Marketing Center Attracts Retail to DC

Written by on March 10, 2005

Since 2000, the Marketing Center, representing Washington, DC at ICSC conferences and trade shows, has met with more than 230 retailers, brokers and developers at these events.

This spring the Washington, DC Marketing Center will participate in two International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) events aimed at increasing the number of retailers in the city.

The Mid-Atlantic ICSC IDEA Exchange will be held March 23-24 at the Washington, DC Convention Center and is expected to bring together retailers, shopping center developers and local and state government officials to discuss topics such as big box developments, strategies for grocery stores to compete against discount and supercenter chains, and ways to locate retail opportunities in the mid-Atlantic region.

Later this spring, ICSC will hold its Spring Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 22-25. This convention will focus on education, networking, and deal making for developers, real estate professionals and local governments from across the country. The event is expected to draw more than 37, 000 participants. Last year, the Washington, DC reception attracted over 400 attendees and the Marketing Center met with more than 50 national retailers, brokers and developers in its booth at the trade show.

The Marketing Center’s coordinated retail attraction efforts have resulted in number of retailers either opening stores in the District or signing letters of intent, including:

  • Home Depot
  • Giant Food Stores
  • Best Buy
  • H&M Retail
  • The Container Store
  • Jos. A. Banks
  • Harris Teeter
  • Costco
  • Target

 

  • Gap
  • Whole Foods
  • Bed, Bath & Beyond
  • Trader Joe’s
  • Starbucks
  • CVS Drugs
  • Storehouse Furniture
  • Cost Plus
  • Fresh Grocer

 

From the time the Marketing Center started its ICSC outreach, sales tax dollars collected in the District has been steadily increasing each year. As an example of this trend, the sales tax income from 2002 to 2003 increased by $102 million.

The Marketing Center’s retail attraction outreach extends to Neighborhood Retail Summits and the Neighborhood Retail Opportunities Book. The Neighborhood Retail Summit is scheduled for April 2005 and will provide retailers and restaurant owners with a high level briefing and tours of three neighborhood clusters to promote retail opportunities in DC’s neighborhoods. The annual Neighborhood Retail Opportunities Book has been redesigned to give an overview of the vast retail opportunities available in the District.

To learn more about the Washington, DC Marketing Center’s retail attraction efforts, please visit the retail opportunities web page.

Posted Under: DC News