Sudden developments

By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
BOARDMAN -- Businesses suddenly are popping up on a once-vacant stretch of South Avenue.
Three new buildings have gone up since February in the area just south of Midlothian Boulevard, and a fourth is under construction.
Bill Roesti, a Realtor with Mayo & amp; Associates in Boardman, said 10 acres had been on the market for about three years without much interest until recently.
"It's like a logjam. When somebody makes the first move, others see what's happening, and it's attractive," he said.
Remaining for sale is a 2.5-acre parcel, which could be divided into two, Roesti said.
He is marketing the land for Skye Management, a company controlled by the Williamson family, which used to own WKBN TV and radio. WKBN towers are behind the land.
Roesti said the Williamson family, none of whom live in the area anymore, is selling some of its investments.
Starting off
Ghossain's Mid-East Bakery was the first to commit to buying part of the Skye Management land. It has moved its retail store and bakery from Market Street in Youngstown to a new building on South Avenue.
The 34-year-old business spent nearly $1.5 million on the project, including buying the 3 acres of land for about $60,000 an acre, said Fred Ghossain, co-owner.
The cost has been worthwhile, he said; retail sales are up 30 percent. The business makes pita and flat breads and sells other Middle Eastern food items.
Ghossain said the business never had a crime problem in Youngstown, but many shoppers say they feel safer at the new location.
Wholesale revenues also have grown, he said. The business provides products to stores, food-service companies and restaurants. Among its customers are restaurants in Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
New, automated equipment has allowed the company to boost production from 1,200 loaves an hour to 4,000 loaves an hour.
"Now we can accommodate our customers. Before, they would order 100 cases, and we'd only be able to give them 50," Ghossain said.
The business has nine full-time workers, an increase of five, and four part-time workers, an increase of two.
More customers
Sherwin-Williams also moved a store on Market Street in Youngstown to the South Avenue stretch.
Vince Fabrizio, store manager, said the new store is smaller but the layout is better designed for the business. The location is better because it is closer to Interstate 680, he said.
The store primarily sells paint and related supplies to contractors, but more residential customers are coming to the store since it opened, he said. Sherwin-Williams previously opened a store on Tiffany Boulevard in Boardman to better serve residential customers.
The third new building was a branch built by Sky Bank. The bank sold its former location at South and Midlothian to Walgreens, which is building a drugstore on the site. The bank branch there was torn down.
Frank Hierro, Sky regional president, said the 30-year-old branch on the corner didn't fit the bank's current model for branches. The new branch has more private offices for an investment representative, mortgage lender and personal bankers.
It also has improved technology at the drive-through lanes and ATM.
shilling@vindy.com