On Tuesday, ground was broken for the new Bellacino’s restaurant on Collins Avenue in South Point.

The restaurant is the first announced tenant for a new 9,000-square foot strip mall that has been in the planning by the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation for some time.

When full, the mall will house four businesses, each with 1,200-2,400-square feet of space.

Bellacino’s has a good chance to likely thrive in its location, given its proximity to The Point industrial park, the South Point school district and the lack of nearby eating options along that particular stretch of the heavily-trafficked U.S. 52 it will be located adjacent to.

Franchise owner Richard Mickel says the business will employ 20-30 people upon opening.

In addition to the needed job options, as Lawrence County Commission President Bill Pratt pointed out, Bellacino’s and other tenants of the coming mall will also provide Lawrence County with additional tax revenue, allowing consumers another option to do business within the county, rather than crossing the river to West Virginia or Kentucky.

This is positive news for the region and it is good to see plans coming to fruition.

We commend the LEDC and its director Bill Dingus for making this project possible and wish Mickel and Bellacino’s, as well as all the coming businesses, success in their new South Point location.