RESTORING BELMONT

Prospects are good for development, and many small businesses have contributed to the revival.

LIBERTY — Belmont Avenue is experiencing a boom that’s been buoyed by Wal-Mart.

There’s excitement about the increased traffic and people that the discount giant will draw to the Liberty Plaza and surrounding area. Wal-Mart opens Wednesday.

“We have a long way to go, but we’re going in the right direction,” said Pat Ungaro. He said when he became township administrator seven years ago, there were many empty storefronts along Belmont, and Liberty Plaza was half empty.

“An empty commercial district ... affects the market value of homes,” he said.

The township is in a race of sorts — competing with other communities to attract businesses.

“I have people coming in every week to look at properties,” Ungaro said, pointing out the MetroPlex.

He noted that the former sites of the Ramada Inn and Kmart have been bought by developers. “They’ve taken down the buildings and made the property environmentally clean,” he said.

Ungaro said there is activity behind the scenes, so to speak, as out-of-towners visit the sites and assess their potential as places of business. “We have good prospects, and there is a lot of activity around the Ramada site.”

“What I think is amazing is that during the worst recession in 100 years and money being so tight, businesses have located on Belmont,” Ungaro said. “When money was available, Belmont lost businesses.”

Big stores such as Giant Eagle and Wal-Mart are good anchor assets on Belmont Avenue, Ungaro said. But, he noted the myriad of small businesses “contribute greatly to the revitalization.” A $3 million investment in the Days Inn about two years ago also has contributed to the revitalization on Belmont.

Founded by Rose and Herbert Kravitz in 1939 on Youngstown’s North Side, Kravitz Delicatessen, 3135 Belmont, relocated to Liberty in 1970.

“We moved to Liberty because it was a business center,” Kravitz said. And, he added that state Route 193 is a “major business corridor.”

Kravitz said business had “dropped off” and attributed that to doctors’ offices and other businesses moving and changes at nearby hospitals. But, he’s engaged in a marketing campaign including billboards promoting the deli, and it’s working.

Kravitz said there is “no question” that Wal-Mart will increase traffic and then business for him and others.

For the deli, it already has.

“Last Wednesday, there were 25 people from Wal-Mart here ... managers, supervisors ... they’re regulars,” Kravitz said.

Kravitz said he’s sprucing up the deli with a new sign to come next week.

Frank Occhibove, manager of Jimmy’s Italian Specialties, 3230 Belmont, said the family business started in 1974 in Brier Hill and relocated to Liberty in 1983. It moved to its current location in the former Ponderosa restaurant building because the business needed more space. The building was remodeled, 8,000 square feet was added for a dining area and larger kitchen.

“The township and trustees have been so supportive,” Occhibove said.

Occhibove said Jimmy’s has a following of “loyal customers.”

“We have people come from Cleveland, Akron and Pittsburgh,” he said, noting lunch meats, special grocery items, breads and pastries are big attractions.

“We’re anticipating more traffic,” he said. “We’re focusing more on luncheon specials.”

There also are grilled paninis, hot and cold subs, oven-baked specialties and pizza along with a relatively new “create your own salad” station.

Occhibove said Wal-Mart will bring more traffic into the township, and that will help many businesses. But he also noted it’s up to each business to create a unique spot.

“Once you stop tweaking, you close the doors,” he said, noting that he monitors what’s selling and what’s not and makes adjustments accordingly.

Jane Humenny, owner of Rak’s Nearly New at 3800 Belmont, bought a thriving consignment business but has seen it “double in the last couple of years.”

She said she “grew up at Hill’s at the Liberty Plaza” and is “happy to see Wal-Mart come in.”

With increased traffic on Belmont, Humenny also is expecting more people to stop at her resale shop to see what she has to offer. And in September, she plans to adjust her hours Tuesdays and Thursdays to stay open later.

Additionally, Humenny said she “spruced up” the outside by painting it.

“I have a wonderful landlord,” she said, noting that the business will celebrate its 21st year in October with specials and refreshments.

Janice Ligenza, manager of Niagara, 3622 Belmont, which sells recliners with massage rollers with a side business of antiques, said the business was in the Liberty Plaza for some 40 years.

“Wal-Mart pulls people, and we expect to see an increase,” she said.

She noted the recliners are a “niche business,” and people find the store.

Tom Vigarino, manager at Rotelli, 4698 Belmont in Churchill Commons Plaza, where Giant Eagle is located, described the restaurant as the “first place people see coming into Liberty and the last place going out.”

He said many customers last weekend attended the air show, and he expects the Wal-Mart traffic to bring in even more customers. The restaurant has been there 21‚Ñ2 years, and other locations are in Boardman and Austintown.

“We have regular customers from 21 to 85 years old,” he said. “It’s a nice atmosphere — affordable and casual.”

“We have a great happy-hour and lunch specials,” he added.

Vigarino also noted that the restaurant has made itself part of the Liberty community by contributing gift cards and other donations to churches and other nonprofit organizations.

Pat Ungaro, Liberty Township administrator, provided a list of businesses in Liberty. They are:

Olympic Dreams Gymnastics, Atlas Rehabilitation, Sicilian’s Spa and Salon, Sicilian’s Tanning, D and P Dance Studio, Abstract Stained Glass, Nona’s Family Closet, Jerusalem Foods, Pizza Joe’s, Rent a Center, DFW Furniture, Movie Gallery, Retina Associates, Giant Eagle, Sure Shots Photography, Citi Financial, Weather Tite Windows, Therapy Health Center, Curves, Hairstyling Concepts, Therapy and Health Care Products, Quality Heating, Allstate Insurance, Fiesta Hair, MVI, Redstone, One Stop, Jimmy’s Italian Specialties, Alltell, Famous Hair, Subway, Higher Level Window Washers, Dollar General, Shell, Rotelli, Liberty Music Lesson Center, Adtronico, Nurse Call Inc. Healthcare Services, Cellular One, Verizon, National College, Falcon, Belmont Confections, Charley’s Grilled Subs, Hookah Cafe, Davis Accounting, Nonni’s Restaurant, Molly Maid, Safe House, First Place Bank, Diocese of Youngstown Federal Credit Union, Kentucky Fried Chicken, HNS Polygraph Services, Express Fuel Mart, Coney Island, Golden Rule Healthcare, Cafe Nu, Great Clips. A. E. Vea Fencing and Karate Studios and Siedler Engineering.