According to the South Carolina Department of Revenue, in fiscal year 2017, the City of Greer recorded a record $1,302,896,294 in gross retail sales, including $798,472,977 in sales in the portion of the City of Greer located in Greenville County and $504,423,316 in the portion of the City of Greer located in Spartanburg County. This new figure represents an increase of 12% compared to fiscal year 2016 and a 47% growth in sales over the last five years.
“This growth is a result of investments in the Greer community. Retailers recognize that good things are happening and more good things are coming,” Greer City Administrator Ed Driggers said. “The City of Greer leveraged about $17 million when we built the municipal complex and saw a three-fold investment coming back in the downtown area. We’re going to invest $25 million over the next three years and we absolutely anticipate that it will be an exponential reinvestment by the public sector.”
High traffic commercial areas in the City of Greer, such as Wade Hampton Boulevard, are heavily populated with big box retail and car dealerships. New retail projects near Riverside High School in Greer has created an attractive, new neighborhood commercial center. Greer’s historic downtown, branded as Greer Station, offers a combination of specialty retail and niche restaurants.
“A continued rise in gross retail sales is a great indicator of the strong economic climate in Greer, both residentially and commercially. This figure reflects the growth and vibrancy we have in the community, and serves as justification of the time and commitment that goes into not only recruiting new businesses, but also helping those already here grow,” said Katie Witherspoon, Vice President of Operations for the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce.
New, large industrial projects in the City of Greer have created thousands of new jobs, are pushing per capita incomes higher, and have led to record increases in the production of quality, new single family homes. Greer is well positioned for additional retail sales growth in the future.
“High traffic counts and Greer’s proximity to BMW, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, and the Inland Port is a recipe for quality retail growth in Greer,” said Reno Deaton, Executive Director of the Greer Development Corporation. “But the true credit belongs to hard working retailers and restaurant owners in Greer who have defined the Greer retail market with world class customer service and a very attractive product mix.”