Welcome Center still on the market

The Ross Bridge Welcome Center is still on the market for a new tenant.

Almost a year after the Daniel Corporation’s 10-year lease expired, the property remains vacant.

USS Real Estate owns the building and is actively marketing it. Justin Armstrong, manager of commercial sales and development, said the company hopes that someone will come in and put in a place that would benefit the neighborhood. 

Armstrong said USS Real Estate has always owned the building, and the Daniel Corporation leased it for 10 years. It was supposed to be a place where people could come in and look at lots for sale, and to facilitate the advertisement and display marketing material.

“We knew all along it would end about that time,” Armstrong said. “When the 10-year lease was up, they vacated, and it all fell back into our hands.”

The Ross Bridge Homeowner’s Association is using a portion of the 8,500-square-foot space, known as the town hall side, for meetings. The empty part of the building will continue to be available for residents to rent until it is sold. 

Armstrong said residents would like to see the property become a market or a restaurant, especially anything that would appeal to families. The Italian restaurant, Villagio, is no longer open in Ross Bridge. However, the Front Porch restaurant has recently opened, and Armstrong said he hopes others will follow. 

“More options would be nice,” he said. “It’s open to all kinds of possibilities.”

He compares what could happen to the Ross Bridge area to the boom of businesses in Avondale, saying it only takes one great place to open before others follow. 

“Avondale Brewery came in with a neat concept, and look at that area now,” he said. “I think that potential is there for this area. It’s an unmet demand right now.”

Armstrong said USS Real Estate is excited about what the future holds for the space. 

“I think if the right pieces come together, it would really attract more people to come to Ross Bridge, to go to restaurants and other services that would meet their needs,” he said.