Home improvement store Menards is joining the lineup at the future Portage Crossing retail development in Cuyahoga Falls.

"I would say it's kind of like a cross between a Home Depot and a Lowe's on steroids-- it's just bigger, they have more things and unique things," Mayor Don Robart said.

Robart says this store will lure shoppers to the soon-to-be-built retail complex on State Road.

"I think it's going to be a very popular destination for people not only in Cuyahoga Falls, but way beyond," he said.

Menards will occupy space close to where the former Montgomery Wards was located. Giant Eagle will occupy the the south side of the development.

As for places to snack or dine out; Panera Bread, Chipolte Mexican Grill and Chef Michael Symon's B Spot restaurant have also signed on as tenants to join Portage Crossing.

"We're expecting about six or eight more announces between now and when we break ground, which will probably be in June," he said. "The reason we're not positive how many is that, it depends on how much square feet they want."

Previous Coverage:

Portage Crossing Signs First Tenants

The old Bridgestone tech center may become a new hub for the gas and oil industry.

Amerimar Realty owner David Marshall has an open agreement option to either purchase both the main Firestone building and the clubhouse for $5 million or just the clubhouse, which is located across the street from the main offices, for $625,000.

The Plain Dealer reports Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic could sign the one-year option agreement before the weekend.

"What he has in store similar to what he has done in other areas of the country, this will definitely bring to the city," Brad Beckert said, Akron city development engineering manager.

Marshall is banking on attracting tenants and jobs to the buildings if the purchase goes through as planned.

First, Beckert says Marshall wants to convert the clubhouse into a heath and wellness facility and daycare.

"There's no daycares really around there, so even for the Bridgestone employees who have moved into their new tech center, that would be something close," Beckert said.

As for the main building, Marshall's vision is to create offices in the main building for research in the gas and polymers fields. Marshall has an extensive track record in the real estate industry-- from fixing up hotels to offices.

Bridgestone has agreed to cleanup the property to bring it up to EPA standards in preparation of the project.

Follow AkronNewsNow.com for the latest developments on this story.

The world's largest tiremaker showed off its new state-of-the-art facility in Akron off of Firestone Parkway, where close to 430 employees just started working.

"While we are proud of our past and the history and heritage of our great company, today is about looking to the future- to writing the next chapter in the story of our organization," Gary Garfield said, CEO and president of BSAM.

Garfield told the crowd at the official unveiling Wednesday afternoon, that  when he looks at the architecture of the building and the environmentally-friendly requirements its met to become a Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), he sees the future for his company clearly.

"When I look at that, I look at a catalyst of innovation for the future," Garfield said.

The new company headquarters that sits off of Firestone Parkway, is one of only three worldwide.

The new $100 million facility is just a hop, skip and a jump from the 100-year old technical center built in 1911.

Employees are encouraged to write on the walls with dry-erase markers in conference rooms and offices as they work to develop innovative and advanced tire technologies for the company.

On the web: BridgestoneTire.com

A. Schulman, Inc. announces plan to build a new headquarters in Fairlawn.

Fairlawn-Bath.Patch.com reports the global plastics supplier will relocate within the city to the new Corporate Park, near the intersection of Ridgewood and Cleveland-Massillon roads.

A. Schulman purchased the 4.6 acres of land for $560,000 and plans to open a new one-story facility by spring of 2013.

The company has called Fairlawn home for the past 40 years.

On the web: Fairlawn-Bath.Patch.com

Pricing strategies sometimes means more or less work on the consumer's end.

Before you take your credit card on a swiping spree, a former branding consultant and current Kent State University assistant professor in advertising, Danielle Coombs, shares her advice on what to watch for.

If you open your Sunday newspaper or search online to find deals at JCPenny, you may have noticed less clutter and no more coupons. Coombs says the retailer is trying to appeal to busy members of society, especially woman on the hunt for their next outfit. While she's not sure what the end results of the initiative will look like, the "fair and square" approach could work.

"I think it fits with the consumer mindset," she said. "People feel like they're being asked to do a lot of work as consumers."

JCPenny's big push for "everyday prices" is at the opposite end of the spectrum when you compare it to Kohls.

Those who carry a Kohls credit card are offered close to 18 mailers with additional coupons each year. And then there's the Kohls Cash (often earning $10 for every $50 spent).

Layering coupons, watching the weekly ads and the extra Kohls cash is a process that Coombs says works in terms of pricing strategies and creating a trend.

"They really brilliantly bring you in, you get money, and then you have to come back in quickly to spend it again," she said. "So it starts becoming a habit ."

Tips to Better Navigating the Shopping Isles:

• Find a store that works for you when it comes to prices.

"Be thoughtful about what places we're going to and are they giving us what we need," Coombs said.

• In a busy society, Coombs advises consumers select a store that they can depend on.

"We don't have the time to go to ten store to achieve one goal," she said.

• Coupon cutting has gone viral, so click and print away!

"That's really effective and there's a ton out there on the Internet that can give you really specific direction that can give you where to get the best deals at the best time," she said. 

Saving-savvy customers have turned to online deals for dining out since the economic downturn.

Restaurant.com President and Chief Marketing Officer Christopher Krohn noticed a surprising trend in the Akron-Canton region during the past few years.

"One of the things that we've seen as a surprise, is that the average amount that people spent when they're going out actually increased from 2010 to 2011," he said.

American cuisine restaurant certificates are the obvious top-sellers on Restaurant.com for the Akron-Canton region, but Krohn says Italian restaurants took second place.

The biggest growth was seen in the Mexican food category, where Krohn says he's noticed an up tick in the number of venues serving customers in the area.

The website offers diners a variety of choices by a quick search of their zip code. While Restaurant.com has been in operation for the past 12 years, Krohn says they've seen dramatic growth lately.

"We've seen a lot of grow in traffic," he said.

"We've also seen a lot of folks who are really very budget conscious given the economy and are looking for great deals."

How To Use It:

• Enter in your zip code.
• Select a new or favorite restaurant.
• Check out the deals for purchasing a dining certificate (often $10 for $25 of food).
• Print out the certificate or pull it up on your mobile device.

Tip: sign-up for email alerts, as they send you coupon codes that would make your purchase often less than half the regular asking price.