Grand River Growth Plan -All Gibbs for City Jan 2 2026 - Flipbook - Page 42
Worker Retail Market Demand
Retail Category
Weekly Worker
Retail Spending
Annual Worker
Spending (30
weeks Ave.)
Restaurants
$30 / week
$900 yr.
15,000
$12 M
5,000 sf
Retail Goods
$40 / week
$1,100 yr.
15,000
$16 M
4,000 sf
Groceries
$50 / week
$1,500 yr.
15,000
$22 M
10,000 sf
Totals
$120 / week
$3,500 yr.
16,000
$50 M
20,000 sf
Workers 5- Min. Drive to Grand River
Supportable Store
Total Workers
Total yr Spending
Size
Figure 8: 15,000 workers are located within a 5-minute drive of East Grand River Avenue.
Retail Market Demand
This study concludes the Grand River Avenue corridor will support up to 90,000 sf of new retail and
restaurant stores totaling 20 new or expanded businesses by 2028. Much of the new retail demand
may not be realized given the Avenue’s current constraints. A small free-standing bookstore, bakery
or café would require extraordinary goods and services to compete with larger brand stores located
in nearby shopping centers.
However, the smaller supportable stores, books, shoes, and toys merchandise could be absorbed by
expanded departments within larger stores.
A walkable, mixed-use village could induce untapped market demand and broaden the Grand River’s
need for new shops and restaurants. Cafes, specialty shops, housing, and offices located within a
village will expand Grand River Avenue’s retail area and demand. A commercial village could range
from a 1-acre cluster of 5 shops to a 10-acre center with 25 or more businesses. The West River
shopping center’s 6-acre parking, the Corwell Health medical center’s properties and other areas
near Grand River Avenue may be able to accommodate such a mixed-use center.
The projected retail and restaurant 2028 demand and sales:
10,000 sf Apparel: 3 to 6 Children’s, men’s, women’s clothing focused on athletic, casual, business
casual, and medical clothing and accessories. Stores should offer value to moderately priced,
branded merchandise. 2028 Projected new apparel store sales:
$2,500,000 / year
$250 sf/year average store sales
1,500 sf Book Store: A small book or music store offering extended hours, knowledgeable staff,
community activities and current reading and/or music materials. The store should also be known as
one of the area’s leading destinations for a select few categories such as biographies, children’s,
cooking, history, and/or magazines. The store should also host community events.
$500,000 / year
$330 sf/year average store sales
East Grand River Avenue Retail Market Analysis
Gibbs Group - July 2, 2025
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