Assistant city manager, Kelly Reenders, emphasizes the importance of partnership between public and private sectors in achieving hyper-local retail success ahead of the ICSC Las Vegas Conference.
DANA POINT, CA—As ICSC Las Vegas approaches, the coastal city of Dana Point in Southern California is excited to share its success story. GlobeSt.com recently had the opportunity to chat with Kelly Reenders, assistant city manager of the City of Dana Point, who emphasized the importance of collaboration and partnership between the public and private sector in achieving successful retail development.
Reenders believes that retail success is all about responding to the needs and concerns of the local community. For this reason, retail in Dana Point is extremely hyper-local, with a focus on what works best for the residents of the area.
In the downtown Lantern District, the most successful redevelopment has been the result of collaboration between the community, the private sector, and local business owners. The developer took the time to work with the community and understand what would be successful, and then sought out local business owners who were ready to expand. This approach ensured that the entrepreneurs had firsthand knowledge of what would work in the area.
Reenders sees this as a testament to what retail is all about today: collaboration, communication, and a commitment to meeting the needs of the community.