News & Events

Barilla sees a rebirth of downtown
Wednesday, July 15, 2009

STEUBENVILLE - Jerry Barilla has seen the best and worst of times in the city's downtown business district.

Now the owner of Frank and Jerry's Appliance Store on North Fourth Street and chairman of the Steubenville Revitalization Group says he believes new life and interest is returning to the downtown business area.

"We will soon see BookMarx open on North Fourth Street. Peter Marx was based in Georgia but because of connections to Steubenville he decided to relocate his book business to our community. He will have an excellent bookstore that also offers binding services, which isn't available in our town," said Barilla at Tuesday's Kiwanis Club meeting at the YWCA.

"Next to my store we are seeing a store called Journey Wear opening that will include vintage clothing on one side of the store and an art gallery on the other side of the room. This store is being opened by a young woman who has never had a business before but I believe her interest will spark more interest among young people who may be thinking about starting a business here," noted Barilla.

"There is now an 80 percent chance of a new restaurant opening up in the former Green Mill restaurant building. And the SoJo's hot dog stand will soon be moving inside in the building located behind its stand along with Old Town Coffee that will also be in the same building," said Barilla.

"And Ed Lloyd, a longtime businessman is considering opening a children's clothing store in the former Phil-Mor building on Market Street. A couple is preparing to open a candle and antique store on Market Street called MakePeace. And a developer is continuing to work on the former Richmond Brothers building at South Fourth and Market streets, where they hope to have a restaurant and a dance club for people under the age of 21," said Barilla.

"We are seeing a variety of people express their interest in starting a business in the downtown, from the young woman with no prior business experience to the established business owners. That is what is exciting to see as we work to revitalize the downtown," added Judy Bratten of the SRG.

"And while the SRG had the opportunity to obtain the former McCrory Building on Market Street, we have deferred to Valley Ventures which will accept the building from owner Harry Sigusmund and will open a Valley Ventures office in the building. The SRG will also open a permanent office in the building, which will give us a permanent home," cited Barilla.

Barilla also requested that the Kiwanis and other city service organizations help the SRG sponsor photo displays in empty store windows.

"For $210 we can have old photos blown up and put on display in the empty store windows until we get a business in the building," noted Barilla.

"And of course my pet project remains - establishing a Dean Martin museum in the downtown. We see people at the Historic Fort Steuben Visitors Center on a regular basis asking for information and material about Dean Martin. A museum would attract many more people to our community," stated Barilla.

Bratten said the growing interest in the downtown neighborhood has been reflected in a recent surge in SRG memberships.

"We have seen more people attending our monthly meetings because they believe in Steubenville and in the future of the downtown," said Bratten.