Pandemic hasn’t stopped retail interest in Salem

SALEM -- The COVID-19 pandemic apparently isn't stopping companies from investing in Salem, with several new locations of businesses, some new to the city, opening up in the past month and a half.

Quaker Steak & Lube, Chipotle, Dollar General, Circle K, Goodwill, Salem Music Centre, G.C. Murphy Bicycle Company, Meraki Beauty Parlor, A Touch of Gracious Living and the list goes on -- new restaurants to sample, new retail locations to shop, new stops for service.

"It's caused a buzz," Sustainable Opportunity Development Center Executive Director Julie Needs said. "People are calling and interested in properties."

There's a famous line in a movie that says, "If you build it, he will come."

In Salem's case, companies are building new structures, renovating old ones or moving into brand new or renovated structures across town.

The key, though, is they're staying in Salem. On top of that, Needs said more want in.

"We're business friendly. We have organizations that support our businesses. We help businesses start, grow, expand and survive," Needs said.

Due to the pandemic and the many rules for operating during such a challenging time, some entertainment complexes like the Salem Twin Cinema and the Salem Community Theatre remain closed. Other businesses have had to reinvent how they operate, many events that draw people to the business districts have been canceled and hours of operation have been cut short.

But according to Needs, the businesses remain. A few stores, such as Gordmans and Label Shopper, have closed permanently, and many employees of businesses experienced layoffs and shortened hours, but many of the restaurants and retail shops have found ways to reinvent themselves.

"I think Salem has fared very well through the pandemic because our businesses have educated themselves on how to stay open, how to operate safely," she said, adding, "they pivoted extremely well."

Some restaurants didn't offer take out, now they do. Some didn't use online ordering or even have an online presence, now they do. A lot of businesses now offer curbside pickup, too, which they didn't do before. Needs described it as a forced evolution.

One of the bright spots, even with the pandemic going on, some of the construction projects for businesses recently opened kept going and didn't give up on a Salem location.

"They continued to have faith in this community because the community is doing well," she said.

She pointed out that there's still work going on as more businesses continue to invest in Salem. Consumers National Bank is starting construction on a new bank building in the existing parking lot at the corner of Ellsworth and State. Across the street on the other corner, the Istocki family is investing in bringing back their EuroGyro restaurant by making repairs to the building. The White family has constructed a brand new Dunkin' Donuts building next to the old one on West State Street and they're transforming the old building into a new Dairy Queen. A new business called Cast Iron Soda Works is coming to downtown Salem in March.

Goodwill recently moved and expanded into the old Gordmans space at the Salem Plaza. Quaker Steak & Lube opened for takeout orders on Penn Avenue, part of the Timberlanes complex, just last week. Dollar General opened a brand new store on North Ellsworth Avenue not long ago, with the new, larger Circle K open on East State Street.

Part of the job of SOD Center is to help market properties that are for sale or lease, help with the planning to find the right business for the space and the right investor who will embrace the opportunity and who has the means to renovate if necessary so everybody can succeed, with the idea of attracting outside dollars to the community.

"We're going to focus on the positive growth and build on it," Needs said.

One way SOD Center has been helping existing businesses is by making them aware of the help that's out there due to COVID-19. For example, all active on-premises liquor permit holders are eligible to receive $2,500 from Ohio's Bar & Restaurant Fund, but they must apply by Dec. 30 at business help.ohio.gov. Small businesses, nonprofit organizations and U.S. agricultural businesses with 500 or less employees who suffered substantial economic injury from the pandemic can still apply for the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan.

To learn more about opportunities available or properties available for businesses in the downtown or throughout Salem, visit www.sodcenter.com.

mgreier@salemnews.net