Downtown Steubenville Ready to Welcome New Businesses

‍The Downtown Steubenville Business Association extends our sincere support to the businesses, employees, and customers affected by the closure of Fort Steuben Mall.

‍For the businesses inside the mall, this is a difficult disruption. These are local businesses that have served customers, provided jobs, and invested time and energy into Steubenville. We wish them well as they consider their next steps and would love to see them succeed in a new location in Steubenville.

‍We also want to make a clear invitation: if you are a business interested in opening, relocating, or expanding in downtown Steubenville, please reach out to the Downtown Steubenville Business Association. We would be happy to connect you with good landlords and building owners, share information about available spaces, and talk through the momentum building downtown.

‍Downtown offers unique strengths: historic buildings, walkable storefronts, local character, nearby institutions, public events, and the chance to be part of rebuilding Steubenville’s historic core. But this is not either/or. We want to see businesses succeed across the city and region, and downtown’s momentum should complement the success of other commercial areas.

‍Downtown still has challenges. Many historic buildings need investment, repairs, and creative reuse. And the Downtown Steubenville Business Association’s initiatives and the work of its members, other businesses, and many partners are working hard to improve business conditions downtown.

‍But downtown is open for business, is welcoming other new businesses, and real progress is happening:

·       Work on a new brewery project is moving forward near North Fourth and Market Streets, with local coverage also highlighting the potential neighborhood impact.

·       The College of St. Joseph the Worker continues to grow downtown, with more students living in the historic core, buildings under renovation, and continued attention from national publications like The New Yorker.

·       Festivals and cultural events continue to draw people downtown, including First Fridays on Fourth, Nutcracker Village, events at Historic Fort Steuben, and Saturday Market on Fourth.

·        State and federal investment tools are becoming more important downtown, including historic rehabilitation tax credits, the possibility of benefits from a new Opportunity Zone, and recent capital grant opportunities.

·       Steubenville Works has grown its co-working space serving entrepreneurs, remote workers, and small businesses.

·       A new education technology startup, Bookish, has launched downtown, showing that downtown can support not only restaurants and retail, but also technology, education, and professional startups.

·       The Steubenville Grocery Box and its partner businesses continue to add new offerings, from wine nights to fresh fish events and the recently completed commercial kitchen.

·       New and expanded businesses continue to add life downtown, including the Holy Face of Jesus Store, an expanded children’s area at BookMarx, and more pottery classes, wheels, and workspace at Spyridon Studios.

·       And much more — follow the latest updates on the Downtown Steubenville Business Association news blog.

To the businesses affected by the mall closure: we wish you and your employees well. And to any business looking for a new home, the Downtown Steubenville Business Association is ready to help.

About the Downtown Steubenville Business Association

The Downtown Steubenville Business Association was formed a year ago to help improve business conditions in Steubenville’s historic downtown. Our mission is to grow and attract local businesses in Downtown Steubenville and inspire mission-aligned nonprofits, governments, investors, and leaders to partner with us. With more than 20 members, DSBA brings together businesses, nonprofits, property owners, government partners, investors, and community leaders who want to see downtown continue to grow.

Downtown already benefits from great festivals, cultural events, and people-facing organizations that bring energy and visitors into the district. DSBA’s role is different and complementary: we focus on connecting business and building owners with decision-makers, improving communication with government, encouraging investment, and helping the people and organizations with resources work together more effectively.

And if you are a business or nonprofit downtown, we would love to have you join the DSBA as a member. Please reach out to us any time for more information - Join — Downtown Steubenville Business Association.