Vacant retail space on Long Island increasing

Empty retail spaces on Long Island increased slightly in the second quarter, according to a report from commercial real estate researcher CoStar Group.

The vacancy rate on Long Island increased to 4.8 percent last quarter, up from 4.5 percent in the first quarter. Empty retail space increased about 55,479 square foot in the last quarter, according to the report.

CoStar's analysis of Long Island includes Kings County and Queens County, in addition to Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Prominent retail spaces move-ins this year include the new ShopRite on Middle Country Road in Selden and an Ultimate Fitness on Robinson Avenue in East Patchogue, according to CoStar.