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Signs popping up point to positive retail news
Signs of economic recovery are popping up everywhere in the Haymarket and Gainesville area – at least in the retail sector. A plethora of “Now Hiring” and “Coming Soon” signs show that local businesses feel positive about the future.
“We are actually starting to see a nice turn,” said Wade Hugh, director of economic development for Prince William County. “The county is excited to see some positive growth in the commercial development market.”
Haymarket and Gainesville business are the engines on that economic train in western Prince William County.
Reading the signs is simple. It doesn’t matter if it is the letter-sized paper taped to the window at 7-Eleven on the corner of Sudley Road and U.S. 15 or the huge window display at the new Dick’s Sporting Goods at the Shops at Stonewall; the “Now Hiring” signs in retail businesses say it all.
“We’re doing very well and very happy to be in the community. We’re still hiring,” said Dick’s Sporting Goods manager Charlie Lyons.
The new Dick’s, which opened in October, already employs more than 50 people.
Just a few doors away, two signs by Regency Centers, property manager at the Shops at Stonewall in Gainesville, announce two new tenants: Stonewall Cleaners and Pet Valu plan to open their doors soon.
In Haymarket, Piedmont Tire and Auto just opened a second location.
“It would be nice if Haymarket allowed us to have signs,” said John Filippone, general manager of both the Gainesville and Haymarket Piedmont Tire and Auto locations. Filippone hired 35 new people when the store opened in December.
“While the economy has been sluggish over the last several years, the Board of County Supervisors has worked very hard to ensure the county is well positioned for the economic rebound,” said Hugh. “The county has worked closely with the development community to streamline our development processes, which will help speed up the process of opening a new business or expanding an existing business.”
Hugh said that in the last six months, the county has experienced a nice increase in the level of new commercial development. Figures provided by the Office of Development Services illustrate the pickup.
In the second half of 2010 (July through December), only six new commercial plans were approved. That number jumped to 34 for the second half of 2011.
The number of commercial building permits is also on the rise. The number spiked at 111 for the second half (July through December) of 2008, but had slid to 53 by the second half of 2010. However, for the second half of 2011, it had rebounded to 85.
“We’re always accepting applications,” said a Bed, Bath and Beyond manager, whose stores sport a sidewalk “Join Our Team” sign for customers and potential job seekers.
The positive news around town mirrors the strong numbers released on Feb. 3 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate dropped a fraction to 8.3 percent in January and jobs were added in retail business sectors, particularly department stores, car dealers, and health and personal care stores.
In the coming months, the Haymarket area should continue to add jobs as a new Walmart and Kohl’s open near Interstate 66 in the Haymarket Village Center.
Prince William Health Systems also plans to build a new 60-bed hospital on the nearby Heathcote Health Center site.
In Gainesville, The Peterson Companies continue to drive construction as the next phase of the Gainesville Gateway Town Center project continues. Part of that project is the new BJ’s Wholesale Club, which opened last weekend at the Promenade at Virginia Gateway Town Center.
According to The Peterson Companies, the Promenade will open in 2013 as a 300,000-square foot retail center anchored by a 14-screen Regal Theater.
When the entire Virginia Gateway Town Center is completed, it will encompass more than one million square feet of hotel, restaurants, retail, and office space.
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