The City of Mentor has moved up to the sixth place in retail sales volume according to a Census of Retail Trade Report recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Columbus continues to dominate retail sales in Ohio followed by Cincinnati, Toledo, Cleveland and Akron. Mentor now ranks sixth; up from seventh in 2007.
One revealing statistic regarding the strength of retail sales in Mentor is the volume of retail sales in the city. With a population of approximately 47,000, Mentor ranks twentieth in the State of Ohio and is approximately a quarter of the size – population wise – of fifth place Akron.
“With a degree of levity, we like to tell people that if you can’t buy it in Mentor, it’s probably not worth having,” says Ronald M. Traub, Director of Economic and Community Development, “Mentor has become a shopping destination in Northeast Ohio due to our robust blend of independent retailers and national chains. As a result, it’s an ideal location for new retail opportunities.”
Annual sales volume among 303 establishments within Mentor is now approaching $1.5 billion. The retail sector employs 5,884 individuals with a $130 million payroll. Lake County’s sales volume is $3.5 billion, representing 789 establishments and 12,537 jobs.
Motor vehicle and parts dealers represent approximately one-third of the sales volume in Mentor followed by general merchandise stores (20%) and gas stations (7%).
The Census of Retail Trade Report is conducted every five years and compiles data from local communities as well as sources at the county and state level. The latest report pertained to sales data from 2007 to 2012.
For further information, contact Ronald M. Traub, Director, Economic & Community Development, City of Mentor at (440) 974-5736 or traub@cityofmentor.com.