Maria Yanes says she has been shopping on Port Richmond Avenue for nearly 20 years. She picked up this wood dresser for 75 bucks. Yanes says she cannot afford furniture in department stores.

"It's very good, you have a good stuff. There are good prices. You can afford it." said Yanes.

She often comes to this thrift shop Casia Divine. It opened a few months ago.

"The strip is very busy. We get alot of clients that come in. I love clothes and shoes," said co-owner Veronica Robledo.

You can get designer shoes for $60. Robledo says they retail for $600 and were only worn once by a runway model. Mattresses also start at $30. Dennis Alestra, also a co-owner gets the items from estate sales and auctions and completely restores them. He says prices are cheaper in Port Richmond because of the low rents.

"The rents are less. You are not paying these exhorbinant mall prices. These big open space places. You get a much better deal on your furniture purchase," said Alestra.

Port Richmond is also known for its large immigrant population. Lenny Flores, a Mexican American has worked at Home Furnishings Depot for nearly a decade. She says it's rewarding to offer good quality furniture to people in the neighborhood.

"People work for their money. They work really hard for their money. It's not right.They go and spend $500 on a couch and it breaks within 6 months. Here we offer you warranty, we service it," said Flores.

Just a few miles away from the strip development is already underway for the New York Wheel and Empire Outlet Mall in St. George expected to open in 2017. Many of the business owners we spoke with were happy about the development and hope it will bring more foot traffic to the neighborhood.

"They have not put money into the area in a long time. The fact that they want to put money into the area can only beautify it," said Gregory Davis a sales rep at Home Furnishings Depot.