Downtown Raleigh Retail Not Keeping Pace With Residents

Raleigh, N.C. — About 3,000 people live in downtown Raleigh, and that number is expected to rise. By 2030, the population is projected to be close to 25,000. More rooftops means a need for more retail.

People have flocked to downtown Raleigh to live, but so far, businesses haven’t kept pace.

Experts said they believe downtown residents have a combined $32 million to spend and not enough choices downtown to spend it on.

Business owner Nancy Baker said she’s a “big advocate of people coming to downtown.” The success of her downtown art gallery depends on it, and her shop is the type of thing the city is hoping to see more of.

“I think it will change. It has to change. People are moving downtown here [and] they will demand places like this, hopefully,” Baker said.

With a growing residential population in the area, Economic Specialist Paul Reimel with the Downtown Raleigh Alliance is focused on recruiting a diverse mix of retailers, not just bars and restaurants.

A recent study indicated there is a clear need for more shops downtown. Reimel says a diverse mix of new stores can cash in on nearly $32 million of unmet consumer demand.

The city is hoping shoppers will break their habits and head to the downtown area instead of a mall.

The Downtown Raleigh Alliance and Chamber of Commerce also plan to take a trip to Charlotte at the end of January. The goal is to see how that city has attempted to incorporate retail into its downtown area.

26 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 26 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments

Guess what built that city (Houston)? It was, gasp, those evil oil companies.

Yep, they are famous for supporting liberal causes. It makes no sense to think downtown revitalization is a "liberal" cause. Having a vibrant downtown can be a boon to the economy. Unfortunately, Raleigh doesn't seem to have a coherent plan to do this. The problem seems to have less to do with liberals or the free market and more to do with poor city planning.

happymom
January 5, 2008 8:05 p.m.

If I was a business owner, I would have to consider how I could affort to run my business and if I could pay my employees enough that they could afford the parking. The truth is people don't want to work downtown and pay a good chunk of change just to park! Parking needs to be addressed before the city sees any business growth there!

something2say
January 5, 2008 7:58 p.m.

really enjoyed going downtown in the famously "liberal" city of Houston. Since it was in the very liberal state of Texas, I guess the investment in the downtowns of Texas cities was to be expected.

Guess what built that city? It was, gasp, those evil oil companies.

colliedave
January 5, 2008 7:54 p.m.

I really enjoyed going downtown in the famously "liberal" city of Houston. Since it was in the very liberal state of Texas, I guess the investment in the downtowns of Texas cities was to be expected.

Too bad Raleigh's downtown isn't as interesting for me or my family.

P.S. Dr.J: your comment about this being a liberal issue doesn't hold water and is one of the silliest I've read today.

happymom
January 5, 2008 6:59 p.m.

PS the $5 dollar parking fee is not worth dying for.