Retail projects involving widely-known national brands may well give options for shoppers both local and regional, and they may also help sales tax receipts for Emporia and Lyon County. But what about longstanding retailers of the so-called “mom and pop” stores?
On KVOE’s Talk of Emporia last week, City of Emporia Special Projects Coordinator Jim Witt recognized a new trend on so-called “sub-regional” markets involving Emporia and other cities with populations under 30,000. Witt says the overall push should lead to some benefit for local retailers across the board.
Witt says city has to take a “both-and” approach when it comes to locally-based and regional or national retail.
The new trend for regional or national chains involves developers perhaps downsizing the square footage of the stores they put in sub-regional markets and possibly not carrying the company’s full range of items in the smaller stores.
Currently, there are three main retail developments in varying stages of resolution. The Pavilions is into its second construction phase, with Marshall’s, Ross Dress for Less and Shoe Show expected by the end of this year. It’s also actively marketing for a third phase of work, which could include more retail and nationally-known restaurants. Quik Trip, meanwhile, is in the engineering phase for a convenience store just south of 18th and Graphic Arts. The travel plaza near the US Highway 50 roundabout continues to move forward as well. Witt says developers are in the process of finalizing agreements with tenants.
