Spotlight On: Eric Goldstein, President & CEO, King of Prussia District

November 2025 — King of Prussia District has experienced a notable shift over the past year, moving beyond its established reputation for retail and dining to dramatically increase its focus on experiential and entertainment-based economic development projects. “The economic results are clear: King of Prussia boasts a high-performing commercial economy and its vacancy rates are exceptionally low across multiple sectors,” Eric Goldstein, President and CEO of King of Prussia District, told Invest:.

What is the most meaningful progress that the district has made in the past year?

King of Prussia has seen a notable surge in entertainment and experiential economic development projects over the past year. This is a welcome and necessary expansion of King of Prussia’s core reputation for pure retail and dining as more and more employees and residents seek family-friendly entertainment options. For my organization, we’ve made significant progress developing several multimodal trail networks within the township. This has been a major organizational priority as we seek to improve pedestrian connections and connect the residential and business areas to the surrounding Circuit Trail systems.

Join us at the Invest: Philadelphia 6th Edition Leadership Summit! This premier event brings together hundreds of Southeast Pennsylvania and South Jersey’s regional leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities for businesses and investors. This year’s theme centers on the regional strengths of the eds and meds. Click here to learn more.

What are the trends that are most influencing the evolution of suburban districts like King of Prussia?

King of Prussia has thrived in the post-pandemic environment, largely due to its unparalleled accessibility. Located at the intersection of major southeastern Pennsylvania highways, this prime location has been the bedrock of its success for decades. This excellent access, coupled with a wide array of amenities and resources, is precisely what today’s companies and residents seek. The traditional corporate park is no longer appealing; to successfully bring employees back to the office, a community must offer compelling reasons beyond the workspace itself, such as quality restaurants, retail, and entertainment. This focus on growing entertainment and amenities is a key factor in the area’s ongoing appeal.

King of Prussia experienced significant residential growth over the last 10 years, with the population expanding from roughly 28,000 to nearly 37,000. Over 4,000 new, high-quality housing units of various types have been added, creating a vibrant character and strong offerings. On the office front, the vacancy rate is roughly half that of downtown Philadelphia, positioning King of Prussia as a high-performing commercial office market that is routinely significantly outpacing most of our suburban competitors as well. The community continues to see substantial development across new retail, restaurants, and entertainment offerings.

How do you promote the district to attract new businesses?

King of Prussia District has had numerous campaigns to attract businesses over the years. The most recent initiative is the HQKOP campaign, which is evolving into a new campaign set for release in 2026. This evolution is informed by extensive feedback from stakeholders, commercial brokers, and C-suite executives.

Consistently, the two most important factors highlighted by all groups — stakeholders, CEOs, commercial brokers, and residents — are access and amenities. This was repeatedly emphasized. These two elements are considered crucial for a community to thrive in the post-pandemic environment, helping companies encourage employees to return and fostering a dynamic live, work, play environment.

Why do you think big brands like Netflix choose King of Prussia?

King of Prussia is an exceptional hub for retail. In most major U.S. cities, core retail and department store anchors are situated downtown, but Philadelphia is an anomaly — its last downtown department store, a Macy’s, closed years ago. In King of Prussia, however, the retail scene is a juggernaut. The area is home to the world-famous King of Prussia Mall, boasting approximately 470 stores and nearly 3 million square feet of space, featuring major department stores like Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s.

Brands consistently choose King of Prussia due to the long-established strength of retail in the area and the presence of world-class facilities like the mall. King of Prussia has become a key testing ground for brands; many stores within the mall are the only locations in the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This market strength extends beyond traditional retail to entertainment, too. The decision by Netflix to open its first Netflix House in the country here in King of Prussia highlights this community’s strong appeal in both retail and entertainment. It’s the same reason Eataly chose King of Prussia as their first PA location.

What are your top priorities for the next three to five years?

King of Prussia is an established and successful economic hub poised for continued growth across several sectors. Projected areas of development include the expansion of existing retail and dining options, which is a community strength. Significant development is also anticipated in the family-oriented entertainment sector. Additionally, growth in residential development is expected, with demand continuing to remain strong. My organization will also continue to prioritize quality of life improvements such as park development and additional trails as well as maintaining our focus on business recruitment and retention.

Want more? Read the Invest: Philadelphia report.