Retailers: More success in store for 2000

By BETH GLENN

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 16, 2000

Pasco's retailers are still riding the high from the holidays and coming off a strong year of increased sales.

Ron Sikora, manager at Gulf View Square, the county's only mall and a retailing bellwether, said merchants there are still reaping the benefits of a robust holiday season and renovations unveiled to shoppers last spring. "We finished our renovation and had the re-grand opening in April. We started seeing increases in sales over the summer months starting in July, and we've seen increases in every month since," Sikora said.

Pasco merchants sold about $2.4-billion in taxable goods last year, according to the latest figures from the state Department of Revenue -- and that's excluding numbers from December which includes the lucrative Christmas season. That's up from $2.3-billion in sales for the same period in 1998. Sales of goods such as food, clothing, drugstore and convenience store products, books, pet supplies and utilities made up nearly a third of last year's taxable purchases. Sales of cars, car parts and accessories brought in 23 percent of the overall taxable figure, followed by tourism-related expenses and construction.

So Sikora's report of mall success seems indicative of the county's retail economy.

He said mall merchants have enjoyed a "consistent 2 to 6 percent increase each month (since July). We typically project about a 2 percent increase per year. So it's very strong to see 2 to 6 percent per month."

The renovations -- additional lighting, sculptures, new floor tile, tropical-themed entrances and a food court -- drew customers. By year's end the new court was filled when the Chick-fil-A restaurant relocated from its previous mall location and was joined by Bourbon Street Grill and Steak Escape.

The mall unveiled a new Finish Line shoe store and a Victoria's Secret lingerie store last year, along with a temporary Wilson's Leather store for the holidays.

Those shopping options made for an excellent holiday season that Sikora said has yet to diminish.

"It was a very good holiday season for us last year, and we have every reason to believe the momentum from the holiday season will keep carrying over into 2,000," he said.

About 90 of the mall's 100 storefronts are occupied, and he said two nationally known retailers of men's and women's clothing should begin construction by year's end.

"We should see construction activity begin occurring in about three months or so," Sikora said. "Retailers agree that the overall state of the economy has been strong and reflected in the performance of the stock market and our local markets."

Evidence of that is popping up on nearly every corner as Walgreens, Eckerds and 7-Elevens proliferate. Wal-Mart plans to open two of its combined grocery-and-department store supercenters -- one just south of its current Port Richey location and another near the Trinity subdivision. Options for home improvement projects expanded dramatically when Lowe's opened off Little Road last year.

But you don't have to own a megastore to cash in on the retail boom. Joe Alpine, head of the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, which is the county's largest, said about 1 in 5 of his members is a retailer. He said it's a healthy sign that those merchants have time and money to invest in being chamber members.

"My observation, from what I've seen around here, is that the retail climate has been good," Alpine said. "We have plenty of different shops and so forth that remain members of the chamber and continue to renew their membership and be active. If they weren't active in the chamber, it might mean they'd be dedicating a lot more time to their business. But instead they've found value in being known in the community and networking."

Mary Jane Stanley, head of Pasco's Economic Development Council, said she sees more growth for retail as Pasco's population mushrooms.

"Retail follows growth," she said. "With the amount of residential growth we have, you would only expect there to be more new restaurants and shops."

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