Business

Marietta sees changes in downtown businesses

MARIETTA -- Just past mid-summer, businesses are coming and going in downtown Marietta, an ebb and flow not uncommon in the city's main historic district.

New businesses in progress include Rockstar Wellness, which is moving into the space at 249 Second St. previously occupied by the River City Antique Emporium. Rockstar's Facebook page indicates it will be hiring staff for services that include group fitness, nutrition coaching and personal training.

The project is being headed up by Rachel Burnham, whose Wellness by Rachel brand includes instruction at Stacey's Dance Studio on Pike Street and MOV Fitness in the Frontier center.

Burnham could not be contacted for this story.

At 200 Front St., in the corner storefront previously occupied by Top Drawer Design, renovations continued for the move-in of McKenna's Markets, a small chain based in Cambridge that specializes in delicatessen foods, sandwiches and baked goods.

Further up the street, Emanuel's Chef's Restaurant and Bakery is in the process of closing down its operations at 286 Front St. after nearly four years in business. The restaurant specialized in dishes, baked goods and beverages with exotic menus using fresh ingredients. Owner David Labes confirmed that the business is closing but declined to say anything further.

At 216 Front St., Strahler's Ink design and printing is settled in after a move a few months ago from 116 Putnam St. Caleb Strahler said Friday the move was driven in part by the need for additional space to accommodate new equipment and product lines, but he and his brother, Jacob Strahler, wanted to keep the business downtown.

"The foot traffic is good, and here we've got a parking lot across the street," Caleb said. "For example, the fire department just stopped in here one day and ordered some things."

The business provides design and printing services for items ranging from beverage cozies and t-shirts to vehicle wraps, banners and signs.

"Downtown is really a community, we help each other, we know the other businesses," he said. "We will probably eventually expand and have to move to accommodate new equipment, but we will keep a downtown shop as well."

On Front Street across from the Lafayette Hotel, the Rossi Pasta storefront, a fixture for more than a decade, closed up for good on July 12.

The store had announced it was for sale in May, but having not received a suitable offer, announced in June it was closing. Rossi had been in business in Marietta since 2000, carrying gourmet and custom lines of hand-made pasta, sauces and other products.

"There was a huge response after we announced a closing sale, people came in and bought large quantities of our products," Steve Keiser of Christy & Associates, the business management firm that owned Rossi, said this week.

The entire product inventory is now sold, he said, and only a few employees remain at the production center in the Broughton industrial complex on State Route 821, overseeing the sale of equipment.

Although Rossi sold its goods on a national scale through online orders and did a brisk business during the holiday gift season, Keiser said, the business wasn't sustainable.

"It was very much a seasonal business, we had as many as 50 people working October into December, but most of the year we had about eight employees," Keiser said. "It was a luxury product, unique but pricey, not something people would buy for everyday use."

Rossi leased the space on Front Street, he said, and the space has been turned over to the landlord. Washington County auditor property records show the owner of the building to be Arlene Archer, who could not be contacted.

Michael Kelly can be reached at mkelly@mariettatimes.com

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Recent Downtown Marietta Moves…

* 249 Second St.: Rockstar Wellness in process of moving into space vacated by River City Antique Emporium

* 200 Front St.: McKenna's Markets in process of renovating space vacated by Top Drawer Designs.

* 216 Front St.: Strahler Ink, completed moved from previous location at 116 Putnam St.

* 286 Front St.: Emanuel's Chef's Restaurant and Bakery, in process of closing after about four years in business.

* 106 Front St.: Rossi Pasta, closed as of July 12.