Growing MSA pulls national retailers to Springfield

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The Springfield area's attractiveness to national retailers can be summed up in three letters MSA.|ret||ret||tab|

Springfield's Metropolitan Statistical Area made up of Greene, Christian and Webster counties consists of 331,379 people, according to the 2001 estimate. Springfield's MSA accounts for more than $5 billion a year in retail sales, according to Greg Williams, vice president for economic development at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.|ret||ret||tab|

MSAs are comprised of counties in a metropolitan setting focused around a central city. The included counties must show strong internal, social and economic ties. The federal government decides which counties are included in each MSA.|ret||ret||tab|

A trio of national retailers have heeded the latest MSA numbers and will open this fall in the Primrose Marketplace.|ret||ret||tab|

Bed Bath & Beyond, Borders Books and Marshalls will occupy the former Builder's Square building, 3308 S. Glenstone Ave. |ret||ret||tab|

"Obviously, companies of this quality want to be part of (Springfield's growing) retail opportunity," Williams said. " Those three (retailers) are companies that we have had a great deal of interest in over the past several years in adding to our retail base."|ret||ret||tab|

The population within a five-mile radius of Primrose Marketplace is almost 120,000, according to a Web site by Kimco Realty Corporation, the Primrose Marketplace's owner.|ret||ret||tab|

Demographics of the area played a hand in Marshalls' decision to enter the Springfield market, said company spokesperson Colleen Healy.|ret||ret||tab|

"We look for a growing area a lot of people living and working in an area," she said.|ret||ret||tab|

Williams said that Springfield's MSA figure helps to attract the large na-tional retailers. |ret||ret||tab|

"When we became a three-county MSA and saw our population as a metro go above 250,000 people, that's when you started to see the big box, national retailers really hone in on Springfield," Williams said. "That particular corridor (Glenstone Avenue and James River Expressway) is a good example."|ret||ret||tab|

The next magic number is 500,000, and chamber officials predict Springfield's MSA should reach that size by 2015. Lawrence and Polk counties, with their increasing ties to Springfield, are on the verge of being added to the Springfield MSA, according to Ryan Mooney, economic development program coordinator for the chamber. |ret||ret||tab|

"These won't be the last three attractive retailers to select Springfield," Williams said.|ret||ret||tab|

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Battling for the dollar|ret||ret||tab|

Competition looms for the new retailers, even within Primrose Marketplace. Bed Bath & Beyond, a national housewares and accessories chain, carries merchandise similar to that of JC Penney Home Store, which is located just a few doors down. Another market competitor nearby is Pier 1 Imports.|ret||ret||tab|

"I believe that competition is fantastic," Williams said. "I believe competition makes everyone much better businesspeople. It also creates what retailers love, and that's called traffic. In the big scheme of things, it's a real positive that that competition exists."|ret||ret||tab|

Borders will contend with the freestanding Barnes & Noble, located just a quarter-mile north on Glenstone Avenue, for similar customers.|ret||ret||tab|

Borders spokesperson Emily Swann said such proximity is not a concern and is common. "We coexist with them all over the place."|ret||ret||tab|

While Marshalls is new to Springfield, a sister company, TJ Maxx, is already located at the shopping center. |ret||ret||tab|

Their parent company is TJX Companies Inc., which has headquarters in Framington, Mass. |ret||ret||tab|

Healy said it is common for the two stores to set up shop near each other. They both offer name brand clothing at discounted prices and target the same type of shopper.|ret||ret||tab|

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New retailers|ret||ret||tab|

The former Builders Square building will be divided almost evenly between the three tenants, and each will have separate exterior entrances, according to project manager John Stockdale of Dooley & Mack Constructors Inc. An additional 20,000 square feet was added to the building's north end to create nearly 85,000 square feet of retail space.|ret||ret||tab|

Marshalls will be flanked by Borders Books on the north and Bed Bath & Beyond on the south.|ret||ret||tab|

Borders Books Music Caf will occupy 25,466 square feet and will have two entrances: one for the caf and another for the bookstore, according to Swann. |ret||ret||tab|

Swann said the bookstore, which plans to open in early November and will have 35 to 40 employees, will carry more than 200,000 titles in books, music, movies and periodicals. |ret||ret||tab|

The cafe will serve light lunch items and beverages like coffees, teas and juices.|ret||ret||tab|

It will be the seventh Borders in Missouri; five are located in the St. Louis area. Expansion areas are based on demographics, traffic patterns and visibility, Swann said. |ret||ret||tab|

The largest space, 31,135 square feet, will be used by Bed Bath & Beyond. The company does not have an estimated number of employees or an opening date.|ret||ret||tab|

Marshalls will occupy 29,400 square feet and will employ 65 to 80 people. It is scheduled to open Oct. 24.|ret||ret||tab|

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