Union Square themed T-shirts.
The Union Square Business Improvement District is considering expanding its boundaries. If you have an opinion about that, take this survey.
More changes are afoot for 14th St. in the coming years. Find out about the potential plans here.
The next place to get expensive sandwiches and drinks will be Pura Vida Miami, which will open its next NYC location at 5th Ave. and 15th St.
The Union Square Partnership recently surveyed residents, asking them what they’d like to see more of in the neighborhood. The results:
The 4th Quarter Union Square Partnership Business Report, available here, has some interesting updates:
Union Square finished the year strong, with storefront occupancy in the BID1 reaching 91% in Q4 2025 (compared to 85% in Q4 2024). This growth reflects continued confidence in the district and demand from both national operators and emerging local players. Around Union Square Park, five long-vacant corner storefronts are slated to welcome new business openings in 2026, including global apparel anchor UNIQLO as well as Flight Club and Voodoo Doughnut, both new to NYC.
60 businesses opened in Union Square in 2025 (11 more than in 2024). Q4’s 16 openings ranged from top retailers like Pacsun, Ulta Beauty, and Aritzia (which expanded into a new space three times its previous size), to more intimate establishments like Maison Welles and Stars. Nespresso debuted its 13,000+ SF flagship that merges traditional retail with multi-sensory coffee tastings, interactive masterclasses, and a speakeasy. While Nespresso leads in scale, smaller coffee-forward openings include unique experiences this quarter, including Ioannis Coffee Chef’s “farm-to-cup” workshops and luckin coffee’s tech-driven model. With rising occupancy and a robust tenant pipeline, Union Square enters 2026 primed for an exciting year.
The very trendy and popular Pop Up Bagels has added a new shop at 20 East 16th St. Enjoy.
Soon to arrive on University Place: Mimi’s Frozen Yogurt. It’s Australian, and it’s fancy.
