Retail Outlet “Incubator” – Reusing a Downtown Department Store

Many downtowns have large underutilized buildings that once housed a department store or other large retailer. These downtowns face difficulty finding retail tenants who need such large spaces. Further, increased competition in the marketplace, including the development of “big-box” retail on the edge of town, have forced communities to look for new uses for underutilized downtown buildings. Metropolitan Shops is a unique, new development in Downtown Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin (pop. 12,925). It provides one example of how a former department store can be transformed into a unique retail center. This case study demonstrates the importance of local entrepreneurial energy in creating a successful project that is economically sound and in character with the community.

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Downtown Hotel Development: A community Partnership Approach

The development of a lodging facility can contribute significantly to the vitality of a downtown area. Unfortunately, many hotel developers overlook downtown and instead seek highway locations on the edge of town. This issue describes an innovative community approach to downtown hotel development.

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Downtown Development: Key Trends & Practices

The purpose of this article is to present some of the key downtown development trends and practices in the United States. These trends are based on Kent Robertson’s extensive research, writings, and consulting activities in the field of downtown development.
~Thumbnail by Jeff Miller of UW Wisconsin

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Capturing Commuter Expenditures

Small communities with large employers often have a significant day-time population made up of commuters. These in-commuters offer the retail and service businesses in a community an additional market opportunity
to generate sales. Research by Steve Deller and Martin Shields suggests that sales can be high in regions with high levels of incommuting. Further, research by Gary Green points to significant dollars spent by commuters in their daily travels to and from work. This issue discribes some of the spending characteristics of commuters to help business leaders better understand the potential of this market segment.

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Downtowns and Chain Businesses – Part 2: Strategies to Attract and Deter Development

The previous edition of “Let’s Talk Business” summarized many of the pros and cons of chain stores locating in downtowns. After weighing these pros and cons, a downtown organization may want to consider either active pursuit of chain stores or have methods for deterring their development. Accordingly, the following discussion presents some strategies for attracting or deterring chain businesses.

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Downtowns and Chain Businesses – Part 1: A review of the Pros and Cons

A recent edition of Main Street News written by staff of the National Main Street Center discusses an ongoing debate over the appropriateness of chains and franchises locating in downtowns and on main streets. The debate is often characterized as local, independent stores versus nationally based businesses (such as Blockbuster, Starbucks, or Walgreens). There are many additional considerations for communities debating the recruitment of chains to their downtown. This article summarizes some of the current trends regarding chains, as well as some advantages and disadvantages of chains in a downtown setting.

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Analyzing County Retail Sales: Calculations of Surplus/Leakage

An analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the existing retail market can enable local leaders and development practitioners to foster a more conducive environment for retail business development. “Trade Area Analysis” tools allow the analyst to estimate surpluses and leakages of retail dollars to/from counties.

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Analyzing County Retail Sales

Understanding economic development trends entails an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the existing retail market. By understanding the performance of the local retail market, local leaders and development practitioners can foster a more conducive environment for retail business development. This also becomes a base for further market analysis that can help current and future business operators make more informed business decisions. To achieve this end, numerous research tools have been developed and refined over the years to help identify retail strengths and weaknesses at the county level. In this article the tools of Trade Area Analysis are applied to the study of taxable retail sales in Wisconsin. These tools allow the analyst to estimate net inflows and outflows of retail dollars to/from counties.

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Competitive Strengths and Weaknesses of National Discounters

The Wisconsin Main Street Program invited Kent Burnes, of Burnes Consulting in California to speak about how small downtown businesses should approach the ever-growing competitive retail environment. This article is based in large part on Mr. Burnes’ presentation and summarizes the competitive strengths and weaknesses of national discounters. This is a necessary first-step in developing strategies for co-existence.

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Parking and Pedestrians

Two important transportation goals of most American downtowns are to provide sufficient parking spaces to meet the demand of motorists and an attractive pedestrian-friendly environment. Yet, when planned for separately, these two goals frequently contradict each other. This article discusses the characteristics, problems, and strategies associated with downtown pedestrians and motorists and advocates an integrated approach wherein the needs of both are balanced.

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