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Retail consultant outlines recruitment challenges and prospects for Blue Springs
Summary
Veil Strategies presented to the Blue Springs City Council on Oct. 6, reporting active outreach to national retailers but citing site-size, price and construction-cost barriers. The firm said some prospects want proximity to Interstate and Highway 7, need 1–3+ acres for full-service restaurants, and that deals typically take 18–36 months.
Veil Strategies told the Blue Springs City Council on Oct. 6 that the city is actively being marketed to national retailers but faces headwinds including site size, rent expectations and construction costs.
Cam South, a consultant with Veil Strategies, summarized the firm’s ongoing outreach, saying the company has placed site opportunities with retailers and received feedback that available sites in Blue Springs did not match firms’ size or price requirements. “This user is looking for about an acre, acre and a quarter of space,” South said of one quick-service prospect. He added that some sporting-goods and outdoor retailers seek large “box” footprints and low rent levels.
South described two consistent constraints: landlords holding high lease rates on former-tenant boxes that new entrants cannot afford, and a shortage of second-generation and larger parcels in preferred corridors. He told council members that a national quick-serve restaurant interest required visibility near the interstate and off Highway 7 and that full-service restaurants typically need roughly 3.5 acres and 150–200 parking spaces.
The consultant also discussed the long timeframes involved. “We’re seeing on average 18 to 36 months” from initial contact to opening, South said, citing examples in which deals took multiple years to finalize. He said costs for materials and construction have risen significantly, which makes new construction expensive for retailers and developers.
Council members asked how an entertainment district might affect recruitment. South said entertainment- and mixed-use districts can attract specialty and lifestyle retailers and that such districts are “a plus” for communities seeking more diverse retail and dining options. He recommended assembling properties, exploring smaller prototype footprints for large brands and continuing persistent outreach to brokers and real-estate directors.
No formal action was taken on the presentation; council discussion followed and later focused on directing staff to draft an entertainment-district ordinance.
