Welcome to Tallmadge: New businesses in 2021
Tallmadge's business community stayed steady in 2021, with very little turnover, city officials reported.
The city did, however, welcome a few new businesses in a variety of different sectors, from hair supply to oilfield services.
"Our businsess are doing extremely well," Mayor David Kline said. "Obviously, I still see employment signs and companies need to hire people, but that's nationwide. I think our restaurants are struggling a bit because of manpower, but all in all, I think there's not a whole lot of vacancies in town, and when a building is empty, we get phone calls and it's soon filling back up."
As of Jan. 5, the city had only 10,600 square feet of industrial space and 43.8 acres of industrial land available, economic development director Matt Springer said. There is also 54,258 square feet available for commercial space, about 67% of which is retail and 32% is office space. There is 23.47 acres of vacant commercial land.
Springer speculated that the vacant land is moving slowly because of delays due to the increased cost of materials.
Here's a look at some of the businesses that came to Tallmadge this past year:
Goodwill Industries, 501 South Ave., returned to Tallmadge in December after closing its Midway Plaza location in 2020. As planned, the new store next to Planet Fitness is smaller than its former site.
More: Goodwill finds new home in Tallmadge
Jetpack, 285 Northeast Ave., an Akron-based vitamin/nutrient fulfillment distribution center, is maintaining its headquarters in Akron, but purchased the former Waltco building and the 4.4 acres across the street in July to expand the quickly growing business. The Tallmadge space will house its manufacturing, distribution and fulfillment operations. Jetpack completed the move on Dec. 6, and is now operational.
More: Jetpack renovating Waltco building, already planning bigger expansion into Tallmadge
Diamond District Meets the Wig Hive, 71 West Ave., celebrated its ribbon cutting in September. The beauty shop is a collaboration between Tierra Brown and Denise Watkins, two Akron women who create and install custom wigs.
More: 'Will you do my hair?' Women entrepreneurs collaborate on one-stop hair shop in Tallmadge
Minnix Auto Sales, 431 West Ave., Unit A, is a family-owned pre-owned car dealership that opened in April. Zac Minnix, who previously ran car dealerships and his father David, a retired businesssman, had been talking about starting a business together for 10 years, and finally began looking for a space about two years ago.
Baker Hughes, 184 South Ave., an oilfield services company, opened a regional headquarters in Massillon in 2013, but moved to Tallmadge after the building was sold to Frito Lay for distribution. The 108-acre Massillon site was listed in February for $6.25 million. Baker Hughes' new 25,800 square foot home in Tallmadge was previously occupied by Kyoto Cooling.
Springer said Baker Hughes moved about 22 employees into the Tallmadge space with an average salary of about $90,000.
More: Industrial buildings, 108 acres for sale at $6.25 million in southeast Massillon
Akron Ambulatory Foot Surgeons, 20 South Ave., opened its third Tallmadge location in April 2021. Dr. Jeremy Davis works there on Wednesdays and Fridays, and the sole doctor at the location. He worked under Dr. David Elliot, the previous operator of the Tallmadge practice.
Valley Smoke Shop, 294 West Ave. opened in Tallmadge in December. It is the business's third location.
Reporter Krista S. Kano can be reached at 330-541-9416, kkano@thebeaconjournal.com or on Twitter @KristaKanoABJ.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Tallmadge brings in new businesses, maintains economy
