Last year's opening of the Wal-Mart Supercenter, 929 E. State St., could be bringing myriad other businesses to the area, including a grocery-store competitor.
An ALDI discount food store, Staples office-supply store and Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse all could be new faces on East State Street in the coming months. Local businesses Bio-life Plasma and Ohio University Employees Credit Union also will be relocating to the street.
Athens Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Fred Baughman said Athens residents can thank Wal-Mart for being one of the major causes for many of the new businesses.
"Businesses have been downsizing their real estate departments," Baughman said. "Now, businesses just come closer to Wal-Mart."
East State Street development continued last year with the opening of Wal-Mart, Burger King and Ruby Tuesday - all part of phase one of a development project headed by Continental Properties, said Athens director of Code Enforcement Steve Pierson. Wal-Mart opened August of last year, Ruby Tuesday in Fall Quarter and Burger King moved from its Court Street location in October.
Phase two of the project consists of a 30,000 square-foot building meant for commercial businesses. Continental Properties, the development company heading the project, has a building permit for the site but has yet to receive clearance from the state to include businesses in the structure, Pierson said. The 30,000 feet could fit four businesses inside, and another building could be built to expand the commercial area, he said.
One of the stores planned for the complex will be Staples, and spokeswoman Julie Mittelman said the company chose the location because of high traffic flow and newer stores around the area.
"We look for a lot of commercial development when we place a new store." She said.
Mittelman said construction on the new site will start this week.
A home improvement center will be the focus of phase three of the project. Pierson received a site-filling permit request and a curb-opening permit request from Continental Properties, but has not yet received one for a building permit. Landscaping plans for phase three were stamped with a Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse logo, and Continental Properties representatives requested Pierson confirm a Lowe's could be built on the site.
But Pierson said what store goes on the property is not important in relation to the permit.
"I don't care if it says 'Lowe's' or 'Home Depot' or anything, I just make sure there's a home improvement center there," he said.
When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Lowe's could not confirm a proposed store in Athens.
The former home of Wolohan Lumber, 932 E. State St., could contain space for three businesses after permits are granted. ALDI discount food store has applied for a use permit with the city to make part of the store into a grocery, Pierson said. A spokesperson from ALDI could not be reached for comment.
Bio-Life plasma services also will be moving their offices to the old lumberyard. Space for a third business will be included in the building but no businesses have been announced for the space.
A new Arby's restaurant has been completed across from University Mall, 1002 E. State St., and construction for the new Casa Lopez restaurant has begun further east on East State Street.
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