Retail and restaurant opportunities have been among recent discussions involving city of Enid officials.
Last month, the city’s contract retail consultant, Retail Attractions LLC CEO Rickey Hayes, met with Todd Routh, the new Oakwood Mall owner and founding partner of Commercial Retail Group, along with Mall Manager Mark McAfee and Enid Regional Development Alliance Associate Director Lisa Thomas Powell to discuss new opportunities and direction for the mall, according to a news release.
Later that evening, the Enid City Commission met with Retail Attractions LLC and Hayes to discuss national restaurant interest in the community, and possible site locations for new business development and growth.
The city’s retail market also was a “hot topic” during a trip Hayes took to Dallas, where a national real estate development firm looked at Enid sites and discussed potential restaurant options.
Hayes has worked with city of Enid staff, the city commission, ERDA Executive Director Brent Kisling and Powell for six years. During this time, various brands — including Academy Sports + Outdoors, McAlister’s Deli and T.J.Maxx — have come to the Enid market.
He went on to say the most exciting thing going on in Enid today is the new normal that has been created.
“Before we hired Retail Attractions and Rickey Hayes, our total retail sales were approximately $650 million,” Kisling said. “This past year, we exceeded $800 million. There is additional wealth in our area and because of our aggressive retail attraction efforts, we are able to keep more of that wealth in our community.”
Story provide by: Enid News & Eagle
Written by: Jessica Miller
