Urban researchers have examined the relationship between upscale amenities and gentrification for some time. A recent study, "Mapping elite tastes along New York City’s gourmet gentrification frontier, 1990–2015," explores this phenomenon using data from Zagat Survey guidebooks. These guidebooks, which predate platforms like Yelp and Google Maps, provide insights into changing consumer preferences in New York City from 1990 to 2015.
The research highlights how upscale consumption amenities are linked to rising rents and demographic shifts. The study employs quantitative and spatial analysis to track "gourmet gentrification" across the city. Notably, northern Brooklyn neighborhoods experienced significant increases in restaurant listings during this period.
The study also compares meal prices from Zagat listings with household income data from the Census at the Neighbourhood Tabulation Area (NTA) level. This comparison illustrates how affordability of these restaurants has evolved over time for local residents.
In conclusion, the research suggests that gourmet restaurants serve as a leading indicator of demographic change in New York City. Initially unaffordable to area residents, these establishments become more accessible as the neighborhood's wealth increases and gentrification spreads.
