What national retailers are ESSENTIAL for a bustling city development

walmart is what you need

I would probably say some type of department store. Something like Macy's or Kohl's.

i don't think you need chains, you need a fucking sense of culture.

Kinda depends... are you looking to develop a downtown area where people can shop and walk store to store or more like just some major retail?

If I was ona city development team, these are the four chains I would want cornering my downtown. One on each major corner a block to block in a half a part. Watch the small retail flock to that area and watch the foot traffic go nuts.

Starbucks
Coldstone Icecream Shops
Jimmy Johns Subs
M.J's Mongolian Barbaque

Read about the Rennaissance of Providence over the past 5-7 or so years.

are chains really that important?

Starbucks...

Nope, but you have to have these four staples:

Starbucks (Breakfest)
Jimmy Johns Subs (Lunch)
M.J's Mongolian Barbaque (Unique Dinner)
Coldstone Icecream Shops (Yummy Stuff)

All four of the above are very unique.. very casual, but considered upscale and interesting to all those thirty something folks. One of these on each of the four corners in your town... a block to block and a half apart will spark major retail interest and foot traffic. You wont have to go after them... they will find you. Seen it done in the town I live in. Three years ago the town closed at 6pm. (im not kidding) Now, its a wealth of foot traffic, fun little bars and great little retail stores and book shops. All very upscale, fitting his demographic to a tee. They are now putting in $500,000 condos above the little shops and stores that have opened up. It was a masterful city development plan... all starting with four little unique food chains.... covering each meal of the day.

Maybe one Starbucks, but other than that go with locally owned.

starbucks is on the list

so is a barnes and noble

I've notced a lot of Video Game stores popping up in strip malls and other places outside of your typical mall setup.