Three new businesses have recently opened in Tallmadge, including a massage establishment, a driving school — both located on East Avenue — and a consumer loan operation on South Avenue.
The Tallmadge Therapeutic Massage & Wellness Center at 116 East Ave. offers customized massage therapy sessions for men and women, and children from 12 to 17 with a parent present.
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Owner Lisa Holbrook said she had been considering opening a business for several years while she worked as a therapist for Summa Health.
“I’ve been thinking about it quite a while,” she said. “I knew I couldn’t continue with hospice care. It was just taking its toll on me emotionally.”
Holbrook said she looked first in Mogadore, but chose Tallmadge when a suitable location became available.
“I was looking for a place to rent for quite a while,” she said.
Holbrook said the building owner worked with her on renovations, including four treatment rooms, drywall and flooring.
She said she has invested about $35,000 in her new business, with help from a Summit County small business loan at a low interest rate.
Holbrook said she intends to build her business with quality service and reasonable rates for clients.
“I opened this place to make it affordable,” she said.
Hourly rates at Tallmadge Therapeutic Massage & Wellness Center start well below comparable establishments, she said.
Massage therapists at the business are licensed by the State Medical Board of Ohio.
The business offers customized relaxation and therapeutic massages for its clients.
The businesses held a ribbon-cutting recently with Tallmadge Mayor David Kline, and opened on June 15, Holbrook said.
So far, business has been good and growing, Holbrook said.
“I plan on hiring more therapists as we grow,” she said.
Republic Finance offers assists with bill consoldation and more
Another new business, Republic Finance LLC, recently opened at 578 South Ave. It offers consumer loans, including bill consolidation loans, personal loans and emergency loans.
The company serves more than 300,000 customers in 200 communities in 10 states, including Ohio.
Driving Schools of Ohio adds new location
Driving Schools of Ohio has opened at 182 East Ave. It has locations throughout Summit County, including the new Tallmadge location.
It offers several programs for teens and new drivers. It also offers juvenile driver improvement programs and first offender classes.
The new business recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Kline and its instructors at the new office.
Kline said the three new businesses are indicative of strong business activity in the city.
“We’re doing extremely well in Tallmadge,” the mayor said. “We gauge that with income tax [receipts].”
Kline said receipts are above projections and the city shows growth in new and existing businesses.
“West Avenue, the corridor along there — which is more automotive — you see the car dealerships there expanding their presence,” he said.
He cited the expansion of Dermamed Coating Co., Jetpack’s renovation of the 83,000-square-foot Waltco building and Speelman Electric as examples of larger companies finding the city a good place to locate and grow. Jetpack and Speelman both employ 200 or more people.
Kline said businesses in the city, like those throughout the U.S., have a sustained labor shortage to deal with, but new business growth is good.
“I think it’s definitely recovering,” he said.
Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at [email protected] Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj.