WASHINGTON, DC-Washington DC's retail sector hit an important milestone in 2013--some 400,000 square feet of new retail space opened in the city and there is another 700,000 square feet in the pipeline. This is a significant marker for the local industry given how under-retailed the city is. For local officials, though, the number of importance is 1,000 – as in, new retail endeavors created 1,000 jobs this year.

The Washington DC Economic Partnership crunched the numbers to reach these conclusions. DC's new retail offerings include its first two Walmart stores, which created 600 jobs alone. Other new stores included H & M at Chevy Chase Pavilion, Marshall's at the National Shops, TJ Maxx/ Home Goods at Georgetown Park, Nordstrom Rack at 18th & L Streets and Giant Food at CityMarket at O. These retailers, along with several new smaller boutiques that opened throughout the city in 2013, added another 350 jobs, according to WDCEP.

The city has been steadily promoting retail creation as part of its Five-Year Economic Development Strategy. According to an Impact Analysis for WDCEP, 6,239 new retail jobs were created in DC between 2001 and August 2012. Demand remains high for these jobs as the experience of Walmart attests. The retailer received more than 23,000 job applications for the two DC stores. Of the 600 jobs, 68% went to DC residents, according to Alex Barron, regional general manager at Walmart.

Instant Insights /

DC Delivers 400,000 SF of Retail in 2013

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