New York City’s Fifth Avenue Is Empty — The Collapse of Luxury Retail

Comments · 170

• DO

  @donaldleider7382 · 3 months ago

  Every kid and their families in the 60’s-70’s went to fifth avenue between Thanksgiving and Christmas, even if you couldn’t afford to buy anything!

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• AD

  @AdvancedUSA · 3 months ago

  All retail is on life support in NYC.

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• JO

  @josephalavezzo8232 · 3 months ago

  As a New Yorker for all of my 84 years, I am very sad about the decline of Department stores and 5th Avenue.  What I miss the most is the window displays for Christmas.  They were so beautiful to see.

  80

• RO

  @roncolemanlaw · 3 months ago

  I worked in the building above Bergdorf Goodman and, later, in what was the Rolex Buildiing on 53rd and Fifth.  It was an amazing environment, and watching its decline over the last 10 years has been astonishing.

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• CO

  @CodeNameNikki · 3 months ago (edited)

  Walking down 5th through the winter holidays used to be magical.

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• TH

  @TheMaro57 · 3 months ago

  Luxury brands thought they could just keep increasing prices, cutting quality, underpaying employees, expanding too far out into the middle class until it became irrelevant. Now, they are just a place that people want to enjoy the view of from outside, walk past by and take photos, period.

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• SP

  @spider82666 · 3 months ago

  This has absolutely no bearing on housing. Rents for apartments are still insane throughout NYC.

  10

• MR

  @MrRickschott · 3 months ago

  I lived in Manhattan from 1977-1982. When visiting today it feels significantly less unique and special. It feels like something has been lost. The streets are less crowded and office workers dress less formally. The area around Fifth Avenue lost the veneer of being upscale and different from all other locations in America. Fifth Avenue is still Fifth Avenue, it's still different, but significantly less so.

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• NE

  @newvision101 · 3 months ago

  I’m soooo happy I got to b live in Manhattan from mid 80s to mid 90s.  I felt the shift happen when Los Angeles came to NYC.  They ruined it.

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• WI

  @williamsvoboda240 · 3 months ago

  When i was a kid going shopping with my mother was a Saturday event, Macy's,  Gimbels, Bergdorf-Goodmans Ohrbach's, Sak's Fifth Ave Most of them are gone now.I dated a buyer from Sak's before I met my wife.

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• JE

  @jenna-makenna · 3 months ago

  They have been humbled. The cities, brands, and people who think they are special because they buy those brand's and frequent those streets. Humility is good.

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• JO

  @josephmessina3587 · 3 months ago (edited)

  Used to love walking down 5th Avenue and look in the department stores featured in this video. My favorite was Nat Sherman Tobacco shop. Now, If I can't see and pick up the merchandise myself, I don't want it.

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