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I would appreciate an Apple Store, H&M, And REI just to name a few. I feel like all would appeal to young professionals. I'm interested to know more about restaurants as well.
I dont understand why people keeping saying Columbia's retail lags behind Charlestons. Other Costco, H&M, and Apple Store, theres a wall of stores and reataurants I could name that Columbia has and Charleston doesnt, or Columbia got first.
Charleston suffers the same problem. Because of the geography, theres many trade areas and theyre spread out. Grenville doesnt have this problem, so I understand that, but Charleston really isnt that far ahead of Columbia, if at all. Theres no where in Charleston thats as stacked as Harbison, and theres no current Killian's like plans.
I dont understand why people keeping saying Columbia's retail lags behind Charlestons. Other Costco, H&M, and Apple Store, theres a wall of stores and reataurants I could name that Columbia has and Charleston doesnt, or Columbia got first.
Charleston suffers the same problem. Because of the geography, theres many trade areas and theyre spread out. Grenville doesnt have this problem, so I understand that, but Charleston really isnt that far ahead of Columbia, if at all. Theres no where in Charleston thats as stacked as Harbison, and theres no current Killian's like plans.
Charleston also got Whole Foods and Trader Joe's first I believe. Columbia has more recently started closing the retail gap, but historically it seems that Charleston has been ahead of it.
I dont understand why people keeping saying Columbia's retail lags behind Charlestons. Other Costco, H&M, and Apple Store, theres a wall of stores and reataurants I could name that Columbia has and Charleston doesnt, or Columbia got first.
Charleston suffers the same problem. Because of the geography, theres many trade areas and theyre spread out. Grenville doesnt have this problem, so I understand that, but Charleston really isnt that far ahead of Columbia, if at all. Theres no where in Charleston thats as stacked as Harbison, and theres no current Killian's like plans.
Agreed, I wasn't trying to compare Columbia to the other cities. I would like to have those stores and patronize them if they located here. There are plenty of retail offerings that Columbia has that were here well before other cities in SC. For example, Greenville is just now opening a Michael Kors store at Heywood. The one at Columbiana has been open for more than a year. Columbia is doing fine all by itself.
Charleston also got Whole Foods and Trader Joe's first I believe. Columbia has more recently started closing the retail gap, but historically it seems that Charleston has been ahead of it.
Well if we're talking healthier grocers: Fresh Market. Columbia has 1, soon 2 Fresh Markets. Greenville has 2. Even Spartanburg, Aiken, and Pawleys Island have one. So does Savannah and Wilmington. None for Chas. Not even Mt P.
Greenville, Chas, and Cola got Traders in 2010, 2011, and 2012 respectively. Not that bad a gap.
I think Cola and Chas are about even. If anyone has a slight edge its Cola. Charleston just has more higher-end stores. There's nothing as stacked as Harbison. And Harbison is about to get even more stacked with Red Robin #2 and a Dave and Busters.
I think Myrtle Beach can be thrown in as well. Their retail abundance is straight up ridiculous. Gives both Columbia and Chas a run for the money.
The only thing Charleston has over Columbia is King Street, which is mostly fueled by tourism, not the local market. Places like Northwoods, Mt P Town Center, are the ones serving the local market, and to your point, does not hold much of a candle to Columbiana.
Youre right though, there are many things Columbia will get before either Chas or GVL. There are also a lot of stores/restaurants that Columbia and Charleston have that Greenville doesn't, or Columbia and Greenville have that Charleston doesn't.
I will say though that because of tourism in Charleston on King St, and Greenville's trade area not being as divided as Columbia's, it does sometime feel like Columbia will miss out on stuff at first, but then Columbia will be the first to have two locations if that is the case.
Overall though, I would say all three markets are fairly equal on that front.
@Waccamatt, I think there will be a lot of wait and see though. Meaning look at this through the perspective of a potential retailer. You are going to want to know that the baseball team is drawing large (relatively speaking, only seats, what is it again re capacity 6000 or 7000?) crowds before you make the decision of whether it would be prudent to open up shop there.
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