One of the nation’s largest fast-food chains opened its first Ohio restaurant, a popular pizza chain started its first Southwest Ohio shop, a sub chain opened its first Ohio location, an upscale grocery store and a new shooting range that trains visitors for the zombie apocalypse all picked West Chester to open their businesses in 2012.
“New growth and ease of access are driving new people to West Chester and Liberty daily,” said Joe Hinson, president and CEO of the West Chester ▪ Liberty Chamber Alliance. “The multitude of cultures is embraced by the unique businesses that are opening up. They know that they have diverse clientele ready to buy.”
Ohio’s first Jack in the Box opened on Sept. 17 near the Tylersville Road exit off I-75. The opening caused so much interest that traffic was backed past the exit ramp on I-75 North, as many Ohioans tried to pull in the restaurants’ drive-thru.
According to Sean Lockovich, who is a regional marketing manager with Jack in the Box, the tacos and the all-day full menu (customers can order breakfast at night or a burger in the morning) are the main reasons people flock in the restaurant.
In addition to Jack in the Box, Mellow Mushroom picked West Chester to open its first Southwest Ohio location. The restaurant opened on Labor Day in the former Rafferty’s at 9238 Floer Drive and Union Centre Boulevard.
The pizza joint serves handcrafted pizzas, hoagies, salads, calzones and appetizers, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and chidren’s options, plus a full bar, with 24 craft beers on draft, a rotating bottled beer selection, wine and cocktails.
Goodcents Deli Fresh Subs, which has 96 locations in nine states, picked West Chester as its first Ohio location. The sub chain prides itself on its freshly baked bread, sliced-to-order meats, healthy food options and inexpensive catering.
The chain is also currently re-branding itself from Mr. Goodcents Subs and Pasta. The changes include the addition of wraps and a drive thru, as well as the elimination of pasta.
Opening its third Cincinnati location, Fresh Market opened a new location Aug. 22 off Tylersville Road, 7720 Voice of America Centre Drive.
Not only will the store provide customers with a unique shopping experience, Drewry Sackett, manager of PR and community relations for The Fresh Market, also said that the company plans on being an active member in the community by partnering with local food banks and by being involved with local schools.
Hoping to better prepare the public for the zombie apocalypse, Kevin Higgins opened a new shooting range Aug. 11 in West Chester called Shoot Extreme, 7773 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, that features zombie training.
How it works, is that Shoot Extreme uses Simunition FX, non-lethal, non-penetrating and non-toxic ammunition, so shooters can be provided defensive training in their shoot house lanes, which feature hallways and rooms similar to those in a home.
Other businesses opening in West Chester this year include Panda Express, 7943 Tylersville Road; The Spicy Olive, 7671 Cox Lane; Menchie’s, 8177 Princeton-Glendale Road; Freeze Yogurt Bar, 7721 Voice of America Centre Drive; and The LOFT at The Streets of West Chester.
In early 2012, Massage Envy Spa and Oasis Nail & Spa also opened their locations off Tylersville Road.
“As West Chester and Liberty Townships grow and develop, a few things remain the same. The area continues to be very transient, easily accessible north and south by I-75, and strategically east and west bringing our region together at its epicenter, Liberty and West Chester,” Hinson said.
In other business news, the White House Inn was transformed into an Italian restaurant called Casa Bianca.
The business community could receive another boost when the Liberty Town Square project is completed.
The $300 million retail, office, entertainment and residential development, which is expected to be similar to the Easton Town Center in Columbus and The Greene in Beavercreek, is expected to break ground this spring and open during the spring of 2015.
