The Necessary Balance For Enumclaw's Economy

When Paula Nordby was running the Village Shoppe on Cole Street, she kept her store open later than others around her.

"People commute to work and everything is closed when they get home," she said. In conjunction with this, the lack of clothing stores prompt residents to look elsewhere for shopping needs.

Nordby retired from running the business in 2011, but she still maintains an awareness of the difficulties facing local businesses in Enumclaw today.

"Everyone seems to want to open the same kind of store," Nordby said, referring to small gift shops.

The recent Enumclaw Economic Development Plan noted Apparel and Accessories, General Merchandise Stores, Arts and Entertainment and Accommodation and Food and Beverage Stores have all decreased in revenue, from $8.6 million in 2005 to $5.9 million in 2011.

Nordy said she thinks there isn't enough variety in Enumclaw's stores for the city to keep money from flowing out of it.

One question facing the city is whether or not to open more "big box stores," such as Walmart, Fred Meyer or Costco.

"I don't think we need a bunch of big box stores, but I do think we need more economic development," Patch user Hoke Overland said. "A Fred Meyer would have a lot more appeal and blend better with our city... Let's find the right balance of blending both economic development and maintaining our unique quaint atmosphere."

The city is currently looking for input. Contact Erika Shook at eshook@ci.enumclaw.wa.us.

What do you think? How can Enumclaw find this balance? Tell us in the comments.