Get ready to see more shops and restaurants open doors in northeast Clinton with the redevelopment of the Clinton Plaza Shopping Center.

Owner of the property, Robert Scott, an insurance agent from Wilson, has big plans for his property and has hopes for a number of new faces to join current businesses Family Dollar, Advance Auto Parts and Wachovia Bank.

“Right now, Subway is the only one getting ready to move, and Fire Wired Grill is going to locate there as well,” noted Scott, who has owned the property since 2005. Right now, the site already has 30,000 square feet which is occupied, with another 25,000 that he is hoping to fill at least by the end of the year.

He is currently the owner of all local Subway franchises in Clinton.

Scott, who is new in the retail building business, said he has hopes that a variety of different shops will want to move into the area.

“I got a local Mexican restaurant interested, and I hope that will materialize,” he stressed, but declined to give the identity.

In total, from the 25 units, he predicts that as many as 100 jobs could come to Clinton, if each unit is filled with a business.

“I have a good feeling about it,” Scott commented.

He also has plans for other businesses, but since there are still active discussions ongoing with potential renters, he did not want to elaborate on specific businesses that might occupy a building.

“I will know more in about 30 - 60 days,” Scott commented, “Things may not work out.”

He added that his goal is to have a “good mixture of tenants.”

Scott is confident that the area is perfect for business growth and revitalization.

“The traffic count there is the second highest in the city, and it is an old, established neighborhood,” Scott noted.

The excited businessman is also feeling good knowing that Jordan Shopping Center, which is located across the street, is proof that his new shopping plaza will survive.

“That shopping center is always full,” Scott added. In fact, before he started this business project, he contacted the owner of Jordan Shopping Center, Billy Ray Jordan, who advised that his shopping center was a viable venture.

“He thought I was doing a good job,” Scott noted.

Since this is his first venture in retail building ownership, he stressed that he hasn’t actively looked for potential businesses to fill the space. He has also found that the process of finding tenants can be a bit slow.

“I haven’t really put it on the active market yet. I wanted to wait until it was partially completed,” Scott noted, saying in a couple of months, the buildings should be ready to occupy.

However, he stressed that with paving of the property starting next week, more potential tenants will probably show greater interest in moving into the area.

As for when he expects all the businesses to be moved in and ready for customers, Scott stated, “immediately and gradually.”

Katie Holland can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 136, or by e-mail at silife@heartlandpublications.com.