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Retail Strategies tells council Pine Bluff has retail sites under review and grocery recruitment remains a priority
Summary
Retail Strategies representatives told the council they are engaging national retail groups and have local projects in the pipeline; they estimated recent retail activity could generate about $40,000–$50,000 a year in sales tax and said grocery recruitment is a long-term goal.
Retail Strategies representatives Jonathan Ross and Adam Shackleford updated the Pine Bluff City Council July 20 on their recruitment work and pipeline activity, saying national retailers and quick-service restaurants are reviewing sites and the city is starting to see momentum.
"I'm Jonathan Ross. I'm portfolio director for the Gulf South Tower territory for Veil Strategies," Ross said, summarizing meetings with the mayor and local staff and estimating the city's recent projects could produce roughly $40,000 to $50,000 a year in sales tax revenue. Adam Shackleford, the retail recruiter, said grocery stores are "on our list" but are more difficult to attract because of the scale and cost of grocery development.
Council members asked about industrial and distribution recruitment, given available warehouse space in Pine Bluff. Shackleford said Retail Strategies focuses on retail but often connects developers who can also pursue industrial deals, noting that off-market properties and coordinated pipelines can help attract larger investors.
The presentation concluded with an offer from the consultants to share lists of retailers they have contacted and a suggestion from council members to invite the chamber and local economic development alliance to report on industrial expansion activity.
What to watch: follow-up reports from Retail Strategies and local partners could indicate whether grocery or larger retail anchors move from prospecting to commitment.
