News & Events

Great Things Happening Downtown
Monday, May 03, 2010

Great things are happening in downtown Steubenville. There is a wonderful resurgence of attitude, commitment and investment taking place by building owners, business owners and entrepreneurs from Steubenville and from outside the area.

A can-do attitude has taken a firm hold on the historic downtown business district. During the past six months, a variety of new and unique businesses have opened their doors in the downtown business district. Some of them are already contemplating expansion.

In addition to the variety of businesses already opened, there are eight additional storefronts currently under development with specific announcements of tenants coming during the next couple of months.

The group that originally started the push for revitalization of the downtown area is the Steubenville Revitalization Group. This group was originally started by a small, but determined, group of downtown business people and a handful of other hardworking folks who care deeply about the downtown community.

After organizing a core group and agreeing on a mission in its first year, the group decided to take the step to take its goals of revitalizing the historic downtown district to the next level. The SRG made the decision to retain Valley Ventures to develop a comprehensive and implementable (key word) plan to restore and revitalize the core 12-block focus area of the historic downtown during a 36-month period. This plan was developed last summer, and introduced to the full SRG membership and the general public in late September. Since that time, much positive energy and activity has been regularly occurring throughout the downtown.

Just last week, as a result of all this positive energy, a new group has been formed to focus on saving and restoring the Grand Theater on South Fourth Street. The restoration of the Grand Theater will enable live plays, concerts, recitals, movies and other performing arts to be available once again in our historic downtown.

As always there were (and still are) some naysayers doubting whether revitalization of the downtown is possible. My answer to them is always that everything is impossible until somebody does it.

I tell the doubters they can choose to dismiss what we say will be happening, but to watch closely for the ongoing business openings, successes and developments that are actually occurring.

As outlined in the master plan, downtown Steubenville is beginning to take shape as a lifestyle center. A lifestyle center is a pedestrian-friendly center where citizens will now have the opportunity to work, shop in unique stores, dine at quaint eateries, take in entertainment and cultural events and live downtown again in trendy, loft apartments. This is not some theoretical plan for some future time, but is representative of what is currently occurring throughout the downtown area.

Unlike many cities, historic Steubenville is very fortunate to have retained a significant infrastructure of grand, historic buildings which many cities can only dream of having available for redevelopment. While pessimists may look at vacant buildings as problems, optimists, such as myself, see them as wonderful opportunities.

The many fine businesses that have been located downtown for many years are now being joined by new businesses and entrepreneurs. In the coming months more new businesses and facilities will be joining in to provide additional retail, restaurants, fine arts galleries, museums, entertainment facilities, professional offices and loft apartment living.

It is important to note that all of this is happening through private development and investment, not through government funding. People should not look to the government to create jobs or develop businesses.

Government's role is to efficiently operate the important city services for its residents and to create a climate of cooperation by working closely with building owners, business owners, entrepreneurs and investors to facilitate the significant ongoing and future investment that will be taking place throughout the downtown.

In my discussions and interactions during the past couple months with the new city manager and other city personnel, I have been very pleased with their positive attitudes in cooperating and working closely with the private sector development that is taking place by businesses, building owners, contractors and developers. This spirit of cooperation is essential to stimulate and continue this exciting revitalization of Steubenville's downtown.

If you currently own a business in the region or are thinking of starting a business, I invite you to come and join the ever growing family of businesses that are seeing the unique opportunities that are available in historic downtown Steubenville.

You can contact me at Valley Ventures Inc. at (304) 748-1525  or e-mail me at loustein@valleyventures.org to discuss this business opportunity in greater detail. We can assist with financing, business planning and marketing to expand or start your new business in the downtown area. The discussions are strictly confidential. I look forward to hearing and working with any and all business owners and entrepreneurs to help share our vision.

(Stein is the executive director of Valley Ventures Inc.)