Food and Drug Stores Grow Into a Community Anchor
The modern and contemporary feel of Eastvale lends itself to the grocery industry by having these businesses act as catalysts for growth and business development.
Because Eastvale is known for being one of the most diverse cities in the Inland Empire, residents are craving local food and drug stores that offer ethnic food choices, fresh locally grown food, and additional shopping experiences that provide a balance of unique and local flair.
Local businesses like Masala House Groceries which specializes in Indian Pakistani food items are becoming a neighborhood staple. It is clear that Eastvale residents are craving more variety, more uniqueness, and more personalization in their food and drug choices.
The economic development department continues to partner with developers and business owners to provide services convenient for residents, but unique to our city landscape.
How do Food and Drug Stores Support and Thrive in Eastvale?
• Extensive job opportunities – While many jobs at food and drug stores are seen as entry-level, they offer a starting point for otherwise up-and-coming generations. This provides upward mobility and economic stability in Eastvale.
• Strengthen the economic health of the surrounding community – Did you know that food and drug stores have been shown to increase nearby residential home values which drive property tax revenue for the city, and improves city services.
• Retail anchors attract other retail stores – Food and drug stores are considered high volume retail anchors. These stores generate considerable foot traffic and have been shown to draw complementary commercial development, increasing overall retail activity and employment rates.
Stay Local, Buy Local
Buy-local campaigns keep profits circulating within our community. They create opportunities for service providers, like accountants and printers. Local stores do business with the community banks. They advertise through local media outlets. They purchase goods from local and regional distributors. In this way, a dollar spent at a locally owned grocery or drug store sends a ripple of economic benefits through our entire community.
The economic impact of staying and shopping local also prevents leakage of local dollars which directly affects our economy through internal and external activities related to community growth including:
• Operations
• Management
• Packaging
• Shipping
Economic Impacts of Locally Produced Food Markets
The demand for regional food is on the rise. For example, direct-to-consumer sales of regional food have risen from $4 billion in 1992 to $13.3 billion in 2018*.
Consumer demand is driving the recent growth across our region. One analysis from Harvesting Opportunity* found that a majority of consumers across the income spectrum are willing to pay more for locally sourced foods and goods.
Some of the factors fueling consumer demand for local foods include:
• Concerns about the environmental impact of the non-local food system
• Consumers want transparency regarding the ingredients in their food
• Consumers want an authentic brand story
There is no sign of this growth slowing, and Eastvale is the perfect city to add a unique and individualized store to enhance its diversity, increase marketplace options, and contribute to a ‘keeping-it-local vibe’ throughout the city. Are you ready to get started?
