Village Council selects Bob & Debbie Birkimer for Grocery Store Initiative
16th May 2018
Exciting Public Announcement
Potential Grocery Store Coming to Roseville
The Village of Roseville started actively seeking opportunities to establish a grocery store in Roseville beginning in 2016 after a survey was completed by residents. The survey results concluded that a grocery store is the business that residents wanted more than anything else. A laundromat and an ice cream parlor ranked high on the list as well. Several meetings were held to find individuals who were willing to take on this task. Roseville wasn’t looking for someone just to establish a grocery store. We were looking at sustainability and even more than that someone to help build the community by improving infrastructure, getting rid of blight, supporting local organizations/businesses, participating in local fundraisers, and changing the perception of Roseville. Five very qualified persons brought ideas that were exciting and new. Each of them had their own unique twist on a grocery store to satisfy the residents of Roseville and attract others from outside the area. Obviously, Roseville can’t support more than 1 grocery store therefore an application was drafted in order to find the best fit for the town.
A task force was developed so that each applicant could present their ideas. An evaluation was completed by 6 members of the committee and presented to Village Council. Council made a public announcement of the decision at the May 15, 2018 council meeting. Roseville made the decision to approve applicants Bob & Debbie Birkimer. Congratulations to these two wonderful individuals. Their excitement to improve Roseville is overwhelmingly wonderful. Mr. Birkimer stated, “I am happy to be on the front end of the changes Roseville is doing to the Downtown Area. My wife, Debbie, and I are willing to make the first move to turn this town around and upside downside.” Mrs. Birkimer had the right answer when the task force asked an important question about what the goal was if they were chosen as the applicant. Her reply was “It is imperative for our business to hire locally, have a positive outlook on the town, support the current businesses by providing unique concepts that no other business has in town, encourage new growth, improve the downtown, and build a relationship with the community.” Heidi Milner, MMC, Roseville Economic Development Coordinator, “The next steps is to secure funding to help build and purchase the property where the grocery store is anticipated to go. The site chosen was the former Ungemach Pottery site and former Cookson Pottery site on Potter’s Lane. Roseville received funding through the USEPA Brownfield Clean Up Grant to complete the clean up for the former Ungemach Pottery Site. Ohio EPA is using TBA to fund the Phase I and Phase II specifications of the former Cookson Pottery Site. Roseville is now seeking funding for the remediation of the Cookson Pottery.
Mayor Dave Carroll reported “This isn’t a simple project. There are infrastructure projects that will need completed in the downtown area to improve this site such as widening Potter’s Lane, removing blighted buildings, and creating new roads. This project is one of many coming down the road for 2019-2020. Roseville is finishing up with park and street improvements that was funded through Perry County Neighborhood Revitalizations that HAPCAP is administering. Roseville is now seeking funding through Muskingum County Commissioners for CDBG allocation funding, Downtown Revitalization, and Critical Infrastructure grants. There are many pieces to the completion of this project and it will take time. Mrs. Milner stated “Due to the grocery store initiative other possibilities came to light. The Village is working with current business owners to expand. The projects include Gobel’s Hardware by moving it into the former Ungemach Pottery Building on Potters Lane that has over 4 times the square footage, Justin and Christina McPeak are working with the Village to get 67 N. Main Street demolished in order to build a laundromat and Ross-Frash Funeral Home is looking at expanding so that they may offer more to families that need their services. The businesses and the Village are working together for one common goal which is to revitalize Roseville. Without their ideas and willingness to invest in their town these changes and growth would not be possible.” Look out everyone; Roseville is on the rise and great things are coming!
