VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Local businesses continue to be phased out of Marshall Street
Jonah Weintraub: Marshall Street’s combination of food, shopping and nightlife has made it a main hub for SU students and surrounding residents for decades. But over the past few years, the block is seeing some of its iconic vendors disappear.
Weintraub: This past weekend, Shirt World closed its doors after nearly 50 years on Marshall Street. However it isn’t the only long-time business that has left the block as of late. Two years ago, Acropolis Pizza House shut down for good after 4 decades on the hill. Last year, Hungry Chuck’s bar closed following 50 on-and-off years on Marshall street. SU freshman Connor Toporoff-Richman, whose sister is an alum, remembers the block having more character in the past.
Connor Toporoff-Richman: It’s definitely always been, like, kind of a staple of Syracuse, but it definitely has been, a little bit dry, you could say.
Weintraub: But what’s caused these Marshall street fixtures to go away? John Vavalo, owner of J-Michael Shoes, says the answer is pretty clear.
John Vavalo: You’ve got landlords who now, are seemingly just seeking as much money as they can possibly get, and really local businesses can’t really afford the per square foot cost up here anymore.
Weintraub: And those chains have become more and more present on the block. Acropolis was replaced with a Popeyes, while Shirt World is making way for an unnamed national retailer. Vavalo says this has caused Marshall Street to lose its personality.
Vavalo: It’s a shame, right? Because Marshall Street used to be, like, the spot, and now it definitely is not.
Weintraub: Another challenge for businesses on Marshall Street is that students aren’t on campus for over a quarter of the year.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) — This past Sunday marked the last hurrah for Shirt World, which closed after nearly five decades on Marshall Street.
The owners of the store said that a “national tenant” will take Shirt World’s place, which has become increasingly common on the block.
Over the past few years, Marshall Street has already lost multi-decade mainstays like Acropolis Pizza House and Hungry Chuck’s bar. Now, Shirt World joins that list.
John Vavalo, who owns J-Michael Shoes, has seen any local businesses come and go in lieu of national brands. He is far from happy with how the area has evolved.
“It’s a shame, right? Because Syracuse, Marshall Street used to be the spot, and now it definitely is not.”
Even SU students echo that sentiment. Syracuse freshman Connor Toporoff-Richman has a sister who graduated from the university, and he remembers Marshall Street having more character in the past.
“It’s definitely always been, like, kind of a staple of Syracuse,” said Toporoff-Richman. “But it definitely has been, a little bit dry, you could say.”
Though these businesses oftentimes cannot survive on Marshall Street for a reason, Vavalo explained one key factor at play.
“You’ve got landlords who now, are seemingly just seeking as much money as they can possibly get,” said Vavalo. “And really local businesses can’t really afford the per-square foot cost up here anymore.”
Unless that changes, expect to see more local storefronts get replaced by national chains that are more profitable year-round.