By Denise Wilson
Post staff reporter

Stan Eichelbaum knows retail. And the city of Florence is talking retail.

City Council is expected to hire retail analyst Eichelbaum, a former Federated Department Stores executive who has helped cities like Miami and Pittsburgh revamp their downtown shopping.

He'll help Florence implement its extensive plan to turn Mall Road into a new kind of shopping destination -- by helping the city attract the kinds of retail stores that attract customers.

Eichelbaum, president of Cincinnati-based Marketing Developments Inc., could be on board as soon as next week if a contract can be drafted for him in time for its meeting on Tuesday.

Under a proposal submitted to the city by Eichelbaum, the city would pay him $46,000 to show the city how to market itself and retain its status as the retail hub of Northern Kentucky and to serve as a retail consultant.

"Florence has been and will continue to be the retail hub of Northern Kentucky, and the issue is how to make that as dominant and economically beneficial as possible," Eichelbaum said.

Council Member Mel Carroll said Eichelbaum's credentials speak for themselves.

"Mr. Eichelbaum has a tremendous track record both nationally and internationally in retail development and redevelopment,'' Carroll said.

"In the retail development business contacts are everything and he's on a intimate first-name basis with many of the larger developers nationwide, and also the people who are in charge of the large retail chains.

"He has the contacts, he has the background, he has the track record that Florence is looking for to take the Mall Road area and really all of retail in Florence to the next level."

Eichelbaum would specifically help Florence implement its Mall Road Corridor study, which calls for the aging corridor to be developed into a vibrant shopping and entertainment destination.

That could happen, the study launched in the fall of 2001 concluded, by revitalizing the corridor and making it pedestrian friendly and injecting it with landscaping, bustling restaurants, a new movie theater, an upscale department store, and town homes.

The Mall Road corridor, which consists of Florence Mall and the surrounding Mall Road retail, has historically been the focal point for commercial development in Northern Kentucky.

However, in recent years, the retail focus has shifted toward the Houston Road corridor, leaving vacancies along Mall Road, the report said.

Council has not finalized the contract, but Eichelbaum is seeking $31,600 to study the retail market and make recommendations to the city and an additional $2,400 per month for six months to provide consulting services.

During Tuesday's caucus meeting, some council members questioned the amount Eichelbaum is seeking, but appeared to reach a consensus on hiring him.

City Coordinator Jeff Koenig said Eichelbaum is going help the city evaluate some of the data it collected from the Mall Road study to help it develop a packet of information for potential businesses looking to relocate in Florence.

"It'll be information that they think is important," Koenig said.

"That's the reason we want somebody that's in the business that knows how these people think and that knows what kind of issues they look for as far as technical data and financial data."

Council Member Dale Stephens said he doesn't think the city has any choice other than to hire Eichelbaum.

"We have to meet the competition: I'm talking about Crescent Springs and Crestview Hills, and the developments that are in the beginning stages down the road," Stephens said.

"We want to maintain the quality of shopping that we have and improve on it, and stay current with what's popular, and what is popular with the public now."

Montgomery developer Matt Daniels plans to build a $55 million upscale community shopping center with top retailers on land off Anderson Road in Crescent Springs that would include a supermarket, office space and several prestigious retailers.

Norwood developer Jeffrey Anderson also wants to build an upscale shopping center, which would include a new Dillard's department store, in nearby Crestview Hills.

Florence Mayor Diane Whalen said the city is confident that Eichelbaum's connections can assist the city in retaining and improving its shopping mix.

"He knows the people, he knows who the contacts are and that's a key piece. To get your foot in the door you have to have somebody like that to stand on your behalf,'' Whalen said.

In addition to many years at Federated, Eichelbaum has worked with other cities, including downtown Cincinnati and San Juan, Puerto Rico, on retailing master plans.


Publication Date: 11-20-2003