Manhattan sidewalks are bustling, surpassing pre-pandemic levels for the first time since COVID-19. According to Placer.ai, office visits in commercial districts increased by 1.3% compared to July 2019. This surge in foot traffic is attributed to return-to-office mandates and a rise in tourism. However, some neighborhoods still face challenges due to fewer international visitors. Events like the NoMad Jazz Festival are attracting large crowds. Overall, subway ridership has also seen an increase, reflecting a broader recovery in the city.
For the first time since COVID brought the city to a standstill, Manhattan foot traffic has not just matched but edged past 2019 levels, according to new data from analytics firm Placer.ai.
Stuart Saft says the sidewalks around his Seventh Avenue office have gone from ghost town to gridlock since spring, crediting part of the bounce to return-to-office mandates.
Neighborhood groups, like the SoHo Broadway Initiative, say they're still seeing big gains—up nearly 15-percent from 2023—and that formerly empty storefronts are filling up again, making the area feel safer and livelier.
Midtown's Flatiron NoMad Partnership says it's still 5-percent shy of 2019 foot traffic, but is making up for it with packed events like its inaugural NoMad Jazz Festival, which drew 'record-breaking crowds' to Madison Square Park.
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