While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused business uncertainty across the county, local officials say this area is still “attractive” for many projects.
At a recent meeting, Union County Economic Development Director Eric Phillips said that many local projects have adjusted their timelines, but they are still coming.
City manager Terry Emery said because Marysville is growing, it is an area that businesses are interested in. Even so, he said businesses are evaluating their position and investments as well as when they want projects to begin and to be completed.
“Just like you or I or everyone else, developers are just trying to figure out what their normal looks like moving forward,” Emery said.
He said the Texas Roadhouse project, announced in October, has been delayed some. Originally, restaurant operators hoped to be opening in October.
“They are probably not going to meet that timeline,” Emery said.
He said he knows people are talking and confirmed the delay is temporary.
“I think within the next month, they will begin dirt work,” Emery said.
The proposed 7,462 square foot restaurant is slated for the 2.17-acre site, directly south of the building at 16645 Square Drive. Restaurant officials said they expect to create 130 new jobs.
Emery was not able to give an updated or revised timeline, but said, “I think things are going to start to move.”
Officials for Frisch’s Big Boy, 15700 Delaware Ave, are not as optimistic. For more than a week, rumors have been circulated the restaurant will not reopen. Corporate officials repeatedly declined to answer questions about the Marysville location.
Rich Walburg, director of media and creative services for Frisch’s Big Boy, said the company is staggering the reopening of its dining rooms. He gave reopening dates for many restaurants, but not for the local store.
“There are currently no announcements concerning the Marysville restaurant,” Walburg wrote in an e-mail to the Journal-Tribune.