Located in Southern California’s Inland Empire, Moreno Valley has emerged as a significant growth center and a friendly home to retail. As highlighted by Melissa McClain, head of marketing & business attraction for the city, the area’s robust development is driven by substantial job creation and strategic planning.
“Truly the catalyst for the growth in Moreno Valley has been jobs. We’ve created more than 34,000 jobs in the last eleven years. And because of that, we now have more than 7,700 single-family and multifamily residential units that are either entitled, approved or under construction — which is a huge number. Job growth is what’s driving all of the tremendous retail and residential growth.”
In under a decade, Moreno Valley’s average household income has surged from $63,000 to over $101,000 annually. This increase in purchasing power is attracting a diverse mix of retail businesses, bolstering sales as the population expands and offering attractive stability for retailers. Recent additions to the city include popular establishments like 85°C Bakery Cafe, Crumbl Cookies, Dutch Bros and EōS Fitness, alongside a Hilton Garden Inn set to break ground in the near future.
A strategic location near the junction of SR-60 and I-215 and a culture of business incentives make the City of Moreno Valley a natural fit for many retailers — a positive because the city is looking to add more. The city offers discounts on electric rates and a financial program that rewards hiring locals. Moreno Valley also provides comprehensive support through its development concierge program. There is an ongoing effort to add more brands to the city as part of Moreno Valley’s commitment to expansion.
to learn more about Moreno Valley’s positive feedback loop of attracting retailers and promoting their growth alongside the city’s growing population.
This video was created as part of the Retail Insight newsletter by Shopping Center Business, a brief newsletter series leading up to the ICSC LAS VEGAS 2024 conference and including post-conference video interviews. The videos in the publication are created in conjunction with our content partners, which sponsor the newsletter. Click here to subscribe.