A big boost for the new Portage Crossing development in Cuyahoga Falls. Mayor Don Robart says they've signed their first major new tenants to move into the land on State Road.

Robart tells AkronNewsNow "Chipotle Mexican Grill, Panera Bread, they've committed to the site. Pet Supplies Plus is going in there. Chef Michael Symon's B-Spot Restaurant, which is maybe new to the area, but has been highly successful in the Cleveland area, they've committed to the site."   

Robart says the new businesses will fill about 25 percent of the space at Portage Crossing and he's expecting more businesses to make a committment soon, including a large big box retailer, which he says he can't name at this time.

"We believe strongly that within the next few weeks we'll start adding on more. Some of the smaller retailers will fall in line as well. We've also talked to a lot of other people who are close to signing on with us," says Robart.  

The Mayor says a project that started out with a value of $40 million has now risen to $60 million with over 400,000 square feet of developed space.

Robart notes this is happening at a time when there is not a lot of development going one elsewhere in the area.

'We think by the time we break ground, which we anticipate in June, hopefully we'll have everybody named by then. It's exciting for our city. It's exciting for the region, and certainly in the area of job creation and tax base expansion it's something we all root for," says the Mayor.