News & Events

SMART Centre Opening
Friday, May 07, 2010

Photos by Scott McCloskey
Robert Strong, co-owner of Smart Centre Market, looks over a rubber replica of a Velociraptor head during the store’s grand opening Thursday

WHEELING - Visitors to Centre Market can now examine a giant-toothed replica of the jaw of a Tyrannosaurus Rex while enjoying some hand-dipped ice cream.

A concept that has involved years of planning has finally become a reality for Robert and Libby Strong, co-owners of the new Smart Centre Market - an interactive science store at the corner of 22nd and Market streets in Center Wheeling. The store hosted a grand opening and ribbon-cutting celebration Thursday morning.

Dinosaur replicas, fossils, telescopes, microscopes, science supplies, kits and toys, nature art and even an aquatic caddisfly larva actually making jewelry components are just a few of the many things patrons can expect to see while visiting the business. Throughout the store there are unique and educational displays and hands-on exhibits that children and adults can use that demonstrate common science concepts.

Strong said after conducting local science camps for tens of thousands of students throughout the region for more than 16 years and visiting many science centers and stores throughout the country, he and wife Libby slowly accumulated an abundance of information to apply to their own store. Strong said each time they visited a science store they would inquire about what items were popular with youngsters.

Strong said their new store has a theme of time and space.

"If you talk to kids about what they really like ... they like space, and they like big ancient things that use to lumber around the earth. We've accumulated a whole bunch of 'wow' stuff to sort of get kids in the mood to do science," he said. "We're just real excited to get this off the ground."

The Strongs are also proud that they have been supportive of other community businesses and ventures. They were able to purchase a number of old, wooden shelves and fixtures during a garage sale at the Capitol Theatre last summer. Strong said a lot of the items they purchased are a great fit for their store.

The Strongs said they would like to thank Lou Stein, executive director of Valley Ventures, who was instrumental in helping them through the entire process of setting up the business. They also wanted to thank all the friends and volunteers who put in many hours to help them get the store ready.

"This has truly been a group effort," Strong added.

Strong said they also had a tremendous amount of assistance from Ray and MaryEllen Garton of Prehistoric Planet in Barrackville, W.Va., in setting up the life-sized replicas of prehistoric creatures.

"We're just happy to be able to offer this to the community, and we've had a lot of positive comments so far," said Libby Strong.

The Smart Centre Market Store hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and the Strongs can open Sunday or Monday evenings for groups or parties by appointment. For additional information, call 304-233-4667 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              304-233-4667      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.