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Tooele County retail surge draws national chains and promises hundreds of jobs
Summary
Local officials say Founders Pointe has attracted nearly 1 million visits in two months, sparked national-brand openings and prompted companies — including a manufacturer projecting 150–200 jobs — to pursue Tooele County.
Tooele County is attracting national retailers and manufacturers, local officials told KSL News Radio, a development they say has begun to reverse years of residents spending retail dollars outside the county.
Heather Peterson of KSL News Radio said she spoke with John Perez, Tooele’s economic development director, who described a rapid shift after the recent opening of the Founders Pointe retail center. Perez told Peterson the center, which includes Ross Dress for Less, Hobby Lobby, TJ Maxx, Chili’s and Wingstop, drew almost 1,000,000 visits in its first two months and produced record-setting openings: "Chili's had the company's busiest opening in the nation, and the Ross had the fifth busiest opening," Perez said.
Perez said incomes in Tooele County run about 5% to 10% higher than the state average, which he and Peterson said helps explain why so much local retail and restaurant demand had previously 'leaked' to places such as West Valley City and Salt Lake City. "For far too long, Tooele City has really suffered when it comes to retail leakage," Perez said. "Now people are really hungry for those retail offerings and not only retail offerings, but restaurant offerings as well."
Beyond retail, Peterson reported that a large-scale mining safety equipment manufacturer from South Africa plans to open in the area within months and is expected to bring 150 to 200 jobs. Perez told Peterson that other industrial companies have also opened recently and that the area is seeing employment gains that extend beyond small hires.
City planners have additional openings on the near-term calendar: Perez said a Smith’s Marketplace is scheduled to open next month, with Beans and Brews, Einstein Bagels and Jersey Mike’s nearby. He also said the success of Founders Pointe has prompted inquiries from both quick-service restaurants and larger chains, and he mentioned interest from firms that had previously not considered the county, including the possibility of brands such as Chick‑fil‑A, Costco or Trader Joe’s.
The reported changes reflect officials' efforts to capture local spending and expand job options within Tooele County rather than in the Salt Lake Valley. No formal public action or vote was announced during the segment; the developments cited were described as results of private investment and economic-development efforts.
—Reporting by KSL News Radio; this account is based on comments relayed to KSL by John Perez, Tooele’s economic development director, and on descriptions provided by KSL reporter Heather Peterson.
