Economic Development
Middlebury Market Place
EANDC is developing a $12 million dollar retail shopping center.
- East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation succeeded in bringing a full service supermarket to the East Akron Community. Middlebury, one of Akron’s oldest neighborhoods, has been without a major supermarket since the closure of the Acme-Click store in 1994. This 67,000 ft2 shopping center is the first new retail development built in the last 40 years within 1 mile of downtown Akron. The center addresses need for retail activities and job opportunities, which were needed in this part of east Akron. The center was built in 2004 on the Brownsfield site and now is an asset to the city's revitalization efforts.
- Dave's Supermarket features seafood, bakery, and delicatessen products. The competitively priced products are designed to attract the cost-conscious shoppers. Dave's Supermarket, Inc., retailer with 70 years of experience in urban areas marketing, became an anchor of the shopping center, located at East Exchange and South Arlington streets, previous site of the old ACME-Click building on East Exchange Street.
- The center is known as Middlebury Market Place, or the City's "Friendly Neighborhood Shopping Plaza". The primary purpose of the center is to serve people of the community in the best way possible. EANDC is the owner of the Middlebury Market Place. The 25,000 ft2 of retail stores supports supermarket., with an excellent mix of men's and women's apparel stores, restaurant, and a Beauty Supply store. The Middlebury Shopping Center is designed to provide convenient one-stop shopping and is expected to promote further redevelopment efforts in the neighborhood.
- Middlebury Market Place welcomes Small Smiles, Dental Office. Small Smiles offer services primary to children.
Groundbreaking - "from Planning to Action"
Middlebury groundbreaking ceremony picture is shown below, stay tuned for more information about other occupants at the Market Place.
Steve Saltzman of Dave's Supermarket and Grady Appleton of
EANDC
before the completion of the "supermarket" project
.
Planning Commission unanimously approved the development agreement. Commission member Louise Gissendaner said Dave's Supermarket should fit in perfectly in the low-income neighborhood: The independent grocer has been lauded in Cleveland for its ability to serve inner-city neighborhoods. "It's going to be a great addition ... and it's going to make a huge difference," she said.
Middlebury Market Place with its masonry facade, many windows and a clock tower provides an anchor to the neighborhood. Ample retail space is available.
For more information contact:
Fred Vaughn, Deputy Director
1046 S. Arlington Street
Akron, Ohio 44306
(330) 773-2772(
Email: fvaughn@eandcorp.org
Safe Harbor
Safe Harbor is a minority small business incubator and development center,
created to house new and existing service oriented businesses. The center
provides the coordination of variety services which support entrepreneurs
and existing small business ventures.
Safe Harbor is 90% leased (2007).
The Tenants of Safe Harbor Small Business Development Center include;
- Joann's Healthcare Nursing Services
- Summit Office Specialist
- HomeSense Enterprises