Honestly, if you haven’t driven down Pearl Road or Royalton in the last few weeks, you’re basically walking into a different city. Strongsville is changing. Fast. Between the new retail giants moving into dead spaces and some fairly intense shifts in city leadership, there's a lot to keep track of.
News in Strongsville Ohio right now isn't just about the usual winter slush or high school basketball scores—though the Mustangs did just hand Norwayne a 73-57 loss on January 13th. It’s about a city that’s 98% built out and is now forced to reinvent itself within its own borders.
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The Retail Resurrection: Books, Donuts, and Swimming
People have been complaining for years about the "Borders-shaped hole" in our hearts since 2011. Well, the wait is pretty much over. Barnes & Noble is officially taking over the old Bed, Bath & Beyond spot right across from SouthPark Mall. It’s slated for a January 2026 opening, and yeah, it’s going to have the cafe. It’s kind of a big deal for those of us who miss having a place to actually browse physical books without driving to Westlake or Akron.
But it’s not just the big guys. Pearl Road is seeing a massive flurry of activity.
- Aqua-Tots Swim School just had its grand opening on January 15th at 17792 Pearl Road. It’s a 7,000-square-foot facility with a 60-foot pool. If you’ve got kids, you’ve probably already heard the buzz about the viewing area for parents.
- Mochinut Donuts is sliding into the vacant Pizza King spot.
- Sir Troy’s Toy Kingdom is taking over the old Big Lots.
It’s an interesting pivot. Instead of building new plazas, the city is backfilling. The Camden Woods development is also moving along, promising a new 7,500-square-foot retail space at Royalton and Prospect that might finally give us another sit-down restaurant option.
City Council and the "Open Meetings" Investigation
Now, let's talk about the stuff that isn't as fun as donuts. Things have been a bit tense at the Mike Kalinich Sr. City Council Chambers.
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There’s been a lot of talk about the State Auditor’s inquiry into whether the Ohio Open Meetings Act was violated. Basically, the Strongsville GOP and some residents raised concerns about how replacements for Ward 2 and Ward 3 were handled. If you remember, Councilmen Schonhut and Carbone moved to At-Large seats, leaving those spots open.
There were allegations of "back-room deals" during the interview process for the 18 applicants. In a pretty unprecedented move, Council actually scrapped their initial work and restarted the entire appointment process back on January 8th to avoid legal "taint." At the January 5th organizational meeting, they were still hammering out the details of committee assignments, with James Carbone and Kelly Kosek taking on major roles in Public Safety and Health.
If you’re the type who likes to see how the sausage is made, the next big meeting is January 20, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. There’s a public hearing about rezoning some land from Public Facilities to General Business. It sounds dry, but that’s usually where the big changes to our traffic and neighborhoods actually start.
Schools and the Mustang Future
If you have kids in the district, you probably saw the news about the new teacher contract. The Board of Education and the Strongsville Education Association just inked a deal that runs from August 2026 through July 2028.
Teachers are getting a 3.0% raise in the first year and 2.5% in the second. Superintendent Dr. Cameron Ryba called it "fiscally responsible," which is code for "we’re trying to keep good teachers without breaking the bank before the next levy discussion."
Speaking of the schools, the district is currently in the final stretch of its three-year strategic plan, which wraps up in July 2026. They’ve been focusing heavily on "Mustang Moments"—the weekly updates—to keep parents from feeling out of the loop.
The Push for a "New" Town Center
Mayor Perciak has been talking a lot about the Town Center reimagining. We’re seeing more nature trails and the splash pads that were promised. But the real "insider" news is the plan to rezone the area around SouthPark Mall.
The city is looking to add hotels and medical facilities to the mall's footprint. Why? Because indoor malls are struggling everywhere, and Strongsville doesn't want SouthPark to become a ghost town. They're actually looking to reduce parking—which sounds crazy given how crowded it gets at Christmas—to make room for more "lifestyle" buildings.
Local Events You Should Actually Care About
January is usually a "hibernate" month, but there are a few things happening at the library and around town that are actually worth your time:
- Chili Open Planning: The Rotary Club is meeting on January 21st and 28th to prep for the 2026 Chili Open. This is arguably the biggest community event of the winter.
- Teen Junk Journals: If you have a middle or high schooler, the library is doing a craft night on January 20th. It’s free, but you have to sign a waiver because apparently, "junk journaling" involves tools.
- Excel Basics: On January 30th, the library is holding a three-hour deep dive into Excel. If you’re struggling with spreadsheets at work, this is a literal lifesaver.
What This Means for You
If you live here, the "takeaway" is that property values are likely to stay high because the city is being aggressive about redevelopment. However, expect more construction orange barrels on Royalton Road as these new retail spots open up.
Keep an eye on that January 20th Council meeting. The decisions made there regarding rezoning will dictate what the corner of your street looks like for the next decade. If you're looking for work or a change of pace, the surge in new businesses like Barnes & Noble and Aqua-Tots means a sudden spike in local part-time and management jobs right here in town.
Next Steps for Strongsville Residents:
- Check the Zoning: If you live near the Mall or the Prospect/Royalton intersection, look up Ordinance 2025-144 before the Jan 20th hearing to see how it affects your property line.
- Register for the Chili Open: Support the Rotary Club; tickets are usually available at the Rec Center.
- Support Local: Before the big chains open, hit up the smaller shops on Pearl that are feeling the squeeze of the winter "slow season."
The landscape of Strongsville in 2026 is becoming one of "density over distance." We aren't growing out anymore; we're growing up and better. It’s a weird transition, but honestly, having a place to buy a book and a decent donut within a five-minute drive makes the construction worth it.