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The Omaha-Council Bluffs area's retail market is picking up speed faster than in other parts of the country, experts in the industry said this week.
"Some retailers miss the boat when they don't look at the Midwest and only look at the coasts," said Susan Flesher, director of real estate for Einstein Bros Bagels, based in Lakewood, Colo. "Omaha has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. I think someone has money to spend here."
Flesher realized Omaha's potential for growth during her previous job about two years ago when she brought Panda Express to the area and saw its success. Now she's hoping to do the same for Einstein Bros Bagels.
Flesher attended the International Council of Shopping Centers' Heartland States Idea Exchange and Alliance Program at the CenturyLink Center Omaha this week in hopes of finding potential sites in the area. She was among more than 180 retailers, public officials, developers and brokers sharing ideas and making deals at the two-day conference.
Flesher said her company is hoping to expand to Omaha, Lincoln, Council Bluffs and the Kansas City area.
"I like the Midwest, and if you grew up here, you get it," she said. "Omaha has a great economic development department and they couldn't be more eager and helpful to get businesses off the ground."
Winsley Durand, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce's director of retail and minority economic development, said Omaha is easy to pitch to retailers because of its "predictability, steady growth and a 4.1 percent unemployment rate — one of the lowest in the country."
"Those are all the things retailers look for," he said.
He said Omaha has been able to attract several new-to-the-market businesses, citing recent announcements by Chick-fil-A and Dunkin' Donuts.
Thomas Butt, a senior real estate manager for Dollar Tree, called the Omaha-Council Bluffs area "appealing."
He said Dollar Tree plans for at least six new stores in Nebraska and Iowa over the next few years. He said a big part of the success of his company comes from its success among upper-income shoppers as well as middle- and lower-income. "Everyone likes a great deal," he said.
Gordmans, a discount department store that is headquartered in Omaha, plans to open nine stores this year, at least two of those in the region. In 2013, the company plans to open 10 to 12 stores, ideally between Utah and Michigan.
Other companies in expansion mode that were represented at the conference:
>> Pancheros Mexican Grill plans to open nine stores in the region in 2012 and possibly 10 to 12 in 2013.
>> Verizon Wireless plans to open one new store in the region this year and possibly relocate existing stores in 2013.
>> Pizza Ranch plans to open 15 to 20 stores in the region this year and 20 to 25 more in 2013.
>> Starbucks Coffee is pursuing all opportunities that meet the company's financial objectives and could possibly relocate some existing locations.
Though most of the companies, some of which are franchise-driven, didn't speak to specifics about expansion in Omaha and Council Bluffs, they said they are open to growing in the Midwest.
Midtown Crossing is working with at least five potential tenants, said Molly Skold, the spokeswoman for Midtown Crossing.
More stores are known to be headed to Omaha but aren't at the announcement stage.
"We are buffered in the Midwest," said Ed Kaizer, the leasing manager at Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines. However, he said, regardless of location, the economy still "affects the psychology and mind-set of people, making them less likely to shop and spend money."
But those in the industry are starting to see more confidence among both consumers and business owners.
Randy Wieseler, president of First Management Inc., said commercial properties are getting leased, in some cases for nontraditional uses.
For example, the former Gordmans in Bellevue is now home to Marathon Ventures, the parent company of Herman's Nuts and several other brands. Another former Gordmans building in Lincoln houses an industrial company, and a former Gordmans in Omaha was split for three tenants, he said.
Even Gretna's Nebraska Crossing Factory Stores isn't just for shopping. There's office space, a day care center and a banquet facility.
"Until the economy completely turns around, you have to do what you can to fill the space," Wieseler said. "And that means nontraditional uses."
At NAI NP Dodge, inquiries about available properties picked up at the beginning of the year, said Deb Graeve, a vice president for the real estate company.
"Listings that have had no activity now have a lot of interest," she said. "People are more ready to make decisions and close deals. And it's exciting."
Contact the writer: 402-444-1336, leia.mendoza@owh.com, twitter.com/LeiaMendoza
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