The Chamber launches storefront facade improvement program with Wells Fargo
NEW YORK, NY – April 30, 2025 – The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, a leading advocate for New York City’s businesses, today announced the launch of its new Storefront Improvement Program, a vital component of its ongoing Storefront Resurgence Project which is successfully helping to drive down the elevated rate of storefront vacancy in Manhattan. This new component of the initiative aims to enhance the aesthetic appeal and economic vitality of commercial corridors across Manhattan through targeted façade renovations.
The Storefront Improvement Program will focus on four key commercial corridors: the Upper West Side (Broadway between 79th and 96th Street), Harlem (Lenox Avenue between 110th and 130th Street), East Harlem (116th Street between Morningside Avenue and the FDR Drive), and the Lower East Side (Delancey Street between Clinton Street and the FDR Drive). The Chamber will collaborate directly with local merchants and building owners in these areas to identify and implement needed façade upgrades.
"A vibrant storefront is often the first impression a business makes, and it plays a crucial role in attracting customers and contributing to the overall health of a commercial district," said Jessica Walker, President and CEO of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. "Our Storefront Improvement Program will provide tangible support to local businesses, helping them create more inviting spaces that will benefit both their bottom line and the broader community."
The program will fund a range of improvements, including hydro-washing of awnings, graffiti removal, updating signage, exterior lighting changes, and new painting or siding. These renovations are designed to be cost-effective and minimize disruption to business operations, offering a quick and impactful way to boost curb appeal.
The Chamber has already begun organizing merchants on the Upper West Side, with work in that community expected to commence swiftly. All improvements across the four targeted communities are slated for completion between May 2025 and February 2026.
The Storefront Improvement Program is part of the broader Storefront Resurgence Project, an initiative dedicated to driving foot traffic, reducing vacancies, and fostering a new generation of innovative brick-and-mortar businesses in Manhattan. The Chamber anticipates that this new program will directly assist 50-75 storefront businesses, with a commitment to tracking the positive impact on business attraction and revenue, as well as documenting progress through "before and after" photos.
This program is made possible by a generous $125,000 grant from Wells Fargo. This funding will cover façade improvements in each community and support a new full-time merchant organizer to coordinate these efforts.