Retail sales in Port
Orchard grew at a faster rate than in any city in the
state between 2008 and 2013.
That’s according to the Washington State Retail Survey, which recently published a list of fastest growing retail markets.
Port Orchard topped the rankings, posting an average annual increase of 9 percent over the six-year period.
The survey looked only at sales by traditional retail trade businesses like stores and dealerships to compile the list. It didn’t include taxable sales made in other industries like construction and manufacturing.
So what spurred Port Orchard’s rampant growth in sales? For starters, the city itself was growing.
Port Orchard went on an annexation spree during the years sampled for the rankings, roping in Bethel Corridor and other areas south of downtown. That brought Fred Meyer and a swath of commercial property into the city’s fold. The Port Orchard Walmart also upgraded to a Walmart Supercenter in 2012.
The addition of Fred Meyer and expansion of Walmart appeared to have a meteoric effect:
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of Port Orchard sales activity, provided by the Washington State Retail Survey:
