What is the best neighborhood in New York City to open a Smoke Shop?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the best neighborhood in New York City to open a Smoke Shop is Windsor Terrace, ranked #1 at 89.6% Best and 82.8% Typical. 22 of the 180 ranked neighborhoods are at or above 70% Typical.

What is the average survivability for Smoke Shop across New York City's ranked neighborhoods?

Across the 180 ranked neighborhoods in New York City, the average projected chance that a Smoke Shop lasts two or more years is 61.3% Typical. Windsor Terrace, ranked #1, is at 82.8% Typical.

What are the worst neighborhoods for Smoke Shop in New York City?

The most challenging neighborhoods in New York City for Smoke Shop include Tudor City (ranked last, at 53.5% Best and 51.0% Typical), Gramercy, and Gerritsen Beach. Remember that a neighborhood average smooths over wide variation: your exact block could significantly outperform.

How accurate are StreetSpring's Smoke Shop survivability predictions?

StreetSpring publishes its accuracy on the methodology page, stated with its base rate: how often the model tells an open business from a closed one on cities held out of training, its precision on risk flags, and its discrimination. Each score draws on 100+ factors and is reported as the projected chance of lasting two or more years, never as a guarantee. Our tool scores any business category at the exact storefront address you enter.

What should I consider when opening a Smoke Shop in New York City?

Revenue Capture Score is the top factor to weigh before signing a lease, because it measures how much of the local customer spending a business at that address can win. StreetSpring computes Revenue Capture Score by projecting the business's market share based on competitor quality and quantity, mobility patterns, and forecasted consumer spending for the specific business type.

Survivability Rankings for Smoke Shop in New York City

Q: Where in New York City would a Smoke Shop make the most money?

It depends on the exact address. The Revenue Capture Score is the most important factor in choosing a location: StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address. Check it in the live tool for each New York City address you are weighing.

Q: Can a Smoke Shop succeed in lower-ranked neighborhoods in New York City?

Yes, neighborhood rankings are averages that mask significant block-by-block variation. Even in neighborhoods ranked outside the top 10, individual storefronts with strong foot traffic, low direct competition, and favorable lease terms can outperform the area average. Market dynamics shift frequently; validate these insights with real-time data from StreetSpring.

StreetSpring's 2026 ranking of New York City neighborhoods to open a Smoke Shop, on Best, from Windsor Terrace (89.6% survival) to Tudor City (53.5%).

September 22, 2026•14 min read

By Robert Koons | Last reviewed: November 2026 | Methodology

Quick Summary

Survivability Score: the projected chance a business type lasts two or more years at a specific address

Best, Typical and Worst: Best is the average chance of lasting two or more years for the better of two addresses picked at random in the place, in a smaller space; Typical is the average address; Worst is the same for the worse of two, in a larger space

#1 Neighborhood: Windsor Terrace: 89.6% Best, 82.8% Typical for Smoke Shop

The range inside Windsor Terrace: the best locations reach 90.0% and the most challenging sit at 56.2%, a spread of 33.8 points. Picking the neighborhood narrows the search; the specific address is what settles it

Neighborhoods at or above 70% Typical: 22 of 180 ranked

Average across the 180 ranked neighborhoods (typical address): 61.3% for Smoke Shops

Most challenging area: Tudor City: 53.5% Best, 51.0% Typical

Revenue Capture Score: the most important factor in choosing a location, StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address

Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →

Summary
10 Best Neighborhoods
Where Would a Smoke Shop Make the Most Money?
What Should I Consider?
Where Should I Start?
FAQ: Best Neighborhoods
FAQ: Can a Smoke Shop Succeed in Lower-Ranked Areas?
FAQ: How Often Are Rankings Updated?
FAQ: Is a Smoke Shop a Good Tenant?
Landlord Survivability Data
Best Neighborhoods for Any Business

Summary

Windsor Terrace leads New York City's 2026 survivability rankings for Smoke Shop operators, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 89.6% Best and 82.8% Typical. The last-ranked neighborhood is Tudor City, at 53.5% Best and 51.0% Typical. Even neighborhoods with modest average scores can harbor exceptional individual locations.

What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around New York City to Open a Smoke Shop?

Windsor Terrace ranks #1 of the 180 ranked neighborhoods in and around New York City for Smoke Shop survivability, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 89.6% Best as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:

Rank	Neighborhood	Metro	Best	Typical	Worst
1	Windsor Terrace	New York City	89.6%	82.8%	77.5%
2	West Side, Jersey City	New York City	88.0%	80.0%	75.3%
3	Carroll Gardens	New York City	86.6%	80.0%	76.0%
4	Hackensack Riverfront	New York City	86.4%	78.0%	72.9%
5	Bergen-Lafayette	New York City	85.4%	77.4%	72.3%
6	McGinley Square	New York City	85.1%	78.4%	74.4%
7	Park Slope	New York City	84.4%	76.6%	71.2%
8	Prospect Heights	New York City	84.0%	77.1%	72.4%
9	The Waterfront (Jersey City)	New York City	83.8%	76.8%	71.9%
10	Jersey City Heights	New York City	83.3%	76.5%	71.7%

Best and Worst are the average results for the better and the worse of two addresses picked at random in the place: a weighted average of every scored location in which the best locations count the most for Best and the weakest count the most for Worst. Typical is the average address. Best is shown for a smaller space (half the standard size) and Worst for a larger one (half again as large), at the metro's median asking rent, using the same rent rule as our tool; Typical is at the market rent.

The highest and lowest scored addresses inside one neighborhood can sit far apart, so the neighborhood figure is a starting point. Real-time data from StreetSpring accounts for recent openings, closures, and seasonal shifts that static rankings cannot.

The ranking runs on Best. Every figure is the projected chance of lasting two or more years, as printed in the linked file. See our full methodology →

These figures assume a lease at the local market rate. The live tool adjusts the figure when you enter a lease that is cheaper or more expensive than that.

Try StreetSpring to see if this location is still the best and see if there are locations to rent in this area right now.

Where in or Around New York City Would a Smoke Shop Make the Most Money?

Where a Smoke Shop would make the most money in or around New York City comes down to the exact address. The Revenue Capture Score is the most important factor in choosing a location: StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address.

Windsor Terrace is ranked #1 for Smoke Shop survivability, at 89.6% Best and 82.8% Typical; Tudor City is ranked last of the 180, at 53.5% Best and 51.0% Typical. Revenue at a specific storefront is what the Revenue Capture Score estimates, so check it for each address you are weighing.

Location is one of the few things about a new business you can measure before it opens. Opening a Smoke Shop in New York City requires careful location choice. Across the 180 ranked neighborhoods, the average projected chance that a new Smoke Shop lasts two or more years is 61.3% Typical. Consumer spending patterns differ dramatically across business types and micro-locations.

What Should I Consider When Opening a Smoke Shop in or Around New York City?

When selecting a location for a Smoke Shop in or around New York City, it is crucial to select a location with a very high Survivability Score. Revenue Capture Score is the top factor to weigh before signing a lease, because it measures how much of the local customer spending a business at that address can win. StreetSpring computes this by projecting the business's market share, which is based on the quality and quantity of primary, secondary, and tertiary competitors. Our models draw from one of the most comprehensive commercial real estate datasets ever assembled. Neighborhoods with a mix of similar businesses frequently outperform isolated locations. StreetSpring's proprietary algorithms power these predictions. StreetSpring scores 500+ business types: 153 base business types, most of them at 5 price points, which is 569 type-and-price combinations you can choose in the tool.

This can be summarized as:

Revenue Capture Score = Projected Market Share × Forecasted Spend on Specific Business

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. New competitor openings and closures happen weekly: the live tool ensures you see the latest picture.

Where in or Around New York City Should I Start a Smoke Shop?

Our models highlight the following neighborhoods as top performers: Windsor Terrace, West Side, Jersey City, and Carroll Gardens, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Tudor City, Gramercy, and Gerritsen Beach. StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool. StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool.

Related Articles:

What Are the Best Neighborhoods in New York City to Open a Smoke Shop?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Smoke Shop in New York City is Windsor Terrace, at 89.6% Best and 82.8% Typical, followed by West Side, Jersey City and Carroll Gardens. 22 of the 180 ranked neighborhoods are at or above 70% Typical.

StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool.

Can a Smoke Shop Succeed in Lower-Ranked Neighborhoods in New York City?

Yes, neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation. Even in neighborhoods ranked outside the top 10, individual storefronts with strong foot traffic, low direct competition, and favorable lease terms can outperform the area average. However, individual locations vary widely, and even in lower-scoring neighborhoods there are pockets that perform exceptionally well. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.

How Often Are Smoke Shop Rankings in New York City Updated?

StreetSpring recalculates survivability scores regularly using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Rankings are updated quarterly; the live tool always reflects the most current predictions for any address in New York City.

Is a Smoke Shop a Good Tenant for New York City Landlords?

In Windsor Terrace, the projected chance that a new Smoke Shop lasts two or more years is 82.8% Typical and 89.6% Best, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.

Landlord Survivability Data for Smoke Shop in New York City

Should you rent your storefront to a Smoke Shop? The answer depends heavily on your neighborhood. Windsor Terrace is ranked first, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 89.6% Best, followed by West Side, Jersey City at 88.0% Best, and Carroll Gardens at 86.6% Best. Get a live Survivability Score for your specific storefront in the live tool.

Our models produce survivability scores at the individual address level, not just neighborhood averages.

What Are the Best Neighborhoods in or Around New York City for My Business Overall?

You can see the best neighborhoods in or around New York City to open any type of business in our article Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: New York City.

Business Survivability Rankings: New York City: See how Smoke Shop compares to all other business types in New York City
Best Cities to Open a Smoke Shop in the US: National city-level survivability rankings for Smoke Shop
Business Survivability in Windsor Terrace, New York City: All business types ranked in the #1 neighborhood
Business Survivability in West Side, Jersey City, New York City: All business types ranked in the #2 neighborhood
Business Survivability in Carroll Gardens, New York City: All business types ranked in the #3 neighborhood

Technical note: Aggregated survivability rankings for New York City are available in machine-readable format for research and integration purposes.

View technical data for New York City

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data, so the live score may differ from the figures shown here.

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