Rendering of a proposed Times Square casino

In 1998, I started selling clothing at the corner of 45th and Broadway in the heart of Times Square. Back then, the neighborhood was chaotic, overwhelming, and a little bit scary. In the 2000s, the area was a target of global violence, as well: On May 1, 2010, a Nissan Pathfinder parked near my stand began emitting smoke. I joined a handful of other vendors in alerting the NYPD, who eventually found and disassembled an explosive device made up of two full 5-gallon cans of gasoline, three full 20-gallon propane tanks, and more than 250 pounds of fertilizer. Times Square – and all of New York – dodged a bullet that day. 

Fast forward 13 years, and Times Square has undergone a remarkable transformation.

As I walk to my stand today, I can't help but marvel at how different the area looks and feels from when I first arrived. The quality of ground-level retail has also gone up dramatically. The iconic peep shows, once synonymous with Times Square, have given way to clothing stores, souvenir shops, and restaurants. A once-seedy portion of the city has become a family-friendly magnet for visitors. 

Still, I can't help but feel that there is more work to be done. While the city's efforts to improve safety and security in Times Square have been commendable, there is still a sense of economic unease that lingers in the air. The two engines of Times Square’s economy have always been tourists and office workers, both of which were hampered significantly by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, many of the tourists have returned, but the switch to hybrid work has left a real dent in the neighborhood.  

In the midst of this uncertainty, I’m struck by the need for further development. The prospect of a once-in-a-lifetime entertainment destination opening in the area – Caesars Palace Times Square – is generating buzz, and for good reason.

Caesars’ proposal for a new gaming venue at 1515 Broadway, in partnership with real estate developer SL Green and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, would bring a brand-new flagship to what is already New York’s best entertainment destination. This project would generate an influx of visitors, providing a much-needed boost to theaters, hotels, restaurants, and retailers in the area.

Caesars Entertainment, SL Green, and Roc Nation are also promising a multi-million-dollar investment in Times Square, including congestion mitigation efforts, improved safety, and better sanitation. 

The impact of this partnership would extend far beyond the casino itself, benefitting the entire community and funding a wide range of neighborhood initiatives and improvements to make Times Square the safest, cleanest, and most pedestrian-friendly entertainment district in the world. 

I have seen Times Square at its best and at its worst. A new, state-of-the-art entertainment destination like Caesars Palace Times Square is exactly the kind of innovative development that can keep the neighborhood on the right track. Times Square thrives on change, and this is the change that we need. 

***
Duane Jackson is a vendor in Times Square.