Numbers don’t lie
Murphy’s not just a demographic sweet spot anchoring 50,000 Collin County households; it’s the shortest distance between project start and doors open for business. Within its 5.1-square-mile footprint, everything a new business needs to get off the ground is across-the-hall convenient, with city agencies collaborating to streamline permitting processes and speed approvals.
Lowe's, Walmart Neighborhood Market, Bank of America, 24-Hour Fitness, and Starbucks are just a few who've staked their claims at Murphy's center on this high-traffic link between US 75 and Highway 78. With 24-hour average traffic counts on FM 544 exceeding 22,000 and 16.8% of adults reporting a home office as their place of employment, the city's daytime population is exceptionally robust.
Murphy's amenities include Plano ISD's 10,000 seat Tom Kimbrough Stadium, and the City's 48-acre municipal services and parks complex as well as easy-access to a wealth of healthcare choices such as the new 1000,000 sq. ft. Methodist Healthcare System facility.
City of Murphy takes proactive approach to retail
Collin County Business Press
October 21, 2009 -
By Stewart James
sjames@bizpress.net
The Texas State Comptroller has distributed about $132.5 million in sales tax dollars to Collin County cities so far this year. The city of Murphy has increased its share of the sales tax pie by 34 percent compared to 2008 and is making moves to attract additional retail to boost the percentage even more.
The Murphy Economic Development Corp. launched an online Retail Preference Poll on Oct. 1 to determine the interest of area shoppers in order to draw the attention of national retail chains.
“The poll provides an outlet for individual consumers within the Murphy trade area to express their wants and needs,” said Gunter Watson, president of the Murphy EDC. “Tabulated results will be presented to targeted retailers
in Murphy EDC marketing communications.”
Murphy’s online petition was conceived and executed by Ariamedia, an Addison-based interactive communications, branding and strategy company servicing the public sector.
The Oct. 1 poll is the third online poll Ariamedia has administered for Murphy this year, and participation has grown by double digits with each effort, according to Ariamedia.
Murphy is located in southeastern Collin County between Plano and Wylie. More than 150,000 people live in about 50,000 households within a 10-minute drive of Murphy’s crossroads intersection at Murphy Road and the F.M. 544 continuation of Plano Parkway.
“One of Murphy’s many endearing traits is an unpretentious nature that belies its very upscale demographics,” said Tony Passarello, chief strategy officer for Ariamedia. “Another is that the Bush Tollway has suddenly placed Murphy’s enviable small-town feel within far easier reach of Dallas and its airports than more widely publicized suburbs another 20 minutes’ drive north.”
Passarello said the city wisely recognized the need to sharpen its message to prospective residents and businesses. Murphy is one of Collin County’s sweetest and best-kept secrets, he said, and during the past seven years Murphy has had a growth rate of 300 percent.
“We feel that Murphy is Collin County’s undiscovered gem, with an average household income over $112,000 and home value above $255,000,” Watson said. “Over 45,000 households are centered within 5 miles on the highly-trafficked FM 544 link between US 75 and TX 78.”
Murphy’s largest retail development is Murphy Marketplace, a 76-acre, 600,000-square-foot lifestyle center, but local officials said the town still has vacant commercial property primed for development.
“When it comes to retail merchandise and services, Murphy and its surrounding communities remain underserved,” said James Fisher, Murphy’s city manager. “Lowe’s, Starbucks, Blockbuster and Bank of America are among the national brands that figured it out early, but Murphy residents still have to drive too far for stores that others find just around the corner.”
The malls nearest to Murphy are Collin Creek Mall in Plano and Firewheel Town Center in Garland, which are at the outermost reaches of Murphy’s trade area.
With a growth rate that outstrips Collin County, it's loomed very suddenly on retailers’ radar, and with only about 600 residential lots still undeveloped, there’s little doubt that Murphy has achieved critical mass, according to the Murphy EDC.
“In these tough economic times, the Retail Preference Poll empowers Murphy’s Economic Development Corp. to make the uniquely authentic case that folks in and around Murphy are still willing and able to sustain their retail spending and committed to shop merchants who will afford them the chance to do so within their own community,” Passarello said. “Retailers are constantly solicited by municipal development corporations to build stores, but I’ve never seen such an active and engaged community lend its voice to the effort so clearly and assertively. It’s great to see the electronic town hall living up to its full potential in Murphy.”
Watson said the Murphy EDC board couldn't be more pleased with the response.
“We’ll give strongest consideration and devote our best efforts to retailers that our residents want most,” he said.
The Murphy EDC leads a tight alliance of Murphy’s citizens, municipal government, its Community Development Corp., and chamber of commerce in promoting new business openings.
To view and complete the Retail Preference Poll, visit www.murphywantsyou.com. Tallies will be posted online at the end of October and will be highlighted at retail trade shows, on the Murphy EDC's Web site and in other marketing communications.
“Poll tallies will be featured as an important part of [Murphy] EDC’s marketing presence at retail development conferences beginning in November and with future [Murphy] EDC marketing and communication,” Watson said.
Chick-fil-A Opening Soon in Murphy!
Murphy Messenger
09/30/2009: Chick-fil-A Continues Expansion with Murphy's First Stand-Alone Chick-Fil-A Restaurant. Opening October 15, 2009, Bringing nearly 65 new jobs to the area.
The Murphy Chick-fil-A restaurant chain and it's Eat mor Chikin Cows will do their part to "boost" and support the local economy with the opening of Murphy's first stand-alone Chick-fil-a restaurant on October 15, 2009, with the celebration to include the giving away of more than $26,000 in free food and creating more than 65 new jobs.
October 14: Chick-fil-A 100 Day: Chick-fil-A will award a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-a Meals to each of the first 100 adults in line at the Murphy location (117 E. FM 544) starting Wednesday morning, October 14, 2009.
October 15: Murphy Chick-fil-a opens for business. 6 AM- 10 PM. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Fabulous play scape that the kids will love!! 117 E. FM 544, Murphy, TX 75094
Where the jobs are
CNNMoney.com
Especially in a tough economy, plentiful job opportunities are key to making a great place to live. These 25 counties have experienced the most job growth over the last eight years.
Towns include: Murphy, McKinney, Plano
Job growth (2000-2008): 52.7%
Like the rest of Texas, the state's wealthiest county was not immune to the crumbling housing market, with building permits down and foreclosures up. But despite the downturn, Collin County is shining brightly in the Lone Star State. Unemployment has remained relatively low, thanks to a swift transition from agriculture to high-tech industries.
Texas Instruments, Raytheon, Electronic Data Systems (EDS), which was acquired by Hewlett-Packard, and other software, Internet and telecom companies employ much of the well educated workforce in high-tech management positions.
Schedule a Tour
To learn more about the City of Murphy's commercial and retail opportunities, please RSVP for the Reception or arrange for an introductory meeting during ICSC Texas Conference and Deal Making 2009.