Laserfiche WebLink
Pizza places are on the rise <br />Several familiar chains (Chili's, Outback, Timberlodge) are at the end of their <br />lifecycle <br />What kinds of demographics do restaurants look for when finding a location? <br />• High daytime population <br />• High income <br />• Development opportunities within other restaurant `clusters' <br />• Site selection is becoming more of a science. Site selectors are looking at other data <br />including consumer purchases (clothes, cars, etc.), interests ('I'V shows watched, <br />magazines/books read, etc.) and where vacation time is spent. <br />How important is parking and what ratios are needed? <br />• Critical <br />Needs to be convenient and easy <br />The West End development in St. Louis Park was a "game changer" (ample free <br />parking) <br />What can communities do (that DON'T cost money) to encourage restaurant <br />development? <br />• Streamline the development process <br />• Loosen controls on signage <br />• Positive staff culture; partnership is huge in development <br />• Flexibility with building official, fire marshall, etc. <br />• Flexibility with SAC/WAC fees <br />The roundtable discussion provided insight to the current climate of restaurant <br />development. Elk River is an example of what developers are seeing today: increased pizza <br />places, owner occupied restaurants and fast casual. The Micro Loan Program and creation <br />of the SAC/WAC payment program provide some of the tools developers are looking for <br />when choosing the location for their next development. <br />Last year staff focused on restaurant recruitment at the economic development booth at the <br />MNCAR Expo and promoted our financing programs through our holiday card, social <br />media sites and city website. Staff is continuing to explore new ideas for restaurant <br />recruitment. <br />N:\Depactments\Community Development\Economic Development\EDA to move\Agenda\Year 2012\2-13-12 EDA <br />Agenda\Restauxant Report.docx <br />