Category: Meadowbrook Mall

by Josiah Cork STAFF WRITER | Nov 26, 2021

 

Leah Michael, owner of Sudsberry Homemade Bath & Body, recorded record-breaking sales after being open for only a few hours Friday morning. | Staff photo by Josiah Cork

Amy Hackett of Buckhannon was one of many shoppers out seeking deals on Black Friday. Specifically, Hackett took advantage of some sales on shoes and flannels. | Staff photo by Josiah Cork

Donna’s Unique Gifts had a big sales day on Black Friday. Some of their most popular items are their handcrafted wood carvings. | Staff photo by Josiah Cork

Sudsberry Handmade Bath & Body saw a record-setting sales day after being open for only three hours Friday morning with most of Black Friday still to come. | Staff photo by Josiah Cork

Four Horsemen Comics and Gaming’s co-owner, Mike Tressler, said sales were through the roof on the morning of Black Friday. | Staff photo by Josiah Cork

 

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WV News) — Shoppers in North Central West Virginia headed to retail locations Friday for the biggest sales day of the year.

At Meadowbrook Mall, the shopping was especially concentrated the morning of Black Friday, as the mall was closed all day for Thanksgiving.

Usually shoppers would swarm the mall after Thanksgiving dinner, but retail locations everywhere have begun to move away from that model because of rising online sales during the pandemic.

Instead of Thanksgiving evening, Meadowbrook Mall opened at 6 a.m. Friday.

Shoppers made their way to the mall, packing the parking lot and forming lines outside some of the bigger stores.

Amy Hackett of Buckhannon was one of thousands of shoppers looking for bargains.

“We’re just browsing. Looking at some shoes and different deals we can find,” she said. “We got some flannels for my boys. They’re into those.”

Hackett, like many shoppers, opted not to shop on Black Friday the past two years, but came back out this year.

“We haven’t been out for a couple years, but we decided to just come out and browse around,” she said.

This Black Friday has been kind to some of Meadowbrook Mall’s newest businesses.

According to James Vanscoy of Donna’s Unique Gifts, the store opened on Oct. 1.

Vanscoy said shopping was especially busy right after the mall opened Friday morning.

“And it’s been still really steady,” he said.

Black Friday looks to be one of the busiest days for Donna’s Unique Gifts thanks to the one-of-a-kind inventory mentioned in the store’s name.

“We’re a unique gift shop so we have a lot of really unique stuff that you can’t find just about anywhere else. So it makes it a great place to come for any kind of gifts for anybody” Vanscoy said.

Vanscoy mentioned that some of the most popular items in the store include mosaic lamps and handcrafted wood carvings.

Sudsberry Homemade Bath & Body opened Feb. 10 at the mall, and also did well.

“It’s been a very busy Black Friday morning,” said Leah Michael, store owner.

Michael added that there were record-setting sales after only being open for about three hours.

“Actually we’ve hit the most sales we’ve ever had in one day already,” Michael said.

As the name suggests, Sudsberry’s inventory includes homemade soaps and fragrance products.

“We sell handmade bath and body products. We make them all right here in the store. We also sell bath accessories … since we do soy wax tarts, we also have fragrance for most of the things like that, too,” Michael said.

Michael noted that the Black Friday sales at Sudsberry were the biggest sales the store has offered as well.

“From 6-9 a.m., we did a 40% off and then we have online orders galore … Then it’s 20% off for the rest of the day,” Michael said.

Sudsberry’s online orders were covering a table behind the checkout counter and overflowing onto the floor and the back of the store.

by Steven Baublitz STAFF WRITER

Clarksburg Police Sgt. Paul Graeber and his girlfriend, Ali Lopez, hand out candy from the trunk of a decorated Clarksburg Police Department cruiser during Trunk-or-Treat with Law Enforcement Meadowbrook Mall on Thursday evening. | Staff photo by Steven Baublitz

 

Lines of costumed children and their families wrap around Meadowbrook Mall during the annual Trunk-or-Treat with Law Enforcement on Thursday evening. | Staff photo by Steven Baublitz

BRIDGEPORT — Swarms of children donned their Halloween costumes and gathered sweets in the Meadowbrook Mall parking lot Thursday evening during the annual Trunk-or-Treat with Law Enforcement.

Standing beside police cruisers decorated for the occasion, law enforcement officers from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, Clarksburg Police Department, Bridgeport Police Department the FBI Police and others passed out candy.

Several information booths were set up as well, and characters from “Paw Patrol” were on hand to greet the trunk-or-treaters.

Harrison County Sheriff Robert Matheny said his wife, Melissa Matheny, and Ashley Vernon continue to be key organizers of the event.

“The last couple years, we’ve drawn between 3,500 and 3,600 kids that participate. It provides a family-friendly, safe atmosphere. We try to give proper lighting; kids don’t have to worry about traffic, and we encourage safety,” the sheriff said.

The candy, he added, is mostly bought and donated by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 78, with Spirit Halloween and others helping as well. All the candy handed out was in sealed packages to prevent tampering and ensure the safety of the children.

“We take those precautions seriously,” he said.

Melissa Matheny said Thursday’s turnout seemed consistent with past years.
“(People) are wrapped up around Planet Fitness over there, and in years past, the line has gone down towards Target,” she said.

“I think it’s great,” Vernon added. “This is what we did it for. We worked hard over the past month or so to get donations, and I think it’s a good turnout.”

Both said the goal of the event is to provide children with a fun, safe experience and positive interaction with law enforcement.

Clarksburg Police Sgt. Paul Graeber, who participated in the event for the first time Thursday, said he and his girlfriend, Ali Lopez, decorated the trunk of his cruiser for the trunk-or-treat.

“I’m loving it. It’s a lot of fun seeing all the kids,” Graeber said.

Chuck Lanham of Clarksburg, who brought his family to the trunk-or-treat for the first time Thursday, said he was presently surprised by the turnout.

“It’s packed. I think it’s good (that) kids don’t have to be afraid and they know (law enforcement) is their friend, and it’s a good thing,” he said.

Carrie Yocco of Bridgeport brought her family to enjoy a night of safe Halloween fun.
“I think it’s great for the community, and the kids have a good time,” she said.

The trunk-or-treat gives youth the opportunity to meet law enforcement in a positive way, instead of during an emergency or potentially negative situations, Yocco added.

Staff writer Steven Baublitz can be reached at (304)626-1404 or sbaublitz@theet.com

Funds will go toward clean energy products manufacturing facility
by Charles Young SENIOR STAFF WRITER Oct 1, 2021

This site drawing, prepared by the Thrasher Group, shows the planned Harrison Regional Industrial Park.
The Thrasher Group

CLARKSBURG,W.Va. (WV News) — The Harrison County Commission is set to receive a $2.6 million federal grant that is expected to help create 200 jobs and generate $4 million in additional private investment, the offices of Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va, announced Friday.

The $2.6 million U.S. Economic Development Administration grant will be matched with $1.3 million in local funds to help build and establish a clean-energy products manufacturing facility, creating jobs while also spurring private investment in the community, according to a press release.

“This announcement is exciting news for Clarksburg and demonstrates the strength of our state’s manufacturing base,” said Capito. “This investment is expected to help create 200 jobs and expand new markets for coal. The EDA’s involvement in West Virginia has increased exponentially since I came to the Senate, and I appreciate their continued support.”

“Every West Virginian continues to be impacted by the changing energy sector, especially our coal communities,” said Manchin. “EDA is investing $2.6 million to create an advanced energy products manufacturing facility in Clarksburg, which will create at least 200 good-paying jobs for West Virginians, generate additional private investment and boost economic growth in hard-hit communities.

The funds will be used to develop a 50,000-square-foot building on an approximately 8.85-acre portion of the planned Harrison Regional Industrial Park.

The Harrison Regional Industrial Park, located near North Central West Virginia Airport, sits on approximately 24 acres purchased by the county commission through the Harrison County Development Authority.

The Harrison County Economic Development Corporation applied for the grant.

“This is huge for this area, and we’re extremely excited,” said HCEDC Executive Director Amy Haberbosch Wilson. “It’s growing the area; it’s growing the jobs; and it’s growing the population. And we’re improving the infrastructure that’s going to be there.”

The company that will occupy the 50,000-square-foot building already has a presence in West Virginia, Wilson said.

“So this will be an expansion, and this will actually be the manufacturing part of it,” she said. “It’s going to be energy storage systems and high-grade electronic inks and coding that will be used for batteries. It’s going to be a world-wide project, from what we’re told. This technology actually needs coal to create this activated hard carbon for the batteries. So it’s an awesome project to have right here in coal country.”

The aim of the project and the Harrison Regional Industrial Park is help rebuild the region’s manufacturing sector, Wilson said.

“It’s really going to be the forefront of green technology,” she said. “I know what a lot of people are talking about is green living and green technology. We’re even looking at possible additional funding for some of this green technology, but this is a start to bringing back some of these manufacturing jobs and rebuilding our manufacturing here.”

In January, the county commission voted unanimously to set aside $1.4 million in county funds to help the HCEDC secure the federal funding for the project.

The grant application required that the applicant show proof the funds are available; the loans couldn’t be approved until the grant was secured, HCEDC board member and Bridgeport Mayor Andy Lang said at the time.

To solve that issue, the HCEDC asked the county to show proof of funds that the money is available for the project.

“If we receive the grant, before we ever draw out any funds or start the construction, we will go borrow the money. If we’re unable to borrow the money, we won’t accept the grant. But we can’t apply for the grant or borrow the money … unless we have proof of matching funds,” Lang said.