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WINSTON-SALEM -- The latest unemployment numbers show a rise in the number of North Carolinians out of work, but a boom in Winston-Salem retail space is offering signs of improvement.

"It's really exciting for the entire community because there had been an effort for a long time to get Trader Joe's to come to the community and I think it just validates that we have a very robust retail market," said Gayle Anderson, the president of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce.

The grocery store is slated to open Oct. 26 off South Stratford Road, and will begin an in-store hiring period Sept. 24. The company will not disclose how many positions are available.

"They're very customer service driven, so we would anticipate a significant number of jobs," said Anderson.

Meanwhile, just down the road, Gander Mtn. will open a new Triad location at the end of the year, carrying all-things outdoors. "This one will be mostly hunting but they will have the full selection of the Gander products," said Evan Yanik, the store manager at Gander Mtn. in Greensboro.

Yanik explained the Winston-Salem location will open by the end of the year, adding around 75 employees.

Both stores are a welcome addition to the Forsyth County workforce, after seeing an increase in unemployment from 8.9 percent in May to 9.5 in June.

"It says that we're coming out of the recession and better times are ahead because you generally don't look at retail expanding until people feel fairly optimistic about the long term perspective for the community," said Anderson.

Economic leaders are hoping to see the new stores pull in interest from other retailers looking to expand. "A lot of times retailers will take a look when a whole new brand comes into a community to see what the response is," said Anderson.