SPAR, SAMBA and other entities in the community have been courting retailers for at least 2 years.
SPAR sent representatives to the Intl Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) meeting in Ponte Vedra the first week of April, and will be attending the national ICSC in Las Vegas in May and the Florida ICSC in Orlando in August.
Springfield is not sitting around waiting for the phone to ring.
Is there a strategy in place to attract complementing businesses in certain locations or around existing businesses to create some sort of retail /dining /arts or entertainment district?
Stop by 3 Layers on 6th & Walnut to hear their story of being swamped by pent up demand.
Three Layers has certainly gotten off to a good start, as well as Jim Brown's BBQ. Now imagine if within visual walking distance of Three Layers there was a book store, record store, pizza shop, neighborhood sports bar, etc. all located within the same building or the same block? Imagine, if through SAMBA and SPAR, businesses are led to improve their signage, facades and incorporate embracing the street with pedestrian friendly elements. Imagine the impact of if we are able to work with local landlords of vacant commercial spaces and get just one block of Main, Walnut, 8th or any other street filled with a diverse collection of businesses, what that would do for Springfield's commercial image. Is there a plan in place for something like this?
I would not spend resources going after national retailers. They are not pioneers, they are followers. They have the money to buy in AFTER the 'discovery' has been made. They are not risk takers, particularly in urban areas. They let the mom and pops do the heavy lifting, and then pouch from their success.
I would try to get the businesses already in Jax that have found success elsewhere in the metro area, and try to convince them to relocate or branch off into Springfield. Second, I would look to rstate/regional retailers that are in FL, but not Jacksonville. Third, I would look for the start ups with the best business plans.
Going these routes will also give you something unique that every other neighborhood can't duplicate.
This point is worth a discussion in its self, not just for Springfield, but any urban neighborhood. Should we make national chains a priority over getting the existing buildings filled with local start-ups such as Carl's, Shantytown or Three Layers? What can be done to give Springfield's commercial districts a different atmosphere from other typical districts?
Does anyone know of any urban retail districts in revitalizing neighborhoods across the country that were able to pull in national chains before establishing themselves as an unique locations featuring local retailers, start ups, mom & pops and local culture? We could stand to learn a lot from the success and failures of similar neighborhoods in their efforts to strengthen their retail base.
Personally, I believe at least Main Street has always been a viable retail district. The continued success of the national chain fast food restaurants in the area proves this. However, I believe the key is being able to find entities with a business plan that have the ability to draw and appeal to customers who live outside of the historic district's boundaries. The most successful establishments (regardless of whether they are national or local) operating in the area today all have that ability. Those that rely on the neighborhood for total support seem to struggle a little more.