A presentation of a retail recruitment strategy given at Wednesday’s Apopka Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board meeting pinpointed a $235 million opportunity gap in the city’s trade area.
Garet Smitherman, portfolio director for Retail Strategies LLC, gave data on demographics, retail gaps, and peer analysis, identifying the need for more grocery stores and full-service restaurants.
The city hired Retail Strategies LLC for $40,000 to provide retail recruitment services for a one-year period, according to Antranette Forbes, city economic development director.
“We’ve identified a gap of $235 million where there is opportunity—those are all dollars being spent outside of your trade area for products and services that could be spent inside,” Smitherman told the CRA Board. “Our main goal, in partnership with the city, is to bring in the businesses and retail offerings you want, create new jobs, and grow Apopka’s local economy by reversing that trend.”
