Snowy South Union Sq. in the Good Old Days

The Union Square district’s momentum has increased recently.

As measured by the Union Square Partnership, retail storefront occupancy of 82% in April — a 68% jump over the last quarter of 2024 — has since hit 88.5%, propelled by large recent leases such as Uniqlo’s deal for over 19,000 square feet at 860 Broadway.

More than 17,000 square feet of retail was leased in the second quarter, more than seven times the volume in the second quarter of 2024. Leading the food-and-beverage charge is Time Out Market, which will soon replace Urbanspace with a 10,000 square-foot hall on the ground floor of Zero Irving. It will be a smaller version of the DUMBO original.

From The Daily News:

Skip the holiday gifting anxiety attacks this year and head to the Union Square Holiday Market, now in it’s 13th year. There’s plenty of hand-made jewelry, clothes and other items as well as organic and free-trade finery. Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m; free admission. Union Square Park, E. 14th St. and Broadway. For more information, go to: www.nycgovparks.org.

You’ve surely noticed the water main repairs happening along 13th St. This will lead to water shutoffs at 830AM to perhaps 3PM on Thursday the 26th and Tuesday the 31st, and perhaps other times.

The Union Square Partnership Annual Report is full of fascinating statistics. Check it out.

Sort of a surprise that the neighborhood is getting a new bodega at the corner of 13th and University, replacing Basics Hardware.