Breaking News
Top Headlines

Sky’s The Limit At Highlands

Several New Tenants To Open Their Doors

By DEREK REDD 4 min read

A sweet new addition, among several, is coming to The Highlands.

Crumbl Cookies soon will join a number of new stores already announced at the shopping center in Triadelphia, according to a release from Century Realty and the Ohio County Development Authority. Century helps the Ohio County Development Authority negotiate leases and recruit new tenants to The Highlands.

On top of Crumbl, the shopping center will welcome Harbor Freight, Longhorn Steakhouse and Sola Salon. That's on top of two other stores that recently opened, Rally House and Play-It-Again Sports.

"Over the past year, we've been working very hard to locate and close deals with a great number of tenants," said Ohio County Commissioner Randy Wharton, who is president of the OCDA. "These are just some that we have all signed up and ready to go."

Crumbl Cookies will move into the space once occupied by El Paso restaurant, beside the AT&T store. El Paso has moved to the former Applebees location by Cabela's. Crumbl specializes in large cookies, ice cream and other items. The shop features a menu of six flavors that rotates weekly.

Crumbl already has a location in Morgantown and confirmed it plans to open a location in Charelston.

Those hankering for a steak won't be waiting long for another dining option. The Longhorn Steakhouse - to be located in the former Logan's Roadhouse building - is scheduled to open at 3 p.m. Jan. 24, according to a sign outside the restaurant's entrance. Longhorn, operated by the Darden chain of restaurants, is finishing up on a major renovation of the former Logan's space.

Meanwhile, scaffolding was up and work already has started at the new Harbor Freight location in the power center area near Menard's. Harbor Freight announced its upcoming arrival to the Highlands in December, and will give locals another spot to buy tools. Sola Salon, according to the Century Realty release, is the nation's largest and fastest-growing salon studio business. It provides independent beauty professionals with high-end, fully equipped salon studios and additional business support. Sola also will be located in the power center.

Neither business has announced an official opening date, but Century anticipates both to open sometime in the first half of 2023.

Rally House and Play-It-Again will be waiting to welcome them. Both already are welcoming customers. Rally House features sports apparel gives and other products from professional and collegiate teams. The Highlands location focuses on local teams like the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates, WVU, Ohio State, Pitt, and Penn State.

Play-It-Again moved from its former location near Bridge Street Middle School to The Highlands, expanding the store's space to not only offer more new and used sports equipment, but more screen-printing services as well.

After battling through the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Highlands has thrived, Wharton said. The OCDA is looking at ways to further improve the complex, including improved signage.

"We do have a track record," Wharton said. "We held our own during COVID. The year after COVID, we had record sales. December of 2021 was the largest recorded sales at The Highlands ever, and we'll wait to see where this year's numbers come in. It does continue to grow."

That growth, he added, comes from the diversity in shops and restaurants, as shown with the newest ones announced Wednesday. And things should only be looking up for the shopping center, Wharton said.

"You've got everything up there from a doctor's office to a shoe store to a movie theater to a sports complex," he said. "All those things bring traffic and traffic is what retailers look for. I think this year is going to probably be one of the best to locate tenants in quite some time."

Starting at /week.