Retail And Services
When it comes to the retail and services sector of the economy, Savannah's been a hot spot since the mid-1990s, and, as the city continues to grow in popularity, it's likely to get hotter.
Retail sales in the Savannah trade area were projected at more than $6 billion for 2006.
Savannah is served by two enclosed malls and a vast array of other shopping centers. The malls, located on bustling Abercorn Street Extension, are benefiting from recent major developments: Oglethorpe Mall opened a spacious new food court in 2002 and added new national retailers such as Sharper Image in early 2006, and Savannah Mall is the home of a large Pro Bass Shop Outdoor World sporting goods store and the site of a Target that opened in 2004.
Adding recently to the retail on Abercorn have been Abercorn Walk, a new cluster of upscale businesses anchored by Fresh Market; Abercorn Commons, consisting of a mix of new and established stores near Oglethorpe Mall; and a revamped shopping center across from the mall that features World Market.
Much of the area's retail activity is concentrated south and west of downtown Savannah, with U.S. Highway 17 north of Richmond Hill developing rapidly as the site of a Wal-Mart Super Center. Another hot spot is the Godley Station area near the Savannah/ Hilton Head International Airport.
The city's Historic District has its own bustling commercial enclaves. River Street and City Market teem with tourists looking for mementos of their visits, and the once-dormant main drag of Broughton Street has experienced a renaissance involving a proliferation of antique shops, specialty boutiques and trendy restaurants. Also undergoing redevelopment is Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
The opening of the resort-trade center complex on Hutchinson Island has enhanced Broughton Street's comeback, with national-brand businesses such as Starbucks, Banana Republic and Gap having moved into the area and more expected to follow suit.
Savannah-area shoppers have three outlet centers at which to hunt for bargains — Savannah Festival Factory Stores off Interstate Highway 95 at Georgia Highway 204 (Abercorn Street Extension) in Chatham County, the Preferred Outlets at Darien on I-95 north of Brunswick and Tanger Outlets in Bluffton, S.C.
