Business Boomed in Strongsville in 2011

There's a recession out there, sure, but it was hard to tell by the amount of retail activity in Strongsville this year.

"We've been very lucky," Economic Development Director Brent Painter has said.

Here's an overview of what went on in town:

Openings

opens a sandwich shop on Pearl Road.

chooses Strongsville for a superstore.

Michael Symon opens a restaurant in the Greens of Strongsville.

coffee shop and Italian pastry business launches on Prospect Road.

builds on Royalton Road.

opens a new bakery in Strongsville Towne Centre.

sets up shop in a new retail plaza on Pearl Road.

opens in the same retail plaza, joining an existing Malley's in Westfield SouthPark.

 opens in the Plaza at SouthPark.

expands its Pearl Road candy and ice cream shop

In the Works

A is under construction on Royalton Road next to Rockne's, with a Jan. 12 opening set.

t was supposed to open in December at the corner of Prospect and Royalton roads, but is now expected to be completed early in 2012.

plans to open on the upper floor of the former Bally's building on Pearl Road.

built the new plaza that contains Malley's and Dunkin' Donut and will move into its slot soon.

 will take over the site in a few weeks.

expects to open a guilt-free cupcake shop on Royalton Road early next year.

announce they will open an unnamed eatery in the Plaza at SouthPark in 2012.

got city approval to turn the former Ethan Allen store on Howe Road into a full-service gym.

A new developer took over the roads and is lining up tenants as soon as legal issues are cleared up. restaurant already applied for a liquor license there, but pulled it because of some technicalities.

announced plans to close its SouthPark store and on Pearl Road on the site of Strongsville Golf. Construction is to start next year if voters approve a rezoning on the March ballot.

Other Retail Moves

Our survey doesn't include all the activity at mall, which saw a this fall.  

Borders closed all its stores this year. The Strongsville site is vacant, but officials said there has been interest in it.

Palate restaurant left its Pearl Road location, and closed in March.

sought to open a buffet on the lower level of the Bally's building, but the plan was turned down because of a lack of parking.