Downtown Akron Partnership Akron, Ohio
Downtown Akron Retail Market Analysis Retail Market Analysis for Downtown Akron Prepared for: Downtown Akron Partnership Akron, Ohio Prepared by: Boulevard Strategies Columbus, Ohio Final Report February 11, 2014 Downtown Akron Retail Market Analysis / CONFIDENTIAL © Boulevard Strategies, All Rights Reserved, 2014. 03.12.2014 1 Downtown Akron Retail Market Analysis Table of Contents Page 1. Executive Summary 3 2. Project Background & Objectives 9 3. Retail Market Analysis 16 4. Market Potential For Complimentary Uses 43 5. Downtown Retail Mix & Performance 50 6. Stakeholder Perspectives 66 7. Recommendations & Conclusions 72 8. Appendix 83 Downtown Akron Retail Market Analysis / CONFIDENTIAL © Boulevard Strategies, All Rights Reserved, 2014. 03.12.2014 2 Downtown Akron Retail Market Analysis 1. Executive Summary Downtown Akron Retail Market Analysis / CONFIDENTIAL © Boulevard Strategies, All Rights Reserved, 2014. 03.12.2014 3 Downtown Akron Retail Market Analysis 1. Executive Summary Downtown retail in Akron, like in many other Midwest cities, faces challenging trends. Since the 1980’s, big box superstores have sprawled across the northeast Ohio suburban landscape while total population barely grew. The latest threat is e-commerce, chalking up annual 15% increases year after year. Given this harsh competitive climate, it is not surprising that the number of independent retailers has declined by 14% over the past 10 years in Ohio. On the other hand, there are 5% more independent restaurant operators in Ohio today than 10 years ago. Downtown Akron’s retail mix, almost all independents, reflects this trend with 50 foodservice operators vs. 28 non-food merchants. Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP) and a Special Improvement District were formed in the 1990s by property owners to pool business recruitment, marketing, and other efforts, such as the Downtown Ambassadors Program, launched in 2009 to promote a safe and clean downtown.
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