Residents in Parkchester told News 12 they're frustrated with the number of vacant storefronts in their neighborhood.
News 12 crews walked up and down Metropolitan Avenue, which was once a bustling commercial section of the neighborhood. Now, there are an odd number of vacancies.
News 12 visited the area last December and saw several vacant storefronts that are still vacant almost a year later.
"All the businesses are shutting down. Everything's shutting down. We don't know why, we don't have an explanation. And the people are kind of upset," said Jeff Carrion, an employee at Leroy Pharmacy, one of the businesses still in the area.
He told News 12 that business has been slow, and some vacancies haven't been filled in years.
Other residents are blaming increasing rent prices for the reason that stores are closing. They're calling for more family-oriented stores and places for children.
Community Board 9 told News 12 it's important for the stores to be rented to improve economic development, but it doesn't have the power to fill them.
News 12 also reached out to Parkchester Condominiums, which owns some of the retail spaces, and is waiting to hear back.
