Panzica signs with Subway

It was hard to know who was more excited at the official groundbreaking of the Newbury Center second phase of development – developer Nacy Panzica or local officials.

“It’s a great day,” said Newbury Township Trustee Jan Blair, holding a shovel in the bright sunshine at the corner of Route 87 and Auburn Roadon May 19. “Newbury is expanding its economic development opportunities.”

“This is a step in the right direction,” added Trustee Bill Skomrock Jr. “We need people in Newbury to support these businesses.”

“I plan to get in stores that can help the neighborhood,” said developer Nacy Panzica. Excavation started mid-May for the 17,100-square-foot center and Panzica had already signed a contract with Subway restaurants to open a shop facing Route 87. The intersection bustles all week, catching holiday traffic on the weekends. With the widely-known Mangia, Mangia! restaurant across the street, his center will capitalize on traffic as well as local custom.

“I wanted something nice for Newbury,” Panzica said. “Big box stores will not get in here.”

Two years ago Panzica put up the building that now houses a branch of Middlefield Bank and a University Hospital doctor’s office. He has invested in a digital sign and tasteful landscaping, replacing a mish-mash of businesses and buildings. Quality counts, he said, and an attractive business will draw more customers.

“Eye appeal is buy appeal,” Panzica said, quoting the founder of the Del Monte canning empire.

He and township trustees were joined by Geauga County Community and Economic Development Director Anita Stocker and Geauga County Planning Director Dave Dietrich with whom he worked to sort out a sewage system at the intersection.

Newbury Local School District’s wastewater treatment plant at the northeast corner of Newbury Center was overbuilt for the schools. Panzica put in a sewage system along Auburn Road that ties in with the plant, making it possible for Mangia Mangia to tap in, Dietrich said. Geauga County Commissioners signed an agreement with the district last Tuesday (5-19) to have the county take over operation of the plant, he said, and there is enough capacity for other businesses to hook up, as well.

“It’s a high priority to get Mangia tied in,” noted Newbury Zoning Inspector Karen Endres, who has assisted in coordinating Panzica’s efforts.

Dietrich commended Panzica on his success in developing Newbury Center. He also recognized the township trustees for coordinating Panzica’s vision with the plan they have for the commercial corridor along Route 87.

“It’s great to see this come to fruition,” Dietrich said. “It’s in harmony with the plan. It has been a great partnership between the trustees and the developer to get this started.”

The second phase is tentatively divided into 11 units, Panzica said, but his current goal is to build the shell and a storefront facing Route 87 for Subway. The other 10 units can be leased separately or combined and custom-finished as needed, he said. A third phase nearby won’t be started until the current building is leased, Panzica said.

“What a great effort this is,” said Stocker, who credited a cooperative attitude among the main players for making Panzica’s dream a reality. “He sought help from everybody. It is a well-coordinated effort by the Newbury Township Trustees.”

Trustee Chairman David Snively emphasized that a lot of people put the project on the priority list and it paid off – for Panzica and Newbury.

“Mr. Panzica is a successful businessman who had many, many choices and he chose Newbury,” Snively said. “When we can get people to invest in us, we need to invest in them.”

Panzica is confident the timing and location are right for one of the few new commercial developments in the county to be successful.

“It will take off,” he predicted.

For more information about Newbury Center contact Panzica at (440) 442-4300.

(This article was originally printed in the Geauga County Maple Leaf May 28 issue.)