News & Events

FOLLANSBEE - Local business owners on Monday learned about efforts by a regional economic development group and city officials to spur economic development in the southern half of Main Street.

News of the opening of a teen dance club there and the latest development in the establishment of a Sheetz store and gas station at the city's north end also came from individuals attending the meeting held at the Follansbee Community House.

Leading the meeting was Lou Stein, executive director of Valley Ventures Inc., who has been hired by the city to develop a plan for attracting businesses to Main Street and helping existing ones to expand or draw new clientele.

Stein said with input from city officials he has chosen to focus on a 12-block area of Main Street (state Route 2) between Allegheny and Duquesne streets as well as developing a plan for the development of 11 acres on Follansbee's north end and purchased by the city from Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. in 2001.

He said about 15 of 107 buildings in the southern half of Main Street are vacant, but he hopes to fill them with businesses offered by new entrepreneurs in 18 to 24 months.

Stein noted one of Valley Ventures' goals is to aid individuals with aspirations of starting their own businesses by assisting them in securing loans for start-up costs or referring them to professionals who can share their expertise.

He said he's talking with officials at two local banks about establishing a fund through which existing business owners or owners of vacant buildings can obtain funds to improve their facades.

Asked if local contractors would be sought for such improvements, Stein said he's not opposed to employing local contractors but has worked with an Ohio contractor who specializes in facade renovations that are relatively inexpensively.

He said some are skeptical that development can occur, but he said the city already has seen some new businesses open in recent months, and others are planned.

Stein cited Yours, Mine and Ours, a consignment shop that opened recently on the 900 block; and Ariana's, a restaurant slated to offer breakfast, lunch and space for private parties at the former Eagles Lodge in the next few weeks.

Stein said Lovie Zago and Dave Secrist, both of Follansbee, are preparing the lodge's second floor for use as a dance club aimed at youth ages 13-17.

The pair said the club will offer music by a disc jockey and possibly bands in the future, coin-operated game machines and a pool table.

Zago said they plan to open the club in June following an open house for parents.

Stein said to aid new and old businesses in attracting clientele, Valley Ventures is working with the Follansbee Chamber of Commerce to develop a brochure that would list all merchants and include a map to aid visitors.

Teresa Hedmond, a local business owner, suggested a sign bearing the names of all local businesses and similar to one posted in Mingo Junction's business district.

Stein also displayed an aerial photograph of the former Wheeling-Pitt property. He said he has divided the land, which is north and west of Brooke Plaza - the site of McDonald's, the Value-Fresh Food Store and other businesses - into seven lots because that would best accommodate small businesses. But he said the lots could be reconfigured to suit larger businesses.

In related business, Mayor Tony Paesano and City Manager John DeStefano met Monday morning with Lee Paul IV of Paull Capital LLC of Wheeling at the Wellsburg branch of Main Street Bank to finalize the sale of 2 acres west of Brooke Plaza for the construction of the Sheetz store and gas station.

Paull had submitted the sole bid of $600,000 for the property, which is adjacent to Veterans Drive and the site of the city's pony league field.

The city has prepared a site behind the Rite Aid store to serve as the new field for the pony league and men's softball league while seeking funds for a proposed athletic complex below Highland Hills.

DeStefano said construction of the new business is expected to begin in May.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)