Wadsworth talks Chick-fil-A, new retail development

WADSWORTH — Likelihood of a Chick-fil-A opening in Wadsworth and a new land owner at Wadsworth Crossings Shopping Center were among topics discussed last week by city officials. Chick-fil-A first was brought up by at-large Councilman Dave Williams during a committee meeting. He asked economic development director Jim Gray what had been done to help that project's chances since Gray took over that job last year. "I've heard about this since before I was on council," Williams said. "We've talked to Mr. Gray as to when we're going to get a Chick-fil-A. We're third in line. I know we talked about this early on and when you came on board, we said this is one of the things we'd like to see." In December, the city of Medina revealed a Chick-fil-A would be coming to 1007 N. Court St sometime in the near future which follows construction of of a restaurant in Brunswick in front of Giant Eagle on Center Road, although a definitive end date for that work has yet to be determined. Gray went over numerous measures he's taken to reach out to the company including direct communication with their corporate office and speaking with a franchise owner in Montrose. "This is high on the priority list of the community," he said. "I've talked to my colleagues in Knox County, Brunswick, and Medina. I've reached out to Chick-fil-A, written to corporate to talk to their commercial real estate people without much success so far." Williams said he's also encountered hurdles in efforts to bring the company to Wadsworth. "They have their own way of doing things and I've gone over some of this same stuff," he said. "I think it really comes down to a site selector. The operator from the Montrose location, who lives in Sharon Township, has spent quite a lot of time with me and talked about how business has grown at that location." During the same meeting, Gray told officials that a Michigan-based company has purchased multiple lots in the Wadsworth Crossings Shopping Center, 1183 Williams Reserve Blvd., and was planning for new retail space. Gray said the new owner has purchased lots located between Target and Kohl's as well as space running along Williams Reserve all the way out to State Route 261. "We met with (the Michigan company) this past Friday and with the realtor and they're very near signing a contract on one of the empty spaces, the portion they purchased," he said. "That's imminent and that will be a retail development there in one of those spots." He added a Jiffy Lube also is still on track to be opened nearby in front of Lowe's. Contact reporter Jonathan Delozier at 330-721-4050 or jdelozier@medina-gazette.com.