Business First-Columbus articles from February 1997

Business First-Columbus archives from February 1997

Ohio EPA spies Lazarus space and downtown return.
February 7, 1997... The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has its eyes on consolidating its area offices at the downtown Lazarus building. Though it has not signed a lease, agency officials confirmed interest in moving back downtown after a 10-year absence....

Penn Traffic chairman: Big Bear not for sale. (Penn Traffic Co.; Gary D. Hirsch; Big Bear Stores)
February 7, 1997... Parent company's same-store sales drop 8.5 percent in December Same-store sales for the parent of Big Bear Stores tumbled 8.5 percent during the holiday season, the company's chairman said. In a telephone interview Feb. 4, Penn Traffic Co....

Mount Carmel plans three palliative units. (Mount Carmel Medical System)
February 7, 1997... In a first for Central Ohio, Mount Carmel Medical System plans to open units at each of its three area hospitals to care for chronic, terminally ill patients with at least a six-month life expectancy. The so-called palliative care units, viewed...

Jai Alai site reborn as Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe; restaurateur Self plans to put $4M into 'eatertainment' complex near OSU. (Jon Self; Ohio State University)
February 7, 1997... Columbus ribs hawker Jon Self plans to renovate the landmark Jai Lai restaurant into a massive dining and entertainment facility called the Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe. Self, a Damon's International Inc. director and the dining chain's largest...

Tasman team races its way into Touring Car circuit. (Tasman Motorsports Group of Hilliar; North American Touring Car Championship)
February 7, 1997... Tasman Motorsports Group of Hilliard continues to expand its racing empire. In April, Tasman will put a car on the North American Touring Car Championship. It will be the third circuit Tasman participates in, joining the IndyCar World Series...

HMS puts two key execs in growing Florida office. (HMS Partners)
February 7, 1997... New president has day-to-day control as agency goes national HMS Partners' quest to become a national ad industry player is changing the way the agency views its Columbus headquarters. Leaders of Columbus' largest advertising agency are...

Asbestos lawsuit names AEP, DuPont defendants. (American Electric Power; DuPont's Electronics Department)
February 7, 1997... Two companies with Central Ohio operations are among defendants in an 11th-hour class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of workers who have been exposed to asbestos but have yet to develop cancer or other diseases as a result The civil suit was...

'Resource'ful Kramer taps tech to build an agency. (Resource Marketing Inc. President and CEO Nancy J. Kramer)
February 7, 1997... Thanks to growth in the computer industry, it's been a good 15-year ride for Resource Marketing Inc., one of the city's largest advertising agencies and woman-owned companies. And it's getting better. This month, Resource will expand into...

Vehicle entrepreneur shifts marketing into Mauck speed. (Andy Mauck of Mauck Special Vehicle Inc.)
February 7, 1997... Andy Mauck, the mind behind the multipassenger luxury vehicle that bears his name, is going Hollywood and beyond. Mauck, 40, introduced his Mauck Special Vehicle 1120S, which retails from $95,000 to $195,000, at January's 1997 Autoshow in Los...

Key Communication hits MCI with $26M lawsuit. (Key Communication Management; MCI Communications Corp.)
February 7, 1997... A Columbus long-distance telephone reseller, trying to work its way through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and reorganize, has filed a $26 million lawsuit against MCI Communications alleging fraud, breach of contract and unfair and deceptive...

Carving a niche in custom cabinets. (Kellog Cabinets)
February 7, 1997... Doug Kellogg might want to consider a slight name change for his commercial custom woodworking business. Currently called Kellogg Cabinets, the firm could be renamed Kellogg Cabinets... and More, Int'l. Kellogg's recent venture into the...

Small investment advisers escape regulation in Ohio.(Inside Report: Tax Planning & Investment)
February 7, 1997... Ohio's investment advisers who manage assets of less than $25 million must still register with the Securities Exchange Commission, despite a federal law that attempts to change that. The National Securities Markets Improvements Act of 1996...

Wealthy retirees get 3-year break.(Inside Report: Tax Planning & Investment)
February 7, 1997... Tax changes approved by Congress last year offer those with substantial nest eggs some important opportunities in 1997 and beyond. Other changes make it easier for middle-income families to save for retirement and ease the burden of medical...

Women investors look forward to wealthy old age.(Inside Report: Tax Planning & Investment)
February 7, 1997... Women face a double whammy when it comes to retirement savings: Historically, women have had less money saved for retirement, and women live longer than men. So, women have to make fewer dollars stretch farther. At a recent seminar on women...

Funds of funds offer low-risk options; investing in other mutual funds good strategy for retirement savings.(Inside Report: Tax Planning & Investment)
February 7, 1997... With more than 7,000 mutual funds vying for Americans' personal savings, could there be room for another genre of funds? Mutual fund houses such as T. Rowe Price, Vanguard and Fidelity appear to believe so. They and many other firms cashing in...

Real estate funds strong in local market.(Inside Report: Tax Planning & Investment)
February 7, 1997... Real Estate Investment Trust companies with a presence in Columbus expect to continue growing in 1997. The major REIT players in town are Duke Realty Investments, Security Capital Industrial Trust and Columbus-based Glimcher Realty Trust. The...

Congress' tax largesse not mirrored by IRS.(Inside Report: Tax Planning & Investment)
February 7, 1997... It's the time of year again to pay Uncle Sam, but local tax preparers say there are several changes in tax laws that could save you money when you file next year. Most of the money-saving tax changes were handed down from Congress, but there...

Team letters: sports graphics offer business niche. (Action Sports Lettering)(Small Business Strategies)(Company Profile)
February 7, 1997... When the manufacturer Paul Harris worked for downsized, he wondered what he would do for a living. Harris didn't waste much time thinking, however. He took action by creating Action Sports Lettering. The Delaware entrepreneur and former...

Once dead, SBA now gets staff. (Small Business Administration's office in Columbus, OH)(Small Business Strategies)
February 7, 1997... Despite personnel cutbacks in the Small Business Administration nationwide, Columbus' SBA office should see an increase in staffing. President Clinton is required to cut 272,900 federal jobs by 1999. Since 1993, the SBA's Washington D.C....

Insurers iffy on safe driver premium cuts.
February 7, 1997... Imagine you're driving down what seems to be a dry street in rush hour traffic when suddenly the rear of your car begins swerving to the right. Black ice has put you into a skid. Which way do you turn the wheel to keep from hitting the semi...

Wendy's International Inc. (Proxy Report Excerpts)(Company Profile)
February 7, 1997... Wendy's International Inc. operates, develops and franchises a system of fast-food restaurants. The restaurants offer hamburgers, salads and chicken sandwiches. The company operates or franchises more than 4,500 Wendy's and Tim Hortons...

Hilton checks in at Easton. (Hilton Hotel & Towers luxury hotel, Easton, Columbus, OH)
February 14, 1997... Hotelier returns to market with luxury brand A private joint venture will locate a $50 million Hilton Hotel & Towers luxury hotel at the 1,200-acre Easton development in Northeast Columbus. Limited Inc. Chairman Les Wexner unveiled plans for...

Convenience guides grocery pricing strategy.
February 14, 1997... Faced with pricing decisions on tens of thousands of products, supermarkets have developed flexible and complex plans for luring and keeping customers. But in the past two years, supermarket chains have shifted their marketing focus to...

SBA wants private sector to shoulder more burden. (Small Business Authority)
February 14, 1997... WASHINGTON - The Small Business Administration is requesting 18 percent less money this year, thanks to some delicately shaved assistance programs and leftover money from the last budget. The Clinton administration is asking Congress for $701...

Wendt-Bristol plans three diagnostic centers. (Wendt-Bristol Health Services Corp.)
February 14, 1997... Wendt-Bristol Health Services Corp. continues its rapid expansion with plans for at least three new diagnostic centers in Franklin County as well as an addition to an existing center on Kenny Road. The new centers would increase the company's...

Utility network to give Obetz competitive boost. (Obetz, OH)
February 14, 1997... Obetz plans to create a municipal electric, gas and state-of-the-art telecommunications service as an economic development tool for properties annexed to the village. The village expects to debut the proposed utility network, under...

Lindsay Acura to move as Circuit City buys site. (automobile dealers Lindsay Acura and Circuit City Stores Inc.)
February 14, 1997... Lindsay Acura, located at Gender and Brice roads since 1987, is relocating to make way for the city's first Circuit City superstore. Lindsay has sold its 3-acre site to Richmond, Va.-based Circuit City for $2.4 million. Circuit City plans a...

Proposed postal increase will deliver hit to firms.
February 14, 1997... A looming major postal rate increase has some businesses complaining they weren't notified in time to plan their budgets accordingly. Some businesses said the proposed estimated $340 million annual increase in certified, registered and other...

Governor seeks increase in license, inspection fees. (Ohio Gov. Voinovich)
February 14, 1997... Gov. Voinovich's two-year budget proposal would raise licensing and inspection fees for a variety of the state's professionals. And while some are complaining, state officials say the increases are necessary to make various professional boards...

'Classic' move: McDorman to open collector-car display. (motor vehicle dealer Bob McDorman)
February 14, 1997... A $20,000 Royal Mail Roadster that sold for about $500 when it was brand new in 1915 sits in the center of the Bob McDorman Chevrolet showroom in Canal Winchester. The Roadster is one of 155 classic cars in a collection McDorman has put...

City looks to loosen home business regs. (Columbus, OH)
February 14, 1997... DELAWARE - Revisions to the city's zoning code may change the way some folks do business in Delaware. The city Planning Commission is considering changes to the portion of the code that pertains to home based occupations. Associate City...

Removing blocks to welfare reform.
February 14, 1997... Welfare reform is a subject dominating the headlines. Here in Ohio; the welfare reform emphasis is on helping all to become or remain self-sufficient. One important fact of welfare reform that is rarely understood is alcohol and other drug...

New welding lab bonds Edison and OSU. (Edison Welding Institute; Ohio State University)
February 14, 1997... University both tenant and landlord to industrial tech center When it comes to the welding business, nobody does a better job of bringing different people or materials together than the Edison Welding Institute. Established in 1984 as part...

Web users aim for fast satellite to earth linkups. (World Wide Web)
February 14, 1997... I've found a way to connect to the Internet that is literally, if not figuratively, out of this world. The DirecPC satellite dish on my roof lets me download data at up to 400 kilobits per second. That's nearly 14 times faster than a standard...

Scientists seek ways to clean up after war. (land mine detectors)
February 14, 1997... Land mines used by the military to disable one soldier and require two others to carry him away, now litter landscapes in about 70 countries. And each year, from 10,000 to 100,000 civilians in countries such as Cambodia, Somalia and Bosnia are...

Hand-held cancer detector nears FDA approval. (Food and Drug Administration)
February 14, 1997... Years of medical research by a Central Ohio corporation could soon yield results for cancer patients worldwide. Dublin-based Neoprobe Corp. in December filed a Biological License Application with the Food and Drug Administration for its RIGScan...

'We're dealin': ad establishment loves, hates Ricart ads - sometimes both. (automobile dealer Fred Ricart)
February 14, 1997... Perhaps mirroring the general populace's view, when it comes to auto dealer Fred Ricart's, uh, colorful ads, local advertising executives either love 'em, hate 'em - or both. When asked what strikes them positively or negatively - about local...

Ad agencies seek billings in satellite cities.
February 14, 1997... Local advertising agencies such as HMS Partners Inc. have spent recent years opening branch offices in other cities. Two Southwest Ohio agencies, Flynn Sabatino and Day and Martiny & Co., have proved turnabout is fair play by expanding to...

Forecast is sunny for commercial real estate in '97.
February 14, 1997... Commercial real estate markets should enjoy another strong year in 1997, but those attending a Columbus Board of Realtors' Forecast Night in late January heard observers note some signs of caution rising on the horizon. George "Sandy" Simpson,...

Report: heavy demand in Columbus office, industrial sectors. (Columbus, OH, real estate industry)
February 14, 1997... With vacancy rates far below the national average, Columbus has become a boom market for commercial real estate. So says a report issued by the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors. The report lists Columbus, Chicago and Detroit as leading...

New BOMA-ANSI standard helps brokers take better measure. (Building Owners and Managers Assn. International; American National Standards Institute)
February 14, 1997... The American National Standard for measuring floor area in office buildings is changing. The new version, ANSI/BOMA Z65.1-1996, is an improved method designed to meet the current and future needs of the many industry professionals concerned...

National forecast sees demand for office and industrial space.
February 14, 1997... Investment in technology is generating new demand for real estate and the industry should enjoy good years through the year 2001, according to the 1997 Landauer Real Estate Market Forecast and Society of Industrial and Office Realtors. The...

Excess space? Subleasing offers options, pitfalls.
February 14, 1997... In this era of mergers and business relocations, commercial real estate tenants often are left with office or warehouse space they do not need. Even booming companies can face the problem as they outgrow their space. The problem with excess...

'Net not technology of choice for many in real estate industry. (Internet)
February 14, 1997... The Internet has yet to payoff for most real estate agents. Many brokers in commercial and residential real estate industries have found the technology having the most impact on their work lives is the same communications and desktop-based...

'Malled out' retailers unearth nontrading growth sites.
February 14, 1997... A revolution is occurring on the retail landscape. Over the past few years, many retailers have been diversifying from traditional mails and strip shopping centers. Instead, they are setting up shop in nontraditional locations such as airports,...

Ohio's tort reform legislation affects construction industry.
February 14, 1997... Gov. Voinovich signed Ohio's new tort reform legislation, House Bill 350, into law on Oct. 28. Effective Jan. 27, it makes sweeping changes to Ohio tort law and many of those changes directly affect contractors, engineers and developers of...

Real estate business provides inroads for CPA firms. (certified public accountant)
February 14, 1997... Back in 1979, Dennis Gilligan's home building business was growing fast. "I knew how to build a house but wasn't as knowledgeable about taxes and finances," said the president of Gilligan Development and Gilligan Homes in the Baltimore area....

Moving out of state? Beware of tax consequences.
February 14, 1997... In our increasingly mobile society, millions of Americans move from one state to another every year. While coping with the stress of changing jobs, finding and establishing a new home, enrolling the kids in a new school, and other experiences...

Big banks, small banks, nonbanks compete for SBA-backed lending. (Small Business Administration lenders)
February 21, 1997... A small bank and a nonbank are the closest competitors to Bank One's top spot in lending through the U.S. Small Business Administration. First National Bank of Zanesville, through lending offices in Gahanna, grabbed the No. 2 spot in Central...

Analyts: CEO change could give much-needed jolt to CompuServe. (CompuServe CEO's resignation might improve company's future)
February 21, 1997... The Feb. 17 resignation of Compuserve CEO Robert J. Massey should help the troubled company, analysts say. Though Massey's announcement caught some CompuServe employees by surprise, analysts thought it was past time for him to leave....

Team America leads cheer for employee leasing programs; IPO helps firm Worthington firm grow, expand. (Team America Corp.)
February 21, 1997... IPO helps Worthington firm grow, expand When a sales representative came calling at Thomas Johnston's small specialty construction business in 1992, he stumped Johnston with a question. "Do you know what an I-9 is?" the sales rep asked....

Security adds land, mulls expanding southwest park. (Security Capital Industrial Trust)
February 21, 1997... Security Capital Industrial Trust continues to capitalize on the Columbus market The Colorado-based REIT expects to decide by the end of next month whether to move ahead with one of three proposed developments - a 180,000-square-foot building, a...

Midwestern Auto Group sues former employees. (Midwestern Auto Group file lawsuit against employees for joining Byers Imports)
February 21, 1997... Midwestern Auto Group's former top manager recruited four other company executives and salespeople to join cross-town rival Byers Imports, a lawsuit charges. The action, filed Feb. 7 in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, seeks a permanent...

Moyer: court nears decision in school-funding tax case. (Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer plans to decide case on property-tax-based school funding system)
February 21, 1997... Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer is indicating a decision is imminent in a case before the Ohio Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the state's property-tax-based school funding system. "I can tell you that we are working with great haste on...

Brewer Gambrinus offer stock to develop brewpub. (Gambrinus Brewing Co.)
February 21, 1997... Wanted: Investors who like Gambrinus Brewing Co. beer and want a stake in the Columbus microbrewery's planned growth. Must be willing to risk losing some or all of investment. Those messages are highlighted in detail in the tiny company's...

Inflating debate: airbags a dilemma for parents, dealers. (dangers of automobile airbags on children)
February 21, 1997... Airbags are saving lives, but killing some children who ride in the from seat. The Feb. 4 airbag death of 4-year-old Heath Forsyth of Columbus underscores the danger children face from front passenger-side airbags. Forsyth is one of 38...

Study: lawmakers' backgrounds influence business voting; lawyers, teachers, less likely to vote for pro-commerce issues.
February 21, 1997... State lawmakers who are attorneys, teachers or have labor union ties are least likely to vote pro-business, while small-business owners - especially farmers - are most likely to support a pro-commerce agenda. And eight-year term limits,...

Sewer service issue divides city, township. (Delaware County Commissioners evaluates plans for real estate property along US Route 23)(The Region)
February 21, 1997... DELAWARE - The city of Delaware is experiencing growing pains. The ultimate fate of property south of the city along U.S. Route 23 continues to place the city at odds with Liberty Township over who will provide services to Kingman Hill. That...

Trading in green; ISO environmental standards make selling abroad easier. (International Organization for Standardization)(ISO 14000 for environmental management)(Inside Report)
February 21, 1997... The "ISO" designation recognized internationally for quality assurance is now on a set of guidelines for an environmental management program that will likely receive the same global notice. ISO 14000, published last summer, and its partner ISO...

Feds, state face off on air quality. (Ohio EPA support US EPA's proposed air-quality standards)(Inside Report)
February 21, 1997... Whether tougher air-quality standards under consideration by the federal government are a matter of life and death or dollars and cents is at the heart of a baffle that will only get more heated as lobbying efforts intensify this year. Major...

Farmers try not to rub city rube's wrong. (Ohio livestock and agricultural industry)(Inside Report)
February 21, 1997... As city folk move out to farm country the $1.5 billion Ohio livestock industry hopes to ward off any conflict between the two cultures. "We need to better communicate what we do," said Tom Price, a pork and beef farmer in Delaware County. "We...

State EPA offers carrots - still carries a big stick. (Ohio EPA's pollution-control programs)(Inside Report)
February 21, 1997... As pollution issues increasingly make headlines, businesses are realizing the importance of operating in an environmentally sound manner. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has programs in place that help them achieve that goal. The...

Center offers help to tech startups. (Business Technology Center)(Tech Now)
February 21, 1997... In an effort to create more high-tech companies, the Business Technology Center has been quietly incubating small businesses for more than 12 years. Now, like many of the companies it graduates, the BTC itself is growing up. "We've moved...

Speed, service on Net: a case wISPful thinking. (selection of Internet access providers)(Tech Now)
February 21, 1997... As a cyberspace columnist, I'm becoming accustomed to hearing from people who've equipped themselves with a computer and a modem, browsed a sampling of Internet books and need but one last push to get to the World Wide Web - a connection to the...