A huge announcement about the future of the Ohio Valley Mall drew more than 100 people.
Shoppers, politicians and the news media crowded in as mall officials held a "ceiling breaking" instead of a groundbreaking, for the multi-million dollar project.
They pulled a tile from the ceiling and smacked it with a hammer.
That was the ceremonial start of the renovation that will actually get underway March 1.
They say the construction workers will work all night so the shoppers can shop and the walkers can walk all day.
In the end, they say by Nov. 1, the mall will be sunny, bright and modern.
"They'll come in, they'll walk across Italian porcelain tile and into a carpeted concourse that is quiet and nice to walk on," said Joe Bell, spokesman for the Cafaro Company. "The concourse will be bright. There will be skylights, mixing natural light with state of the art lighting."
"When you live in Belmont County and you realize you're in an area that's depressed and something like this happens, it's enormous," said John Mattox, founder and curator of the Underground Railroad Museum in Belmont County. "And we are so grateful. Because being part of a community that's going to see growth, we're going to be very, very fortunate."
"A lot of us don't like to go out of state to shop," said Meg Bizzarri of St. Clairsville. "So this is fantastic for St. Clairsville and Belmont County."
Equally important was the announcement that a large department store is about to move in.
"It's a great retailer that the people in the Ohio Valley are going to love," said Bell. "We haven't finalized the deal yet. That's why we can't use the name. But let me tell you, I've been to one of these stores. You're going to love it."
They say that announcement should come in about two months.
County commissioners spoke triumphantly about their confidence in the mall, when others gave it up for lost.
Officials and citizens said this is an exciting turn of events.
"This is an opportunity to ramp up commerce and engage in a very enthusiastic revival of private business," said Sue Douglass, Belmont County development director. "It's very exciting."
"I think it's great," said Marge Bechtel of Bellaire. "We really need this to compete with the Highlands."
They won't reveal how much the project will cost, except to say it will cost "several million dollars."
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