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City Development > Retail Coach 

Latest Update: Monday, 09 January, 2023

On this page: Summary, Journal

In 2018 the Willow Park hired The Retail Coach to assist the city in well-planned retail development. 

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In 2018, Willow Park hired The Retail Coach “to advance our mission to increase sales tax and develop retail business strategies.” (12 June 2018 Council Meeting); “to basically be an advocate for us in the retail community, to bring businesses, specifically retail, to Willow Park.” (City Administrator Bryan Grime, 22 January 2019, City Council Meeting)

 

A summary of the detailed results of the research done by The Retail Coach indicated Willow Park residents wanted more nice, sit-down, family restaurants and a big-box retail store.  

 

 The District being developed by Wilks next to The Shops at Willow Park, the Parker County Ice House, and new Standard Service Restaurant, will address Willow Park’s need for restaurants. 

 

However, because if the large commercial area needed by big box stores — many of whom are anchors in larger malls — Willow Park’s commercial real estate area has limited the city’s ability to attract larger stores. In January 2023, the city addressed this issue, ”The long and short of it is that there were multiple attempts to attract big box stores in 2018 and 2019.  However, like all things retail, COVID essentially reshaped the landscape and big box stores were less and less likely to have more brick and mortar.  As far as commercial property and efforts to attract big box stores, that would be for the private developers to make that determination, but I think we are quickly running out of land inventory for substantial big box development.”  

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Journal

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  • 09 February, 2021 Council Meeting, Agenda / Minutes in 23 February, 2021 Council Meeting agenda

    • ​Agenda Item 6. Discussion Only: An update from Aaron Farmer with Retail Coach. Covered in Executive Session.

    • Executive Session  

      • A.§  551.087 Texas Government Code. Deliberation Regarding  Economic Development Negotiations 

      • B § 551.071. Texas Government Code. Consultation with Attorney. 

      • C Any Posted item 

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  • 28 July 2020 Council Meeting Agenda / Video at 1:05:50  / Presentation.pdf 

    • Agenda Item 4. Discussion only: Retail Coach Update, 

    • Background: Aaron Farmer will update Council on his efforts, including a sales tax analysis and COVID-19 impact.

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  • 22 January 2019, City Council Meeting, Agenda / Video / Presentation by Retail Coach (Working on copy of presentation.) 

    • Agenda Item 5. Presentation by Aaron Farmer with Retail Coach / video 24:00

    • City Administrator Bryan Grimes, "We have secured the services of the Retail Coach to basically be an advocate for us in the retail community, to bring businesses, specifically retail, to Willow Park.  We've been working with Aaron six months and he really helped us out Fort Worth Conference and made some really good contacts. We've had actually some follow-ups from some of those guys there but I'm very encouraged making this investment; we learned I learned a lot at Fort Worth and Aaron's going to elaborate..."

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  • 12 June 2018 Council Meeting Agenda / Presentations of Retail Coach and Buxton .pdf

    • ​10. Discussion/ Action: To consider and take action on Economic Development consulting firm.

    • BACKGROUND: With the current growth the City of Willow Park is experiencing and at the direction of some Council members, City staff has made contact with the two leading economic development consulting firms in North Texas and the State. City Administrator Bryan Grimes has worked previously with both Buxton and The Retail Coach. Furthermore, City Administrator Grimes requested and received proposals from both firms and how they can assist the City of Willow Park. After careful consideration, consolation with numerous outside parties and listed references— including past Interim City Administrator Bobby Roundtree—staff recommends Aaron Famer and The Retail Coach to advance our mission to increase sales tax and develop retail business strategies.

    • Staff/Board/Commission Recommendation: Staff recommends "The Council hereby authorizes City Staff to execute an agreement with The Retail Coach for a period not to extend 3 years and a fee not to exceed $50,000 per year."

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City of Willow Park Checkbook

total listed $95,270.28

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