This fight was initially waged against the building of suburban-style shopping centers in manufacturing areas around the city.  In the past twenty years we have intervened to prevent the building of a retail center on Zarega Avenue and Bronxdale Avenue in the Bronx.  We were also successful at preventing the development of the huge Brooklyn Junction Mall in Bay Ridge as well as the construction of shopping centers in Astoria and Canarsie. 

The most significant work of the Alliance culminated in 1996 when a four year grassroots coalition-building effort resulted in the defeat of former Mayor Giuliani's megastore plan.  The victory, the biggest policy loss in Giuliani's first term, was made possible by the Alliance's success at bringing small business and civic groups together in a common cause.

Over the past few years the efforts of our Alliance have risen to a new level because of the danger presented by big box stores.  These stores, selling almost every product under the sun, pose a dire threat to all of the city’s neighborhood businesses and the communities they serve.

The threat of big box stores has not gone unchallenged.  Beginning in 1999, the Neighborhood Retail Alliance has gone on the offensive and, working with civic associations around the city, has not only blocked the entry of three Costco stores in Manhattan and Brooklyn but has also just recently knocked out a BJ’s Warehouse Club in the Bronx and, in the most dramatic victory, the Wal-Mart store slated for Rego Park in Queens.

The Neighborhood Retail Alliance is, however, more than just a thorn in the side of big box stores.  The Alliance has also led the fight against city regulatory and enforcement policies.  In the past ten years we have successfully thwarted at least four efforts to increase the ability of city regulators to fine retailers without due process.  Most recently, we led the fight against Mayor Bloomberg’s Charter Revision, Question Five that would have enabled the Department of Consumer Affairs to be both judge and jury over city retailers.

The mission of the Neighborhood Retail Alliance is to mobilize neighborhood businesses and counteract any public policy that threatens the livelihood of New York City’s 186,000 Mom and Pop retailers.  We believe that the economic wellbeing of this city rests on a vibrant small business sector.  We believe that entrepreneurship is the essence of the American Dream for thousands of new immigrants and that elected officials have lost sight of the importance of neighborhood retailers to the vitality of NYC.        

Download our Mission Statement