Retail and Food Services in Rutherford County: Current Status, Trends, and Supply/Demand Balance

This study examines the prospects for growth in Rutherford County’s retailing and food services industry. In particular, the study estimates the potential for capturing Rutherford County spending that occurs in other counties, called ‘spending leakage’, and also estimates the potential for attracting spending from households in nearby counties. The first section examines comparative demographic and income trends as the basis for retail growth in Rutherford County, followed with a review of the importance of retailing and food services as a source of jobs and income for the county. The next section overviews retail growth trends for the county and for La Vergne, Smyrna, and Murfreesboro. An analysis of the county’s retail supply and demand balance is next, with attention to retail sectors that are under-supplied in Rutherford County. The potential for capturing household spending from nearby counties is discussed next, followed with a summary of retail development currently planned for the county. A final section offers conclusions.