CITY OF HAWAIIAN GARDENS
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item #C1
DATE: September 9, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Elise McCaleb, Community Development Director
BY: Cielo Frausto-Lupo, Community Development Specialist RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and file the Hawaiian Gardens Community Retail Survey results.
SUMMARY
The City conducted the Hawaiian Gardens Community Retail Survey to better understand residents’ shopping habits and identify retail and dining options they would like to see in the City. There were 241 responses to the survey, with most respondents identifying as Hawaiian Gardens residents.
BACKGROUND & ANALYSIS
The survey was conducted online through SurveyMonkey and was promoted through the City’s social media and website posting. The survey consisted of 10 questions and was available from July 31 through August 31. The survey asked residents where they currently shop and dine, how often they leave Hawaiian Gardens to shop or eat, what types of retail and dining options they would like to see, and which specific businesses they would like to open in the City.
The results indicate that residents frequently leave Hawaiian Gardens to shop and dine elsewhere. The most common reasons identified were that better selection of goods and services are available outside the City and that preferred stores are located elsewhere.
Residents identified several retail categories as missing from Hawaiian Gardens. The most requested types of retailer were Hispanic supermarkets (52.52%), discount/dollar stores (47.48%), clothing/apparel boutiques (43.28%), specialty food markets (43.70%), and home décor (26.05%).
For dining, casual sit-down restaurants (68.94%) and coffee shops/cafes (54.04%) were the most requested types of dining options.
Agenda Item #C1
September 9, 2026
Staff also reviewed and categorized the open-ended responses. These responses also included comments received through social media. Among the specific businesses identified by respondents, Trader Joes (72 mentions), Northgate market (42 mentions), Target (34 mentions), Dutch Bros (34 mentions), Sprouts (23 mentions), and Tierra Mia (14) were among the most frequently requested retail and food uses. Respondents also identified recurring interest in casual sit-down restaurants, coffee shops, burger restaurants, and other dining concepts. Staff also noted recurring requests for entertainment and recreational uses, including bowling, movie theaters, tap rooms, breweries, children’s entertainment, and other family-oriented spaces.
The survey results provide staff with Community input that can be used to inform future economic development and retail attraction efforts, including outreach to prospective retailers and businesses. Attracting additional retail and dining establishments may also expand the City’s sales tax base and generate additional local revenue.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no immediate fiscal impact associated with receiving and filing the Community Retail Survey results. Future business attraction efforts may generate additional sale tax revenue for the City.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Question 4 bar chart
B. Question 5 bar chart
C. Open-ended questions bar chart