Shop Local

Supporting Local Businesses, especially our small and minority local businesses, is central to the vibrancy of Montgomery, Alabama. Retail is a special category of local business: these are the invaluable places where we purchase the durable goods we need and enjoy in our everyday lives and where we find the souvenirs to carry home after a memorable visit. Retail includes everything from clothing to hardware supplies, books and art to bicycles and beauty products. The best way to uplift our local retailers is to SHOP LOCAL!

Policy Context

In 2019, in The Transition Report to Mayor Reed, the Economic Development Committee identified Goal 1 as follows, “The City should play a leading role in increasing activity in the downtown area and should develop and deploy strategies to proactively increase the human presence downtown. …. Montgomery has yet to reach the critical mass of human activity in the downtown area to attract substantial retail.”

Staff Report

To better understand the unique climate for Retail in Downtown Montgomery, staff have compiled the following report. It provides baseline data to help recruit and retain retail business to Downtown. The report looks at the current make up of Downtown Retail, the locations, the variety and diversity of offerings, and potentials for growth and expansion. The report includes the voices and perspectives of a wide range of community members from long-term business owners, to weekly vendors at the Montgomery Curb Market, from members of the Chamber of Commerce to pop-up and start up entrepreneurs looking for their first brick and mortar.  

Read the Report here: Downtown Retail Report 2021

Staff hopes to update this work annually. Comments, questions, tips and suggestions are welcome! Reach us at 334-625-3755.