Success Stories In Retail Recruitment



Hesperia, California Lights The Way For Retail Success
Hesperia, California, is living up to the name given to it more than 150 years ago by early settlers. In Greek, "Hesperia" means "Star of the West," and this growing Southern California city is situated to become a "star" retail and restaurant destination.

Just over one year after Buxton completed its CommunityID^® assessment for Hesperia, several major retailers–including Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Target–have announced plans to locate to the city. These big box retailers will anchor new shopping centers being privately developed. All three of these retailers were identified as prospects by Buxton, as was International House of Pancakes, which is also locating to the city.

These national chains represent just four of the more than 100 retail matches identified by Buxton for the Hesperia Community Redevelopment Agency and the City. "We believe that our success in attracting these retailers validates the results of the CommunityID effort," said Steven Lantsberger, Hesperia's Deputy Economic Development Director.

Hesperia city leaders are delighted that national and regional retailers are finally seeing the potential in Hesperia, which has a growing population of nearly 80,000 people and is conveniently located 35 miles north of San Bernardino, 90 miles northeast of Los Angeles and 195 miles south of Las Vegas. With its strategic location, Hesperia is posturing itself to be a major distribution and logistics hub in the Southern California region.

City leaders realize the importance of drawing the appropriate retailers to the community to improve the quality of life for its residents, increase the tax base and provide employment for hundreds of people. "The citizens of Hesperia have patiently waited for large retailers to recognize the buying power in Hesperia," said City Manager Mike Podegracz. "The City Council and City’s Economic Development staff has worked relentlessly to prove this and recent announcements show that Hesperia’s time has come."

City leaders realize the importance of drawing the appropriate retailers to the community to improve the quality of life for its residents, increase the tax base and provide employment for hundreds of people. "The citizens of Hesperia have patiently waited for large retailers to recognize the buying power in Hesperia," said City Manager Mike Podegracz. "The City Council and City’s Economic Development staff has worked relentlessly to prove this and recent announcements show that Hesperia’s time has come."

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