As an entrepreneur, one of the most important decisions you will make is where to locate your business.
For many involved in online sales, location is unimportant. But if you’re in the restaurant or retail sector, location is everything.
I came across this list of the Ten Strongest Retail Markets in the US. The list was compiled by ChainLinks Retail advisors as part of what they call “The US National Retail Report.”
The top 10 retail markets in the US:
1. Washington, D.C.
2. San Francisco
3. New York City
4. Boston
5. San Diego
6. San Jose/South Bay
7. Baltimore
8. Philadelphia
9. Seattle
10. Pittsburgh
As you can see, Washington, D.C. tops the list, followed by San Francisco and NYC.
I am a little surprised to see Pittsburgh ranked so high – it’s relatively small (about 300,000) and has a reputation as a blue-collar “working class” town. Notably missing from the list is Minneapolis/St. Paul – people in Minnesota seem to love shopping (See the Mall of America), and I would have expected to see them in the top ten. Oh well, better luck next time, Minnesota!