Deborah Butler, President of Butler Enterprises and Gainesville native, is featured in the nation’s leading retail news publication, Chain Store Age. Since its inception in 1925, Chain Store Age has become a trusted source of news and information for executives across industry sectors.
In the Butler family, retail was the “promised land,” says Deborah. Her father, S. Clark Butler, left the farm in 1939 and started selling produce at a roadside stand in Gainesville. This developed into the city’s first modern supermarket and underwent several redevelopment phases. Eventually, this forward-thinking led to Butler Plaza’s construction—the mile of Archer Road lined with successful stores just off I-75.
Striving for success is infused within the company culture of Butler Enterprises. “Remaining relevant is something we eat, drink, and breathe. It has to stay at the forefront of thought. You can never fall asleep, and you have to stay on your guard every day. Your business, your retailers, and your community depend on it,” says Deborah.
This constant reinvention is critical for remaining at the top of retail center development. It requires a balance of past research and purposeful, progressive vision, something Deborah Butler learned from working with her father when she joined the company in 1980. Butler Enterprises has served the Gainesville community for over 82 years, building value and trust over that time.
In 2014, the company broke ground on 750,000 square feet of proposed retail. Once secured, two phases would be developed in quick succession: Butler North and Butler Town Center. Over 400,000 square feet of retailers were relocated, and new businesses were added to more than double the total property to over 2 million square feet of retail space. This powerful vision connects market-dominant, highly accessible shopping destinations that continue to evolve every day.
Chain Store Age is the nation’s leading provider of retail news and analysis for retail headquarters executives across all industry sectors, both in print and online. CSA reports on and analyzes trends and strategies in all areas of store operations and store development, including technology, marketing, human resources, finance store design and construction, facilities management, and real estate.
