Problems have plagued businesses on East State Street for more than a year with closings and road construction, but with store openings and improving economic conditions in Athens, business could stabilize.
Last year, Ames Department Store and Kmart shut their doors. Big Bear and J.C. Penney both are leaving University Mall, 1002 E. State St., and renovations will start early next year at Athens Mall, 765 E. State St., that will cause inconveniences for stores.
But, Staples soon will open in Athens, with Petland, Blockbuster and Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse following.
Athens Area Chamber of Commerce President Larry Payne said the business closings are a continuation of a trend started last year in Athens, where one business comes in, but another leaves.
Athens seems to be following the national trend - national corporations having trouble. The new store openings will offset the positions lost and bring in more traffic locally and regionally, he said.
The actual number of retail jobs is the same or more with Wal-Mart
Payne said.
Some small businesses near Wal-Mart have thrived with increased traffic, he said, citing Mac's Thrifty Store, 940 E. State St. The finished road construction should help smaller businesses even more.
Overall, the chamber has about the same number of members this year - more than 450 businesses and individuals - as last year, with a general increase in membership during the last seven years.
Susan Abdella, director of the Small Business Development Center, said even with an improving economy and more small businesses starting to expand in Athens, they have a hard time competing with the prices offered by chains.
They need to find a niche and offer good customer service, she said.
I'd rather go to a store and have them say 'Hi Susan
' Abdella said.
It has been difficult for some stores in Athens because people can shop online and will travel further to find variety, she said, when asked about the recent closings.
It's hard for them to compete when people will go to Lancaster and Columbus
she said.
Andria Trivisonno, an Ohio University senior studying telecommunication, said that when she goes shopping she usually takes the entire day and goes to Columbus.
Shopping in Athens is definitely non-existent
she said.
There are some places in the Uptown area, but no brand-name stores like Old Navy, Abercrombie or Express, for students to shop at, Trivisonno said.
Stacy Hedrick, an OU junior studying sociology, said she shops mostly at home.
I don't shop around here
she said.
However, with some clothing stores closing, the remaining stores have an opportunity to pick up more customers, Abdella said.
The Small Business Development Center is part of OU's Voinovich Center and provides business consulting to existing and starting Southeast Ohio businesses.
Abdella said the development center recently has gotten more clients because when large corporations close, many people without jobs have ideas to start new businesses.
The manufacturing industry has begun to look better since this summer, and small businesses are not as worried about operating costs, but are starting to look at improvement and expansion instead, she said.
Overall, there has been a shift from manufacturing to service jobs in Athens, which means many workers have had pay cuts, and that there is a decrease in the quality of jobs, Abdella said. There also has been an increase in home-based businesses.
Ohio is good at developing new products that provide new jobs for the ones lost, Abdella said.
Ohio has to stay ahead of the curve
she said.
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