Lima led way to retail leadership

Do you know why Lima is as great a retail center as any in the country? A trade market, per household, second to none. Not even its state capital, Columbus, 90 miles away. We're soon to top that coveted $2 billion annual tidal wave of green bucks. And whom am I to tell you how come we have been its most important product of making those cash registers ring?

Because I was put in charge of making it all happen those 50 years, I have been part of your business juggernaut. I promoted its evolution, revolution of marketing since 1956 arriving in town when Lima headed up the grand offensive of strip centers: Westgate, Northland, Eastgate shopping centers.

Kickoff of powerful discount stores, from Rinks, Wells and Wal-Mart, to giant malls, two of them in the state before any major cities and a downtown Lima that wouldn't quit.

So here we are, mid-year 2008 and retail sales are what make Allen County the recipient of tax dollars to keep us in Bonanza-land.

What you see in ad brochures, special shopping dynamics came from Lima. We were picked by the National Shopping Center Association for its highest awards. Our sales techniques copied, matched or reproduced right here. Retail trade was capital, plus by our powerful merchant associations.