Retail Continues to Improve in Metro Orlando market; Investor Demand Intensifies

Universal Resorts' Harry Potter Theme Park

ORLANDO, FL -- Positive economic trends in the Orlando metro, such as heightened tourism, job creation, and an improving housing market, will generate additional demand for retail space this year, Marcus & Millichap reports.

Orlando’s many theme parks, shopping centers, and golf courses attracted 57 million visitors last year, a 3.3 percent increase from 2011.

Tourism will improve further with the expansion of Universal Resort’s Harry Potter theme park, which is slated to open next year. Tourism supported employment gains in the leisure and hospitality sector.

 In addition to employment growth, retailers are benefiting from Orlando’s strengthening housing market as new homeowners spend on housing-related goods.

Solid demand from prospective home buyers triggered a 49 percent year-over-year increase in single-family home permits in the first half of 2013. 

To accommodate the growing population, retailers such as WaWa, RaceTrac, 7-Eleven and Dollar General are expanding in the Orlando market.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Gina Relva

Public Relations Manager

(925) 953-1716