The city of Columbus has seen a flurry of retail activity, and the Columbus-Lowndes Development Link says there is more to come.
There have been several inquiries, and letters of intent signed, but the Link is keeping the projects hush until the companies either give the Link the green light to publicize them or release the openings themselves.
The most recent formal announcement came from Hibbetts Sports, which is opening a location in the Gateway Shopping Center in East Columbus the first week of September. The store already has a location in the Leigh Mall.
Also in East Columbus, 4 U Beauty, a hair and beauty supply store, opened in the former Video USA location. A similar store, Beauty Mark, is opening in the K-Mart shopping center on Highway 45 North.
In the way of big-box retailers, TJ Maxx opened earlier this month off Highway 45 North in the Magnolia Place shopping center. The store has stayed busy since. In the same shopping center, PetSmart is scheduled to open in October, and Old Navy has been undergoing a major remodel.
Logan”s Steakhouse opened earlier this month on 18th Avenue North, and Chick-fil-A is scheduled to open nearby in January 2012, on the land now occupied by the former Caney Fork building. Chick-fil-A contractors will tear the Caney Fork building down and build new. Bojangles Famous Chicken and Biscuits is scheduled to open in November, pending lease negotiations. Umi Japanese Steakhouse will open in the Windchase Center between Ashley Furniture and It”s Fashion in January or February of 2012.
“I attribute this, in part, to the large number of retailers that were looking at the area before the economic downturn simply revisiting the area,” Brenda Lathan, vice president for economic development, said of the retail activity. “Many of the retailers and restaurants that you will see enter the market in the near future are ones that I had developed a relationship with when our funding allowed me to actively recruit retail.
“Also, our community is one of only a few in Mississippi that has exhibited a consistent economic growth pattern, even during the downturn.”
Highway 45 North likely will continue to attract the heavy hitters in restaurants and retail.
“Retailers want to locate where the largest traffic counts are, and that is the intersection of (highways) 45 and 82,” Lathan said.
They also consider income levels and the “number of housetops,” she added, noting those numbers are higher in the area of highways 45 and 82.
“Additionally, most national retailers want to be close to certain national retailers, and many want to be near their competition, again on (Highway) 45.”
Columbus City Councilman Kabir Karriem, who has been a vocal advocate for aggressively recruiting retail, commended the Link for their efforts.
“You can”t do anything but commend Joe Higgins and Brenda Lathan and everyone at the Link for bringing in these businesses. It”s tough. The economy is tough, and bringing people into the (local) economy is a tough task,” Karriem said, noting Columbus is blessed to be getting new businesses during tough economic times.
“With the economic downturn, it is a blessing that we have these businesses coming into the city,” he said.
Karriem also encouraged Columbus residents to shop locally, supporting the new and current businesses.
As for hopes Columbus will ever have the retail options of larger shopping-destination cities, it”s unlikely.
“The types of retailers in a community are directly tied to the demographics of the community and its retail market area,” Lathan said. “I don”t believe we will ever see many national, high-end retailers, because our market area does not support their desire for, in some instances, 50,000 people within a 5-mile radius of the store”s location and/or a median income of $75,000 (per) year.”
But, Lathan said, Columbus residents shouldn”t take the city”s smaller shops and boutiques for granted. What Columbus does have is “many local boutiques that carry quality one-of-a-kind items at reasonable prices.”
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