South Weber looks to fill the gap

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SOUTH WEBER-- This city has an "opportunity gap" that could one day be filled with restaurants, a hotel, grocery stores, pharmacy or drug store and boutique-type clothing and apparel businesses, according to a retail study done by Strategy 5, a firm hired by the city to study economic development.

Strategy 5 representatives Taylor Yewell and Ernie Bleinberger recently discussed findings of the South Weber Economic Development strategy with the city council and public. While suggesting types of businesses, they have yet to list specific retailers that will be coming, but as Bleinberger said, "We are sowing seeds of interest."

He said a business and retail master plan needs to be in place before businesses are contacted.

"We want to wait until the time is right," Bleinberger said.

It was surprising to learn there is room for more than one grocery store, he said.

"There is a ton of demand for restaurants," Yewell said.

So far Strategy 5 has completed several analyses, including studying demographics, tourism, outdoor retailing and hotels. Yewell said they looked at the supply and demand and found opportunity gaps in different sectors. They used ZIP codes to come up with the data within a 10-mile radius of City Hall.

Dollar amounts per year spent by local consumers were given for those businesses they said are in the opportunity gap: supermarkets and groceries, $91 million; pharmacies and drug stores, $53 million; clothing and clothing accessories, $77 million; electronics and appliance stores, $9 million; office supplies, stationery and gift stores, $4 million; and full-service restaurants, $28 million.

Both existing retail stores and planned retail stores were taken into account in several new neighborhood and community centers in other cities, including Roy, Layton and Clearfield.

"Most likely the interest would be in a town center development," Yewell said.

In all there is an opportunity for 400,000 square feet of retail space within South Weber, but Bleinberger said there is also a need for office space. At least one neighborhood center of between 30,000 and 150,000 square feet and possibly a community center of 100,000 to 350,000 square feet could be located within the city.

"We are moving into the implementation phase," Bleinberger said. After studying the competition, South Weber is in a good place, Yewell said.

The final draft report will be presented to the council in February and a final report will be delivered in March, Bleinberger said.

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