News & Events

City Business Owners Receive Pep Talk
Tuesday, June 15, 2010

STEUBENVILLE - It wasn't billed as a pep rally.

But a room full of current and potential business owners heard words of encouragement, advice and enthusiastic support Monday during the Steubenville Revitalization Group's monthly meeting.

Approximately 45 people filled the downstairs dining room at Froehlich's Classic Corner restaurant to listen and discuss the state of the downtown business district.

"I worked downtown for 14 years before I left for a couple of years. I came back to start the Hometown Pharmacy in the Chase Bank building and I can tell you the downtown is a great place. That's why I came back," said pharmacy owner Susan Adams.

Phyllis Best of Wintersville said she is preparing to open a scratch and dent grocery store at 410 Market St. "by the end of July."

According to Lou Stein of Valley Ventures, "it will be an exciting business. Similar businesses are opening across the country and it will be another business on Market Street."

Sharon Stefan announced at the meeting she plans to open a gourmet coffee shop and upscale gift shop at 418 Market St. this summer.

And Stein said the former McCrory building on Market Street has had its front facade cleaned, "and we are looking for potential tenants for the building."

"Development takes time. You have to be patient. It can take two months to a year for a project. Until something opens it is not a done deal. We are only six months into a 36-month project," said Stein.

"Of the 46 storefront vacancies in the business district we have eight new businesses open and 14 more storefronts under development. It is going great. I am getting calls every day," added Stein.

"It's nice to see so many new faces tonight. As a group we are being heard. There is strength in numbers, and we need to support and help each other," remarked Greg Froehlich.

SRG President Jerry Barilla called for the group to consider creating a festive look in the downtown.

"We should take this on as a project. We are thinking about large flower pots. Or we still have brackets on the light poles where we used to hang flower baskets. We also need to make our store front windows alive and festive," said Barilla.

He also noted SRG representatives will ask for a meeting with Steubenville officials to discuss parking issues in the business district.

"Illegal parking was being closely monitored but that has ceased to exist for the past six weeks and we are starting to see day-long parking on the streets again. We need to get parking enforcement back on track again and I hope a meeting will resolve that issue," noted Barilla.

The Grand Theater restoration project is continuing and Scott Dressel of the Historical Landmarks Foundation said his group now is seeking a $1,000 donation from 120 businesses for roof replacement work.

"We are also trying to find a new location for Bishop Al Fenner's Shepherd's Walk Thrift Store so we can begin to start restoring the lobby of the theater," reported Dressel.

The car cruise-in on South Third Street on May 27 was declared a success by organizer Susan Probert.

"We had 55 cars, and the cruise-in went very well with the oldies concert that evening at the amphitheater. We met our goal of bringing people downtown for the concert. We are now planning for the next year," Probert told the group.

(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)