PORT ANGELES — Frustrated by the number of empty storefronts in Port Angeles, City Hall and a handful of business owners and representatives have grouped to tackle the problem.
The 10-member Retail Sector Study Group met for the first time a week ago. Initiated by the city, the group’s task is to determine hurdles to retail growth and find potential solutions, said City Manager Kent Myers.
Myers and City Council members Brad Collins, Pat Downie and Brooke Nelson are the city representatives.
Other group members are Port Angeles Business Association President Kaj Ahlburg, Realtor Dan Gase, PA Forward committee member and buy local campaign leader Mike Edwards, and business owners Joe Cammack (Jim’s Pharmacy), Katrina Berg (Fiddleheads) and Tracey Hedin (Alley Cat Boutique).
The city manager said the group discussed several issues for the retail economy at its first meeting, including limited business hours, online shopping and acceptance of Canadian currency, but no plans were made.
The next meeting is scheduled for May 20.
Myers said he sees the stagnant, if not declining, retail sector as a problem not just for the economy, but for the city’s budget.
In 2010, the city received $2.77 million in sales tax revenue. That’s a $565,000 decrease over 2007.
“If we don’t get a hold of this situation,” he said, “it could lead to a loss of city services.”
One of the issues facing Port Angeles is that the city hasn’t done enough to market itself to big retailers and retail organizations, Myers said.
Last week, the city joined the International Conference of Shopping Centers and is expected to join other similar organizations, Myers said.
“We’re still an unknown out there,” he said.
Ahlburg agreed that Port Angeles needs to be more proactive in attracting new retailers.
“I think that’s what the retail group talks most about focusing on,” he said.
Ahlburg added that he sees no reason why Port Angeles can’t be as successful as Sequim in attracting new shops.
“It’s a matter of figuring out what drives the decisions of the businesses where to locate and then try to make sure you get to the decision-makers and put Port Angeles on the map with them,” he said.
Information on shopping patterns in Port Angeles and local demographics also will help that effort, Ahlburg said.
Filling the former Gottshalks building is one of the group’s goals, Myers said.
The loss of the major retailer in May 2009 was a major hit to downtown, which has yet to regain the foot traffic the anchor store provided, said Port Angeles Downtown Association Executive Director Barb Frederick.
Frederick said she didn’t know how many vacant storefronts the downtown has but added that it appears to be higher than the past five years.
“I don’t know that there’s going to be a lot more businesses opening until the economy is really a lot more stable,” she said.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
