Charles County Economic Development Department (EDD) is working hard to bring more high-end grocery stores to the area, responding to local demand. For the past several years, the EDD has been planning and partnering with others to make Charles County a more appealing location for new businesses. The EDD has made great progress in showing why Charles County is a good choice for potential retailers.
High-end grocery stores evaluate new locations based on how well they match their criteria. Individuals known as “site selectors” are often tasked to research communities on behalf of a business and use the criteria guidelines to evaluate possible locations. Charles County’s growing economy and demographics are becoming more appealing according to these criteria.
Common criteria can include:
- Population Density: Are there enough customers to make the business successful?
- Income: Will people in this income range regularly shop at a high-end grocer?
- Age: Do the retailer’s products appeal to the area’s population?
- Quality of Location: Is the potential location easily accessible?
- Traffic Counts: Do many people live or walk nearby, making them more likely to visit?
- Sales Volume of Competitors: How much money do customers usually spend at existing competitor locations?
The EDD recently developed the Asset Inventory to showcase the county’s strengths, economic growth, resources, and demographic trends. The Asset Inventory also helps the EDD know where improvements are needed to boost business attraction.
Notably, Charles County’s median household income has continued to rise, showing a 28% increase since 2018. The cost of living in the county is 44% lower than in Washington DC, attracting new residents and helping the population grow. In 2023, the county experienced a 0.71% population increase, totaling over 171,300 residents. This size is similar to what Prince George’s and Montgomery counties had in the 1960s.
“Building sustainable growth is sometimes a process,” explains Kelly Robertson-Slagle, EDD Director. “Charles County is trending in the right direction across all areas of consideration, proving that our efforts are making an impact.”
One example of this progress is the Oasis Fresh Foods Market. Set to open in 2024, the market will bring residents fresh produce, an ice cream shop, and a communal garden space. In Waldorf, MOM’s Organic Market flagship store has served Charles County with locally sourced and organic food for over a decade. Now with locations in seven states along the East Coast, MOM’s exhibits the long-term success that specialty grocers can cultivate in Charles County.
When residents shop locally in Charles County, it signals to prospective businesses that the community is supportive and could be a suitable location for them.
Additionally, most retail chains have contact forms on their websites where citizens can express their interest directly to business owners. These requests help support all of the EDD’s behind-the-scenes efforts to bring in high-end grocery stores.
Kelly Robertson-Slagle was a guest on the Charles County Government’s “Charles County Now” YouTube series to discuss this topic. Watch here:
Stay up-to-date on forthcoming businesses and retail locations here.
Charles County has compiled a list of frequently asked questions from residents on attracting high-end grocers. Read here.
