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BOSTON-Pent-up demand by consumers is prompting a growth spurt in the Bay State that has led to a surge in the number of retail businesses in eastern Massachusetts, according to a new study by Burlington-based KeyPoint Partners LLC. "The Boston market really isn't trending any stronger than other areas of the country but there has been a pent-up demand for lifestyle centers in the Commonwealth," notes Bob Sheehan, a researcher with KeyPoint, which conducted the study of 189 eastern Massachusetts town and cities.

In the Greater Boston area alone, the opening in September of the 195,072-sf Wayside Commons in Burlington brought six new retailers to the area, including LL Bean, Justice Just for Girls, Blue Tulip, Arhaus Furniture and Williams-Sonoma's latest venture, West Elm. Two other lifestyle centers now under development, Legacy Place in Dedham, and Westwood Station in Westwood, along with the planned expansion of the Natick, North and Sough Shore malls will bring even more retail growth to the area in the next few years.<p.The study, which looked at supply, vacancy and absorption rates along with retailer activity and market composition over a year-long period beginning with the fourth quarter of 2005, also found that family apparel stores were the fastest growing segment of the market.

Retailers in that category, the report notes, expanded by 452,200-sf in the past year, more than any other retail classification, primarily due to new entries in the retail market such as Steve & Barrys and the creation of four new TJ Maxx and two new AJ Wright stores. Furniture stores, many of which are facing consolidation, got a boost to second place with the opening of a 346,000-sf IKEA store in Stoughton and the expansion of Jordan's Furniture in Avon.