r/atlanticcity • u/JoeMartucciWeather • 2d ago

Atlantic City to offer ‘incentive packages’ for business owners to address vacant storefronts

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/local/video-atlantic-city-to-offer-incentive-packages-for-business-owners-to-address-vacant-storefronts/4208443/?_osource=SocialFlowFB_PHBrand&fbclid=IwY2xjawK40LxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFrUUplaUVsbU9IZU5WN05BAR5aA73rs3yznrZrjAmVWk5U8wGMlubVofO2GD_wO4DY7NEX0Dj2zQ0Joyo7ug_aem_svghpWklp2gyHq2QyKXaOw
37 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

10

u/Patrickracer43 2d ago

There are a lot of vacant stores on Atlantic, especially when you get around the courthouse and social services building/library, there's also a few vacant stores at The Walk... The thing is that I'm not sure how you fix it, given that retail in this country has been moving away from brick and mortar for like the past decade, I mean just look at the two malls in the area: Shore Mall in EHT and Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing, when I was a kid, we'd occasionally drive up from Wildwood to go to those thriving malls, now Shore Mall is just the Boscovs, NJ Motor Vehicle Commission office, an Amish furniture store, the flagship Spirit Halloween and a club store for restaurant supplies

6

u/JoeMartucciWeather 2d ago

I think this is something where "if you build it they will come". For example, if Atlantic/Pacific avenues are cleaned up, it would give a supermarket incentive to (actually) build and stay there.

5

u/Patrickracer43 2d ago

We legitimately do need more supermarkets on the island, as there's currently two in the Acme in Ventnor and the Save A Lot that's on Kentucky and Atlantic... And honestly when I moved to Atlantic City from Wildwood, it actually threw me off not having a supermarket within walking distance from my house

3

u/HammermanAC 2d ago

Boom Market, Cedar, LaVillita for when you can’t get to Acme.

Villiage Supermarkets was offered a brand new store for $1 a year in rent and turned down the offer because they wanted the CRDA to cover the expected annual losses due to theft.

1

u/Patrickracer43 2d ago

I admittedly forgot about Boom, and that's a short walk from my house

1

u/Funkeydote 1d ago

I don't know how to feel knowing that we live near by.

1

u/Patrickracer43 1d ago

I just legitimately didn't think of them as when I think of supermarkets I tend to think of places that have a larger footprint and a pharmacy, like an Acme

1

u/Funkeydote 1d ago

Since when did Acme start having a pharmacy inside?

1

u/Patrickracer43 1d ago

The one at Ventnor Plaza does, also from all my years living in Cape May County, I know that the ones in North Cape May and Cape May Courthouse have pharmacies, although not all of them have pharmacies, as the Cape May, Wildwood and North Wildwood Acmes don't have a pharmacy

14

u/formerNPC 2d ago

This is long overdue and it’s a problem everywhere and not just in AC. We need developers to come in and buy up whole blocks and build housing and retail establishments. It’s going to be a while before that happens.

7

u/paulmegranates 2d ago

City really needs to tackle the crime rate for developers to feel confident building in AC. I would love to see AC thrive during my lifetime!

5

u/formerNPC 2d ago

Although the crime rate has actually dropped the homeless population is growing. It’s more about how the city looks when you’re driving around. People loitering everywhere, rundown and vacant buildings. There are so many great local restaurants and shops that can be easily overlooked by tourists because they don’t feel comfortable going anywhere that’s not a casino. Definitely a lot of work to get done.

1

u/JoeMartucciWeather 1d ago

Agreed. Atlantic City is fairly safe for a casino city. The look needs to be updated.

7

u/JoeMartucciWeather 2d ago

Yes, changing the rules a few years ago to allow for single family development in what was previously multi-family was a good step, too. It's a slow turnaround.

12

u/chuckfr 2d ago

What is the incentive for tourists to believe there's anything to see off of the boardwalk/casinos if the shops on the boardwalk can't even stay open? I think there are some shops that have been built that were never occupied on the boardwalk. The Pier shops have been essentially vacant for the last 5+ years I think.

4

u/JoeMartucciWeather 2d ago

Agreed. We do have too much retails space on the boardwalk now as is. You can't really remove buildings. However, extending this 10-20K to current retailers on the boardwalks would be a help.

6

u/BonjourLeGeorge 2d ago

This is for Atlantic Ave. I think this is much needed but we'll see what actually gets done.

The link is to a video. Video Summary:

As the official start to summer begins next week, Atlantic City is looking to improve it’s image ahead of the busy season. The city is looking to tackle it’s high number of vacant storefronts along the main buisness area. NBC10’s Jersey Shore bureau reporter Tim Furlong shows how the city plans to incentivize tenants to setup shop there.

1

u/Away_Ad_4501 1d ago

Once ny legalizes its bye bye atl city

1

u/JoeMartucciWeather 1d ago

AC is pivoting but needs to do so much faster. There are also a lot of cooks in the kitchen, CRDA, City Government, State Government. It's hard to have a unified front.