Mayor Eric Adams is moving to crack down on the proliferation of places like Warehouse, which grocery delivery apps have built inside former Big Apple storefronts – allowing them to allow customers to shop there or on the outskirts of the city. order, The Post has learned.
Critics, including City Council members Gail Brewer and Christopher Marte, have argued that storefronts operated by apps such as Gopuff and Gorilla violate zoning laws because they operate mostly as warehouses and are therefore removed from neighborhood areas for retail use. must go out.
In response, some stores recently began allowing customers to walk in an ad-hoc method.
This week, the Department of Buildings issued more specific guidance about how storefronts can continue to do business, saying they should allow shoppers to enter, pick up items or place orders — without them having to download the app first. of need.
A DoB spokesperson told The Post that businesses that do not allow shoppers to enter the shop and buy goods on the spot will be taken back to manufacturing in downtown areas.
The date of birth also took aim at practices that have led to the nickname “dark stores” because passersby cannot see inside the spaces. The agency said any storefront window that is “obscured by more than 50% with posters, paper, vinyl tint and other opaque materials could result in a DOB violation.”
“All GoPuff locations in New York City support in-store purchases,” a GoPuff spokesperson said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to partner with New Yorkers for their everyday essentials both personally and through delivery and the communities we serve.”
There were more than 100 locations in the city at one point, but a number have folded in recent months, including the Russian-backed Byk and Fridge No More.
A spokesman for the mayor’s office said, “The Adams Administration is committed to fostering innovation and protecting quality of life as part of a strong and inclusive economic recovery for our city, and we look forward to this technological innovation.” The final version of the analysis will do just that.” in a statement.
“We are still in the midst of this process, and we look forward to continued engagement with elected officials, advocates and community partners to ensure this,” the spokesperson said.
The proposed rules will be open for public opinion till May 20.
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