Picking the Right Spot

Matt Bekebrede faced that challenge head-on earlier this year as the Springfield franchisee for Vino 100. The company, which sells more than 100 wines, 40 types of cigars and gourmet foods, opened April 20 in Republic Plaza, 2145 W. Republic Road.

“I was looking for a location with good neighborhood presence,” Bekebrede said, noting that the majority of his customers live near his store. “For this specific type of business, the southwest and east sides of town were the places that fit the best for my business model.”

Bekebrede worked with Tenant Development, the contractor for all Vino 100 franchises nationwide, to find his 1,500-square-foot space in Republic Plaza.

The right part of town

The first step in finding the best spot for retail is determining what the retailer’s needs are, and what properties would best meet those needs. And, as in many other aspects of real estate, location is everything, according to Ken Schwab of Wilhoit Properties.

“There are some businesses that need to be on a certain side of the street, such as if it’s traffic coming into the city as opposed to going home,” Schwab said. “Coffee shops and doughnut shops, for example, are going to rely on morning traffic more than evening traffic.”

When space in certain parts of town comes at a premium, finding the best location is especially difficult, according to Rob Murray of R.B. Murray Co.

“Specifically, the A-quality retail space around the Battlefield Mall area has very little vacancy,” Murray said, noting that “A” retail space is determined by quality of construction and location compared to other properties in the community.

“The market is very strong within about a mile of the mall,” he said.

Murray said other areas of town, particularly on West Republic Road near South Kansas Expressway, have more space available due to new construction.

He said that he expects the market will absorb that space in the next 24 months.

Varying availability, Schwab said, emphasizes the fact that Springfield is not a small town anymore.

“We’re large enough as a community that even if there’s space available in a certain part of town, it may not matter because that’s not where (the clients) want to be,” Schwab said. “There are (differences in) traffic patterns and demographics so that certain parts of the city make more sense than others.”

Schwab said even in areas such as southwest Springfield, where more space is available, companies want to position themselves in certain areas, such as on Republic Road, where traffic and visibility are increased.

Sense of community

South Springfield – particularly West Republic Road – made sense for Jana Daugherty. She and husband Chris are leasing 2,000 square feet in Quail Creek Shopping Center, 1440 W. Republic Road, for The Cheddar Block, a gourmet cheese shop.

Jana Daugherty said location was a factor that encouraged her to open the business.

“It’s a new center, and it’s in an area of town that’s growing, with lots of great neighborhoods around,” Daugherty said, noting that another draw was Quail Creek’s other tenants, namely the Brown Derby next door to The Cheddar Block.

“We all help each other out; everyone gets along really well and looks out for each other’s best interests,” she said. “It’s great both for business and for support. We’re able to connect with other people who know what we’re going through.”

Schwab, who is also the listing agent for Quail Creek Plaza, said tenant compatibility is crucial for the success of shopping center clients. He noted that potential tenant conflicts, such as similar offerings or direct competition, are among the first issues he examines when presenting available space for client consideration.