Tallmadgeexpress.com - Businesses opening in, around city

by Amanda Harnocz

Reporter

Tallmadge -- Many new businesses are opening in and around the city, providing new jobs and places to dine, drink coffee and -- a place to manufacture nasal strips?

The most recent business opening in Tallmadge is Dermamed Coatings Co., which makes items for the medical field such as various tapes, plastics and wound-care items.

Dermamed is opening a 2,500-square-foot facility on Progress Boulevard and is expected to bring about 15 new jobs to the city, Mayor Christopher Grimm said, noting the company currently employs about 40.

This is the third building in the area the company has, the first in Tallmadge, according to Grimm.

Grimm said the company may open a second building in the city as well.

"It's a company that is growing by leaps and bounds," he said.

Construction expected around Circle

Developers of two new buildings set for construction this summer on the Circle -- Dunkin' Donuts replacing the Wally Waffle building and a four-tenant building replacing the former Big Boy building -- are finalizing plans and applying for a building permit, according to the project's architect Jim Evans of James Douglas Evans Architect Inc.

Dunkin' Donuts is expected to create 20 new jobs in the city.

Unfortunately, the Wally Waffle building located at 196 Tallmadge Circle, cannot be demolished until a separate gas service is run for the building, he said.

"The gas service that feeds Little Caesars Pizza goes through the Wally Waffle building," Evans explained, adding, it would be problematic to turn off Little Caesars' gas to demolish the vacant building.

The second Circle project, a building at 116 Tallmadge Circle, still needs tenants, according to Evans.

"The project is alive and well," Evans said. "We just need to shift gears, find some tenants and move forward."

New Brimfield business

A Beef 'O' Brady's restaurant opened July 7 in Brimfield across from Tallmadge Commons at 3975 Cascades Boulevard.

"We looked in many different areas, but once we saw the development here and the surrounding communities, we knew it was the right fit," said co-owner Bob Frangos.

Frangos and his three partners -- Dave Heffelman of Stow, Don Bullock of Tallmadge and Andy Maimona of Hudson -- have been considering opening a Beef 'O' Brady's for years, according to Frangos.

The restaurant employs about 38 people and Frangos said he hopes to expand by opening a second restaurant in the Stow and Hudson area.

Beef 'O' Brady's is a "Florida-based family sports pub" and while there is a full service bar, Frangos said the restaurant will be family-oriented.

While he hopes the restaurant provides a "third place" for people to go, besides work and home, Frangos said he is also contributing to area cities by sponsoring Little League teams.

Beef 'O' Brady's sponsored four teams in Tallmadge, three in Brimfield and one in Mogadore, said Frangos, adding, he hopes to give back to area communities by offering free meals to children in local school districts who are excelling academically.

E-mail: aharnocz@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3911

Special to Record Publishing Co.

(EX beef restaurant) A Beef 'O' Brady's restaurant opened in Brimfield July 7 across from Tallmadge Commons on Cascades Boulevard. The restaurant is a family sports pub that plans to give back to the community by offering free meals for students who do well in school and the restaurant has already sponsored Little League teams in area cities, including Tallmadge.