Over the last 20 years, the growth in total retail establishments nationwide (+4.8%) has fallen far behind overall business growth (+49.4%). But post-pandemic, the sector has seen its strongest gains in decades, adding over 38,000 stores and over 870,000 workers – with Gainesville ahead of the pack in one category.
According to a just released report by printastic.com, between 2020 and 2024, Gainesville metro (which includes all of Hall County) gained 66 retail establishments – an increase of 10.9%, the 11th highest of any small metropolitan area. Meanwhile, retail employment in Gainesville increased by 730 workers (+8.4%) during that span.
Here is a summary of the data for Gainesville:
* Retail establishment growth (2020–2024): +10.9%
* Retail employment growth (2020–2024): +8.4%
* Change in retail establishments (2020–2024): +66
* Change in retail employment (2020–2024): +730
* Total retail establishments (2024): 674
* Total retail employment (2024): 9,411
Other findings:
* America’s Most Popular Retail Categories: Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores top the list with 190,490 locations, though they employ just 1.49 million workers. Food and beverage stores (161,346 locations, 3.21 million employees) also make up a large share of the retail landscape.
* Southeast and West See Strongest Retail Growth: Idaho leads in retail establishment growth from 2020 to 2024 with an 18.8% increase, along with Tennessee (+14.5%), Georgia (+12.5%), South Carolina (+12.4%), and Kentucky (+10.4%), driven by population gains and favorable business climates.
The full report covers 375 U.S. metros and all 50 states, with a detailed breakdown of retail growth rates, total establishments and employment, and how those figures have changed since 2020.
https://www.printastic.com/research/cities-with-the-most-retail-business-growth
