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The Bronx

Two Minute Tour: Take the 2-minute tour of a cultural melting pot that’s popular with tourists

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The Numbers

New York City’s northernmost borough, the birthplace of hip-hop, the infamous Boogie Down – The Bronx has long been thought of as the Big Apple’s rebellious yet lovable younger brother. The most diverse county in the U.S. is home to about 1.5 million people, according to the 2020 census, and has the third-highest population density of all five NYC boroughs. It’s a genuine melting pot of cultures – 55 percent Hispanic, alongside Jamaican, Italian, Jewish, Bangladeshi and Irish to name a few. This is no small detail – as an immigration destination for almost 200 years, The Bronx is the bona fide birthplace of not only hip-hop, but salsa too. This dynamic diversity has only meant good things for The Bronx’s development, which has seen a burgeoning resurgence in the past 10 years.

Though Yankee Stadium is an unmistakable landmark, the Bronx is just as well known for its rich, diverse melting pot of cultures.

Though Yankee Stadium is an unmistakable landmark, the Bronx is just as well known for its rich, diverse melting pot of cultures.

The Pulse

“The Bronx is one of the most soulful and exciting boroughs of New York City,” says Sara Jazayeri, Principal of architecture and interior design firm Studio 360 in The Bronx. Indeed, the area’s up and coming on the retail map, with Apple recently opening a unique store at The Mall on Bay Plaza for the first time and industrial-inspired, food-from-the-soul spots like Hudson Smokehouse popping up on Bruckner Boulevard.

“I’d say the pulse of a Bronx neighborhood would be its subway. Most Bronxites utilize public transportation even if they own cars, so activity and commerce tend to revolve around those hubs,” says Richard Garey, Principal at Manhatta Architecture. Think bodega pop-up mixers and street dance festivals, generating footfall and local spending.

The Hot Spots

While The Bronx is renowned for community projects like Co-Op City, the art deco architecture of the Grand Concourse and Via Verde (“arguably the most successful contemporary architectural project in The Bronx within the past couple of decades” according to Garey), the true gems are hyper-local.

“Everyone has their own favorites but mine are the houses in the affluent neighborhood of Fieldston, the beautiful buildings in the Botanical Garden, Wave Hill Public Garden & Cultural Center and the small mom-and-pop stores of the Italian neighborhood around Arthur Avenue,” says Jazayeri. Arthur Avenue is a popular name, with its Retail Market the real draw.

“This indoor market has a variety of vendors that sell clothing, deli items, fresh produce, cigars – and there’s a bar. The variety of businesses within a relatively small footprint makes it a popular destination for locals and tourists,” says Garey. The theme throughout is community – places where people can gather and share, support each other and feel a sense of togetherness.

 Stops along the MTA’s elevated tracks are the center of social and business activity.

Stops along the MTA’s elevated tracks are the center of social and business activity.

Obstacles and Opportunities

A blighted history of bootlegging, economic devastation and spikes in crime can have consequences. “The Bronx has the reputation of being ‘rough around the edges’,” says Jazayeri. “But it’s still developing and revitalizing. It depends on business owners and developers to take that as a challenge or an opportunity.” Bronx business districts have also been historically let down by the government when it comes to security. But there is hope on the horizon, such as the repurposing of The Bronx General Post Office into a retail market.

“Upon completion, that project could prove to be a major boon for The Bronx,” says Garey. “Especially since The Bronx has 1.4 million potential customers.” Now for retailers and restaurants looking to boogie on down and set up shop, that’s some food for thought.

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