Major chains and independent startups bring economic energy to Steubenville

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio (WTRF) — Coffee, burritos, glamping, and a car wash.

What do these all have in common?

They’re new businesses buying space in Steubenville, as the city sees a well-deserved burst of economic activity.

Between major corporations, regional chains and independent stores, the city is welcoming so many new entrepreneurs they have to be marked off on a map.

Starbucks is headed to the Ollie’s parking lot, and Chipotle will be building burritos down the street in the Lowe’s parking lot.

Wash-Rite is expanding into Hollywood Plaza from Weirton and Wintersville, and Cubework at the mall wants to open a space for a more glamorous kind of camping, or ‘glamping.’

City Manager James Mavromatis says it isn’t hard to know why so much real estate is being bought: companies see the attendance from events like First Fridays on Fourth and the Nutcracker Festival.

“The businesses that come here, they do their demographics. They look, the mall is attracting people back again. Certain places here, 7 Ranges that’s there, Lowe’s that’s there.”

James Mavromatis, Steubenville City Manager

The new storefronts are in addition to the city’s more recent success stories.

In a matter of months 7 Ranges Entertainment has filled the Fort Steuben Mall parking lot with a mix of arcade games, bowling, axe throwing and dining.

They say bringing people back isn’t just about seeing an opportunity, but a passion to re-energize where you live.

“They fix the potholes. They want to make things, beautify the outside, make it easier for people to come in and bring people into this great establishment.”

Jessica Elias, Events and Marketing Coordinator, 7 Ranges Entertainment

Even with the uptick in activity, Mavromatis says city business still isn’t what he grew up with.

The closure of the Market Street Bridge has shut off an easy entrance to downtown, which once held clothing stores and many more restaurants.

He says there are only a couple of economic options with a city as old as Steubenville, and only one way toward the future: Stop by and buy something when they open the doors.

“You either fix up what’s there or you tear down and rebuild. And those are the two options that you have. But there is a lot of people that are looking to come into downtown with different businesses, and we just have to give them a chance.”

James Mavromatis, Steubenville City Manager

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTRF.