Retail Roundup

Monday's announcement of two more Walmart stores for the city follows a number of big and small retail additions coming to Sioux Falls.  There's a reason why retailers are eyeing the city and the prediction for future growth in the coming year. 

While Walmart's announcement of two new Supercenters going in at once may be big, it's no surprise it's happening now. 

"Retailers are very sophisticated.  Their demographic research is such that they know a lot about a community," commercial real estate agent Michael Bender said.

Bender's Commercial Real Estate firm puts out a yearly market analysis for the city, which predicted this national interest.  The four counties making up the metro Sioux Falls area that retailers look at now tops 230,000 in population. 

"What retailers look for is a critical mass and I think our community has hit a stage where we're now at a level a number of new retailers are considering Sioux Falls, but more importantly, current retailers are considering expanding." Bender said.

Here's a look at the retail explosion:

In addition to Scheels doubling in size, a Dick's Sporting Goods is going in as an anchor store at the Empire Mall.  Costco will break ground this spring at 41st Street and Grange Avenue.  A new Fareway Foods is getting ready to open on 41st Street.  And it seems there are always new restaurants in town.  The latest to announce is Five Guys Burger and Fries going into a former used car lot at 10th Street and Minnesota Avenue; plus a second Panera Bread is planned for Arrowhead Parkway in front of the east side Walmart. 

Bender says look for more activity on the city's East side and several more restaurants on the way. 

"Don't be surprised over the next 12 to 18 months to see additional expansion from retailers we haven't dealt with in this area at all," Bender said.

And the number one question: When is the city going to get a Whole Foods, Cheesecake Factory or P.F. Chang's?  The answer is the city doesn't have the demographic requirements to attract those retailers yet.  But that could change in the future.