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New York City’s Local Grocery Chains Are Fighting to Survive

"A mid-size Union Square grocery is portrayed as a serviceable, quintessential New York chain with modest Yelp ratings that will close at the end of May to make way for a Target in the 14th Street space; it was expected to remain until spring 2023 but now has only months left. Shoppers note an oddly dim, slightly disorienting lighting despite functioning bulbs, a whitish-gray linoleum that evokes fresh slush, and a singular odor blending cleaning solution with parsley- or wilted-spinach notes and a faint mustard top note that together make these local chains instantly recognizable. Although often mediocre on produce and pricing, it’s valued as a reliable place to grab a few out-of-season tomatoes, a six-pack, and boxed donuts, and its impending loss is framed as part of a broader decline of midsize New York grocery chains." - Rachel Sugar