What happened to downtown Nyack? It depends on who you ask.
A local photographer and artist is chronicling what he believes is a shift in social habits that’s transformed the village’s nightlife through a series of social media posts. The mayor says Nyack is adapting, not declining.
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Not long ago, downtown Nyack was known for packed bars, crowded sidewalks and late nights that stretched into the early morning hours.
Today, many say the village feels different—especially after dark.
A local photographer's series of social media posts has sparked a conversation about why.
Rockland County photographer and artist Josh Alvarez is chronicling what he believes is a shift in how people socialize, through photos and videos that show quiet streets and vacant storefronts.
“To me, I noticed a huge difference,” Alvarez told News 12. “When I was in my 20s in the early 2000s, this was the place to be. Instead of going to New York City, everyone would come to Nyack.”
He remembers packed sidewalks, late-night pizza shops and bars that were busy nearly every night of the week.
“It was so packed you were bumping into everybody,” he said.
Alvarez says his goal isn’t to criticize the village.
“I just wanted to start a conversation about a place so many of us love,” he said.
Nyack Mayor Joe Rand says he agrees that nightlife has changed in the last few years—but believes it’s a reflection of broader changes in society, not a sign of a village in decline.
“Nyack has changed as society has changed,” Rand said.
He says people in their 20s and 30s are socializing differently than they once did, pointing to streaming entertainment, food delivery, online interaction and changing nightlife habits.
“It’s not as lively at night after 10 p.m.,” Rand said. “A lot of bars became restaurants. They’re busier in the afternoon and the early evening, but it’s not the same nightlife that we used to have, and that’s a reflection of how society has evolved.”
The conversation extends well beyond Nyack. Researchers say many downtowns across North America continue to adapt to lasting changes in how people work, shop and socialize following the pandemic. At the same time, studies have found younger generations are drinking less and seeking different kinds of social experiences than previous generations, prompting many downtowns and nightlife districts to evolve.
Rand said Nyack’s large downtown makes those changes more noticeable.
“It’s literally a mile of retail space from one end of Nyack to another,” he said. “That’s basically a big outdoor mall. ”
To illustrate how nightlife has evolved, Rand compiled a list of former Nyack bars dating back roughly 15 years. According to his review, none of those locations remain bars today. Most have since reopened as restaurants, he says, while several others are awaiting redevelopment.
Rand said that's part of what he calls Nyack's "constant state of rebirth.”
He said more than 25 businesses have opened since he became mayor in 2024, even as others have closed. He also pointed to roughly $7.5 million in grants, expanded events and continued investments aimed at attracting visitors and supporting local businesses.
“Businesses close and new businesses come in,” he said.
Alvarez agrees Nyack remains a beautiful village. For him, the conversation isn’t about tearing it down.
“It’s just different,” he said, pointing to social media, food delivery, the pandemic and rising costs as reasons he believes people spend their free time differently than they did years ago.
