How-To for La Vergne Retail

The question has been asked a number of times in the comments section of this blog: What can La Vergne do to get more retail? And city P.R. director Angie Mayes has answered it in the comments section. But it deserves it's own post, so here is Angie's reply to how can LaVergne get more retail:

It takes relationships which are built over a number of years through organizations such as the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Smyrna didn't get built in a day. Mayor Bob Spivey was out plugging Smyrna long (years) before the first chain came to town. We in La Vergne have the people 65,000+ in a 5-mile radius (one of the rings the retailers look at) as well as a household income of more than $55,000 (which -- at last count -- was higher than Smyrna's). Our Economic Development Council is working on getting retail to town (and not just chinese or mexican restaurants -- we have a full sitdown restaurant, bar opening next to Kum Sung in Madison Square Blvd in the Spring). The Mayor (Ronnie Erwin) and Vice Mayor and Economic Development Chairman (Jerry Gann) will both be meeting with the retail movers and shakers at the Spring ICSC conference in May. If you have any more questions, please call Mr. Gann at 566-5517. He'll be glad to explain it to you.