Maybe you need to know how Times Square looked like before the pandemic? It was the best den of business in New York. A city full of many activities. If you knew Times square right you will agree with me things have changed and more expected with the end of the pandemic. Let us look at some of the realities and the expected changes in Times Square New York.
Times Square before the pandemic was buzzing with activities and was open for 24 hours every day. It offered different activities such as midnight moments and people-watching. Broadway shows were available and go bowling. The Times Square was just a bee hive of activities and thousands of people accessed it. However, all over sudden things changed. The pandemic hit the city just like any other part of the world, coming with stringed measures that made Times Square a completely different place. No more direct interactions and contacts, stringed health protocols were set up and everything went down. After the pandemic struck and people were asked to stay indoors during the quarantine period the time square was deserted and the number of people seen around it was almost none. The Times Square was referred to as a ghost town as all the businesses and recreational centers were closed down. Now that the country has been “opened up” what is the future of Times Square?
TIMES SQUARE RECOVERY
One of the things that are expected to happen is that the business will make a recovery. Among this are the 1500 businesses that have been shut down due to the pandemic. The Square is a major tourist destination and with flights being accessible the Time Square is expected to make a complete recovery. More people are expected to visit the Square now that the vaccines are available. With the vaccines being widely distributed the economy is expected to make a much better recovery.
REPLACEMENT OF OLD BUSINESS WITH NEW BUSINESSES IN TIMES SQUARE
The replacement of old businesses with new ones is expected to take place. It is inevitable for this to take place as new businesses are bound to take over what was there before. This may lead to the slowed recovery of the businesses and it may takes years before the complete recovery takes place. It is however to be noted that with each year the Time Square will feel more upbeat than the previous year and will slowly go back to what we have known all this time. Real estate and tourism officials have made a statement that the time span for full recovery is between one to four years.
THE EFFECT OF THE PANDEMIC ON RESTAURANTS AND SALES
The district around and on Broadway between 40th and 53rd is mostly populated with business sectors. The brick and motor retail stores, hotels and restaurants and offices space are the most frequently found.in the previous year the busiest street on the 42nd street had gone down by 70 percent from the year 2019. The lack of customers and reduced number of tourist saw the permanent closure of hotels and restaurants such as Hilton .the businesses are expected to reduce their footprint to bring the cost back to the line of sales. The reduced number of open stores has made the reduction of rent and hence new tenants are likely to take up the new spaces
THE CONSTRUCTION THAT TOOK PLACE AT TIMES SQUARE DURING THE PANDEMIC
The pandemic has seen the change of Time Square appeal and the retailers have adapted a more interactive method to engage the customers. During the pandemic the luxury real estate continued to construct the TSX Broadway experiential hence the upgrade in the streets and the retailer experience. This made room for 75000 square feet of new retail spaces and hence increasing the performance for outdoor food and beverage stands increasing the vendors. So after the opening of the country the people will have more places to shop for food and beverages.
Time Square has been known over the years to be the most valuable advertising location. The Square is known to generate a revenue of over twenty three million dollars in a year. During the pandemic a lease was signed for the Bow-Tie building making the new occupants unknown and their plans are yet to be known. The tenants are also not available to rent the places since the pandemic forcing landlords to reduce the rent that hasn’t been reduced since the year two thousand and twelve.
IMPROVEMENTS MADE AT TIMES SQUARE SINCE THE COUNTRY OPENED
The sign of life has been witnessed over the previous months and tourist have returned with sighting of them snapping at the naked cowboy. The construction has gone on and the Time Square is yet to go back to its normal but with given period of time it is showing the sign of going back to its norm. The landlords are to increase the rent as the businesses continue to open up. The offices are to change as companies such as Tiktok taking up office spaces that are available and replacing the old brands that were in the location. The tourist may have come back but the Square needs large crowds to survive and to keep going. The wearing of masks is also widely spread as people continually take up the precautions required to prevent the spread of the corona virus. The center may have not gone back to its norm but it will have to as it is the main source of employment to over seven percent of the city’s population and a large amount of economic output. Different cooperative leaders have given statements stating that the square will eventually take up a new normal and maybe incorporate the old traditions.
Frequently asked questions
What was times square like before the pandemic?
Times’s square was busy and open with activities for 24 hours. A wide range of activities took place there.
What happened to times square during the pandemic?
After the pandemic struck, people had to stay indoors during the quarantine; the times square was deserted and the number of people seen was very low.
Why was times square referred to as a ghost town during the pandemic?
It was referred to as to as a ghost town because all the businesses and recreational activities were closed down.
Will times square recover from the effects of the pandemic?
It is expected that businesses will make a recovery since it is a major tourist destination.
Will there be replacement of old businesses with new ones?
Yes. It is inevitable for this to take place as new businesses are bound to take over what was there before.
What’s the effect of the pandemic on restaurant sales?
The lack of customers and reduced number of tourists saw the permanent closure of hotels and restaurants.
Has there been any changes in times square during the pandemic?
The pandemic has seen the change of the times square appeal and the retailers have adapted a more interactive method to engage customers.
What are the improvements at times’ square since the country opened?
They have been construction going on at times square, things are yet to go back to normal but with time we’ll see that happening.
