Consultant helping ORN attract new retailers

While much of the focus of administrators in Oak Ridge North has been placed on the city's comprehensive plan the last several months, a concurrent economic development plan has been under way which is helping the city attract new retailers.

Susan Cates, Oak Ridge North Economic Development coordinator, said the city signed a $30,000 contract with The Retail Coach, a retail recruiting consulting firm, in April 2012, that was renewed in October for another year through October 2013.

Oak Ridge North sometimes struggles to attract retailers because of its small size and population, Cates said. However, the Retail Coach studied where the city's retail customers reside and developed a "primary retail track area" showing most customers live outside the city's limits west to The Woodlands and east to communities along the Rayford Road corridor.

The consultant also has helped Grocer Supply examine the plans for the redevelopment of the Oak Ridge North Shopping Center, has communicated information to several developers and businesses the city could not have on its own, developed a void analysis on which types of businesses the city is lacking, and helped put together packets on the city for the International Council of Shopping Centers in Dallas in December.

"We were able to visit with retailers and explain why Oak Ridge North is so great for them," Cates said.

In developing a void analysis, Cates said, the Retail Coach found the city is lacking eateries, especially fast food restaurants of which the city only has one, as well as clothing stores, book stores and drug stores. She said the city is working on contracts with at least two businesses, but they could not release names yet.

Cates said the city may continue to work with the Retail Coach until their retail areas are full.

"As long as we have an inventory of property, we would probably continue to work with them," she said.