SAN BERNDARDINO, CA—San Bernardino County is set to get 1.2 million square feet of new retail development, much of which will house major retailers. The much-needed surge is due to some significant job growth in the market, which was hit hard by the recession. In total, the regional economy has gained 30,000 jobs over the last 12 months and 200,000 jobs since the lowest point of the recession.

“The region has recovered all of the jobs that were lost during the recession and have now beyond pre-recession employment levels,” Larry Vaupel, economic development agency administrator for San Bernardino County, tells GlobeSt.com. “In fact, in the last three years, over 150,000 jobs have been created. The additional disposable income, along with population growth is driving a retail expansion. The area also experienced significant population growth pre-recession and retail did not have a chance to develop to meet those increased demands prior to the recession setting in.”

The 1.2 million square feet under construction consists of five separate projects. The largest is Mountain Grove, Majestic Realty's 67-acre lifestyle center, which is contiguous to its 53-acre Citrus Plaza. The 670,000-square-foot center is already 85% pre-lease, with negotiations underway for the remainder of the space. It is scheduled to open this summer. Then, the 600,000-square-foot Renaissance Marketplace from Lewis Retail Centers is set to open in 2016 with a tenant roster of both national and local tenants. CIM Group is underway on a major renovation to Montclair Plaza, which will include outdoor shopping, a movie theater and entertainment. It is scheduled to open in May this year. Colonies Crossroads, a joint venture project from Colonies Crossroads and Pacific Development Group, is soon to deliver its second phase of the 1-million-square-foot development, which will house an Oggi's Pizza & Brewing Company and a California Fish Market. Finally, Victoria Gardens is undergoing a renovation that will bring new exteriors, wider sidewalks, expanded patio dining, drought-resistant landscaping, enhanced lighting and parklets to the center, as well as restaurant tenants the Melt and Blaze Pizza.

“We are seeing an influx of the national retailers going into the newer centers. However, we also value the locally owned businesses and restaurants,” says Vaupel. “These help meet the growing demand for consumers wanting to support locally produced products and also help create and retain wealth in our communities. “There is a need for the revitalization of the more mature retail centers in order to attract today's retailers and restaurants. Many of the established neighborhoods have older centers that need new investment and re-tenanting to meet the needs of the market.”

The County has positioned itself to attract these retailers and retail projects by partnering with private developers. “We assist retailers in site selection, permit assistance, demographic analysis and workforce development,” adds Vaupel. “We recently held employment recruitment for a new Old Navy store that attracted over 300 applicants. We help retailers filter applicants and provide them with the best-qualified job seekers. This can significantly reduce their start-up time and costs. We want them to be able to hit the ground running and find success right from the start.”