“Not all convenience stores are equal”. An analysis of the criminogenic role of corner Stores in Newark, NJ

This study investigates the spatial relationship between corner stores and crime in Newark, New Jersey, to assess whether these venues play a distinct criminogenic role compared to other businesses. Although previous literature has often treated convenience stores as a homogeneous risk category, we hypothesize that corner stores exert a unique influence on crime patterns. Using crime data for 2022, this paper aims to investigate how the distribution of gun violence, robberies, and aggravated assaults is spatially connected to proximity to corner stores in comparison with other similar venues, like convenience stores, pharmacies, retail stores, restaurants, or gas stations, and how these associations are influenced by neighborhood characteristics and temporal variables. Our findings reveal that crime is significantly concentrated around corner stores, and that this association is stronger for gun violence and aggravated assaults than for robberies. Interaction effects suggest that neighborhood characteristics shape the degree and nature of crime around these stores. Further, crime persists around corner stores during both day and night, implying mechanisms beyond mere business hours. The study underscores the need to disaggregate place-based risk assessments and to differentiate interventions considering both micro-place features and broader contexts. These insights have implications for crime prevention, urban planning, and community safety policies.