The Herald-News - News Story

As flatlining retailers around the region shut their doors, Dayton's retail industry seems to be catching its second wind.

Two more vendors are set to open for business in the coming months in Dayton, with more possibly on the way, according to developer Scott Hale of Dayton-based Anchor Commercial Development. Meanwhile, the new Peebles preparing to open in Dayton spent Thursday recruiting employees.

Holly Williams of Dayton came to the job fair hoping to land a position. She's excited about the benefits Dayton might reap with fresh business coming to town.

"I think it's awesome," she said. "It's really building Dayton up. That's going to help out the economy right here."

A new expansion to the Dayco Crossing shopping center on Dayco Drive in Dayton is under construction and will soon house a Petsense and a Little Caesar's Pizza, Hale said.

Petsense is a chain pet store that is "rapidly growing throughout the country and is mainly located in rural markets," according to its Web site.

Little Caesar's franchise owner Tom Getz was on site Thursday morning to take a look at the soon-to-be location for his newest pizza parlor. The Dayton location will provide about 30 jobs, Getz said, and will be the 11th store in his regional franchise.

Anchor Development is shooting to have the expansion ready to open by October 1, according to Hale.

"These will make a very welcome addition for this end of town," Hale said.

He said Dayton might even welcome more additions in the future. Another retailer is preparing to move into the storefront currently occupied by Woods Tae Kwon Do Academy, next to the old Goody's storefront. The martial arts business will move to the new center, Hale said.

Hale wouldn't identify the retailer, citing ongoing lease negotiations, but he said it's a name folks will recognize. Plus he said his company is courting other big vendors for Dayton's distant future.

"We're working hard to bring retailers to this area," Hale said. "We've got pretty big plans coming up for this end of town."

These openings, coupled with the recent openings of Tractor Supply and Shoe Sensations, could plow the path for a smooth walk to economic recovery, officials said.

"Any new retail establishment will help the situation," Dayton City Manager Frank Welch said.
"I think we're really fortunate because we're getting businesses, whereas other places are losing them."

Dayton's Goody's location was filled within weeks of the store shutting down under bankruptcy pressure, while other communities are still reeling from the merchant's absence.

Welch added that the additions will help boost sales tax revenue, though he said Dayton's revenue has stayed fairly consistent throughout the recession.

Meanwhile, Peebles, is poised to replace the Goody's storefront,. The clothes merchant is set to open its doors August 6.

After about an hour and a half of the job fair Thursday, Peebles District Manager Tom Ewing estimated that at least 75 people had shuffled through the Rhea County Welcome Center, where the fair was held.

He said the company will initially hire about 40 employees to man the store for the first couple weeks, then will whittle down to about 15 to 20 after that.

Williams said she was there trying to secure more job security, even though she has a job as a reading assistant at Rhea Central Elementary and her husband works for La-Z-Boy.

"Every little bit helps," she said. "We're just trying to make sure we don't' get caught in a bind."

Michael Reneau can be contacted at michael.reneau@rheaheraldnews.com.