Consultant presents mobile-data trade-area analysis and retail recruitment push for Anniston

An unidentified retail consultant, who described themself as a 'Retail Coach,' presented a market analysis to Anniston staff focused on trade-area mapping for a local Walmart and active recruitment of retail, restaurant and hotel users.

The consultant said the team uses opt‑in mobile-device data to trace where customers travel from to visit the store and to define primary and secondary trade areas used in pitches to retailers and brokers. They described a primary trade area of frequent shoppers and a larger secondary area for less frequent visitors; the transcript includes a secondary-area figure of about 108,000 but the presenter’s primary‑area number is unclear in the recording.

The presentation stressed that decision-makers look for concise retail profiles — population, education attainment, household income, age and race distribution — rather than voluminous raw datasets. The consultant said the team compiles a 'retail network profile' that highlights those metrics to make site pitches more accessible to site selectors and franchise decision-makers.

Restaurants and hospitality were a major focus. The consultant said second‑generation restaurant space and drive‑through capability have become more important since the pandemic, and that rising construction costs and interest rates are constraining some larger strip retail projects. They described ongoing work to recruit national sit‑down concepts, regional chains expanding across the South, and multiple hotel concepts that the team is pitching to fill gaps in the local hospitality market.

On redevelopment, the presenter said the team is working with property owners — naming one owner, 'Mr. Adele' — to repurpose vacant or underused parcels (the former 'Long Gone Silver's' site was cited) and target suitable restaurant tenants. They also described representing Anniston at industry events such as ICSC shows to generate leads and said several prospects have progressed since May, though public announcements are withheld until deals are certain.

The consultant repeatedly emphasized coordination with city staff and brokers, praising rapid communication with staff members (naming Toby) and saying the outreach is a team effort. "We're getting very close on covering a lot of prospects," the consultant said. They closed by expressing confidence that retail and restaurant expansion will continue despite higher deal costs, and said announcements are likely later in the year.

Next steps: the presentation did not record a formal decision or vote. The consultant said staff and brokers will continue outreach and that the city will be notified when prospects are finalized.