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Internet Marketing and Web Design News - Florida & Beyond

Friday, January 02, 2004 9:37 AM

Florida business Growth for 2004

According to the news-press.com, this year should be HUGE for southwest florida. And why not? The baby-boomer generation will be coming soon, and where are they going? Not the overly-priced california...but southwest florida. Recently, RSW (regional southwest airport) was overrun by tourists. With the new euro going strong, more international tourists are coming in. So, here's what's coming into our local businesses for 2004:

Dueling malls

South Lee County will see some new names in retailing as the duel continues between rival regional-mall builders over which gets the most valuable tenants.

But whose site gets the most valuable tenants — upscale department stores such as Lord & Taylor, Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom — remains to be seen.

So far, the 1.6-million-square-foot Gulf Coast Town Center, planned by the Cleveland-based Richard E. Jacobs Group for Alico Road and Interstate 75, has signed outdoors retailer Bass Pro Shops, Belk department store and Regency Entertainment Group, which will build a 16-screen cinema.

Simon Property Group’s 1.3-million-square-foot Coconut Point Town Center on U.S. 41 south of Corkscrew Road has signed Muvico, which plans a cinema of up to 20 screens, and Dillard’s department store.

Each is scheduled to open in 2005.

They’ll both succeed although they’ll be built over several years instead of all at once, predicted commercial real estate agent Frank D’Alessandro of RE/MAX Realty Group, who also writes a column on real estate for The News-Press.

That’s contrary to the conventional wisdom even a few months ago when most experts thought one or the other would back down, he said. “What fooled everyone, including me, is that they’re building them in phases.”

Simon has better demographics around its site but that will change as growth heads east, he said. “In 10 years the demographics will be just as good at I-75 as what surrounds the 41 location.”

Retail expansion

Existing retail stores will continue to face growing competition from Wal-Mart, which plans to add two neighborhood markets and three supercenters in Lee County.

That competition will be heightened as Target reacts to Wal-Mart’s advances by expanding its south Fort Myers store into a Super Target with groceries next year, and laying plans for a new Super Target at an undisclosed location between Fort Myers and Bonita Springs.

As Lee County’s population grows, the area shows up on the radar screens of more and more retail and restaurant chains. That means the area will continue to draw new retailers just as it did last year when David’s Bridal and CargoKids debuted, along with several national restaurant chains including Cantina Laredo.

Also, expect Cracker Barrel Old Country Store to open in early 2004 at Interstate 75 and Daniels Parkway, Fort Myers.

Next year will also see Fresh Market, a Greensboro, N.C.-based gourmet grocery chain, open in Fort Myers in the Bell Tower Shops.

For internet marketing, FindWhat's business grew exponentially this year. They plan on acquiring Espotting.com and Miva.com. This will undoubtely gain in their areas that Froogle.com (Google's big boy online shopping arena) is dominating: online shopping. With online shopping at it's strongest this christmas season, 2004 should bode as the year of the online stores.

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