Retail

Growing demand is solidifying what many Eastvale residents already know – locally owned retail businesses create communities that are more prosperous, entrepreneurial, connected, and generally better off across a wide range of metrics. Our goal is to expand that footprint to provide a local niche of retail that is unique to our city and residents. 

“We wanted to be here in Eastvale for a while, so when we finally got ‘green-inked’ it was pretty exciting. Every time I talk about having a business in Eastvale, it makes me excited.” – Jennifer Kaikko, General Manager, Costco

Eastvale’s Consumer Buying Power

Consumer buying power is growing in Eastvale. With an average household income of $127,881 per year, Eastvale residents have disposable income to support local retailers in our community, which makes Eastvale a place of rich opportunity for you to develop your retail business.

Check out our strategic plan and priority goals that show the growth potential of small businesses in Eastvale.

Food and Drug—a Community Anchor

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.  

The economic development department continues to partner with developers and business owners to provide services convenient for residents, but unique to our city landscape. 

Food & Drug Stores Help Eastvale Thrive

  • Strengthening the community economy – 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.
  • Anchors attract anchors – 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.
  • Extensive job opportunities – Food and drug stores offer a starting point for otherwise up-and-coming generations. This provides upward mobility and economic stability in Eastvale.

Grants Help Small Retail get Established in Eastvale

The City of Eastvale listened and we agree – small businesses need support, and we are here to provide available funding to promote business sustainability, job retention, and overall economic preservation. 

Small Retail Builds Connections and Character

The connection that independent retail businesses build with their customers is invaluable. It leads to repeat customers, word-of-mouth marketing, and sweat equity from the most devoted neighbors. While big-box retailers and national chains resort to dealing with customers at an arm’s length, small businesses see customers physically lending a hand to help.

What does this mean for retailers interested in setting up shop In Eastvale?

There is ample opportunity for a tight-knit community to rally around and support local retail to continue prosperity and success for our community.

In a recent study, 52% of responders indicated they are very interested in new clothing stores, and 50.7% said they are very interested in boutique retail. This clear signal should excite retail entrepreneurs, as Eastvale residents are eager to shop and spend locally.

Small Business Experiences that Brings Personality to the City

Independent record stores specialize in hard-to-find albums and host live music events that bring music lovers together.

Family-owned hardware stores share generations’ worth of expertise, providing customers with product recommendations and how-to tips that stand the test of time.

Locally owned gift shops, jewelers, sporting goods stores, and others win customers over with unparalleled service that makes them feel welcome.

The Benefits of Owning a Retail Establishment

  • Economic returns

    Local retail recirculates a greater share of every dollar in the local economy, as they create locally owned supply chains and invest in their employees. 

  • Jobs

    Studies show that local businesses employ more people per unit of sales, and retain more employees during economic downturns, while big-box retailers decrease the number of retail jobs in the region. 

  • Wages and benefits

    It’s been shown that locally owned businesses are linked to higher income growth and lower levels of poverty, while big-box retailers depress wages and benefits for retail employees. 

  • Social and civic well-being

    A community’s level of social capital, civic engagement, and well-being is positively related to the share of its economy held by local businesses, while the presence of mega-retailers undermines social capital and civic participation.

Keep our Community Unique

Eastvale is a young and dynamic community and residents have an opportunity to continue to grow our economy and provide a uniqueness that no other city in the Inland Empire can offer. 

The places where we eat, shop, and have fun all make a community feel like home. One-of-a-kind businesses are a fundamental part of the distinctive character of our community.

A community where large chains of shops exceed the number of independently run small businesses becomes less personal and homogenized, with less product diversity. The economic development department is working to prevent that personification. 

Independent businesses define our community’s self-image and create a sense of pride for the people who live here. Eastvale wants to take control of our long-term economic character by supporting unique one-of-a-kind local retail.

More Consumer Choices in Demand

A marketplace of hundreds of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but their interests and the need of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices. 

A growing body of research shows that entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character with multiple consumer choices.

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