Mary Altaffer/Associated Press Liberty Tax Service is one of the fastest growing chains in the city, according to a new survey. It should come as no surprise to any New Yorker that Dunkin' Donuts and the Subway sandwich chains have continued to spread throughout the city. But Liberty Tax Service?
The latest annual census of chain stores in New York City found that the tax-preparation franchiser known for hiring people to dress as Lady Liberty or Uncle Sam and wave at passing cars, is branching out faster than almost any other chain.
Libert y now has 127 locations in the city, almost triple the number it had four years ago, according to the report released on Monday by the Center for an Urban Future. Only Dunkin' Donuts, Subway and the T-Mobile cellphone seller have added more stores in the city since 2008, the report said.
Dunkin' Donuts is “on the precipice of becoming the first national retailer with 500 stores in the five boroughs,†the report said. When the count was conducted during the summer, there were 484 Dunkin' Donuts stores in the city, an increase of 18 in a year.
Subway was an oncoming No. 2: The sandwich chain added 24 stores during the year to remain second only to Dunkin' with 454 shops in the city.
Starbucks, which ranked third with 272 stores in the city, was the most ubiquitous chain in Manhattan, which has 200 of its stores. Starbucks added five stores in Manhattan and four in Brooklyn in the past year, but none in the other three boroughs, the report said.
There are only six Starbucks in all of the Bronx, the report found. That is at least three fewer Starbucks than there are on just one street â€" Broadway - on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
