Many of the oversize retailers that draw throngs of shoppers to Soho — and anger residents with their crowds and noise — use loopholes and lax enforcement to get around zoning laws.
Topshop, Hollister, Michael Kors, Urban Outfitters and others are larger than the 10,000-square-foot limit for clothing stores in the area. But critics say the city is allowing them to operate anyway.
The Nike superstore, a 55,000-square-foot emporium at the corner of Broadway and Spring Street, is the latest offender, according to residents who are already fed up with new shop.
The store got around the zoning restriction because it declared itself a “sporting or athletic store” rather than a clothing retailer, and did not have to adhere to the 10,000-square-foot limit.
The mammoth Soho stores are supposed to get a special city Planning Commission permit, which is ultimately approved by the City Council, in order to legally operate, but few do.
“The Buildings Department is not doing its job and they’re reinventing what the law says,” said Tobi Bergman, who until recently was the chairman of Community Board 2 in Soho.
The Buildings Department would not comment to The Post on why specific stores, such as TopShop or Urban Outfitters, were allowed to open, but said it began an audit of potential offenders earlier this year.