New businesses to move into Williston shopping corridor

WILLISTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Parking lots are full and stores are bustling ahead of the holidays in Williston’s shopping corridor. It comes despite a retail landscape dominated by the online marketplace.

Even with products one click away, shoppers are browsing.

“I was looking online for what I needed but couldn’t find it, so I thought I’d come check out to Best Buy,” said Maddy Moore of South Burlington, who says she still prefers to pick up products. “In-person since COVID. I really like the in-person contact, it’s good.”

The internet changed shopping forever but economist Art Woolf says that likely doesn’t signal the death of retail just yet. “We’ll probably see the continuation of online shopping, that’s a trend that has a long way to go, but there are ways to compete against that. Just like when Walmart came, stores had to find a way to compete against Walmart,” he said.

Despite the brick-and-mortar decline, stores are still finding ways to compete. Western wear retailer Boot Barn and Bob’s Discount Furniture are both set to move into the former location of the Christmas Tree Shops in Williston next year. And national sandwich chain Firehouse Subs will open its first Vermont location in the same plaza.

Some spaces still need to be filled at Maple Tree Place, and across the street, but Town Manager Erik Wells says he’s not worried. “I know with retail it’s cyclical. There’ll be times when a business needs to go out of a location and find the right fit for a new business to come in,” he said.

Wells says the town’s growth in recent years, including a new hotel, has helped the tax base and that further growth will keep with Vermont’s charm, while also helping it thrive. “People saying to me, ‘Well, Williston is all built out.’ And it’s far from that. It’s looking at the infill development that comes with it,” Wells said.

Construction is underway on Boot Barn, which is set to open sometime around March. Bob’s Discount Furniture is set to open around May.

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