What Growth Looks Like in Harrison Right Now

If you want to understand how Harrison is growing, you do not have to look far.

You can see it in projects like the redevelopment of the former Big Lots property on New Haven Road. What was once a single large retail space is being reimagined into a modern, multi-tenant center with new restaurants, updated retail space, and significant infrastructure improvements.

That transformation includes a full exterior refresh, upgraded building systems, improved parking and landscaping, and new signage. It also includes new tenants already committed to the site, including Longnecks Sports Grill and Omega Beauty, alongside existing businesses that continue to serve the community.

Projects like this matter because they reflect more than physical change. They signal confidence in our community to grow while keeping what makes Harrison special.

Private investment at this level tells a broader story about Harrison, it shows that businesses see a brighter future here, they see that properties are being repositioned rather than left behind, and that growth is active and intentional.

That momentum is also visible in The District.

Since the beginning of the year, several new businesses have opened, with additional businesses moving through the approval process. As those spaces fill, activity is beginning to extend beyond Harrison Avenue into adjacent streets, an early sign of a district reaching capacity and continuing to expand.

The City also secured $130,000 through the Hamilton County Economic Impact Program to support façade improvements throughout The District. That funding will help property owners reinvest in exterior upgrades, strengthening the overall look, function, and long-term value of the downtown business area.

These efforts are not isolated. New business activity, private reinvestment, and public support are working together to strengthen the district as a whole.

That same pattern is visible at a regional level.

Harrison was recently recognized as part of the broader impact surrounding Cencora’s investment in the region, earning acknowledgment through REDI Cincinnati’s James A. Wuenker Growth Award. While the recognition is regional, it reinforces something important locally. Harrison is part of an economic ecosystem that is attracting national attention and investment.

Development is not just about attracting new projects. It is about creating the conditions that make those projects possible and not just about what gets built. It is about how people understand what is being built and why. So, we are working on new ways of keeping you informed including a landing page dedicated to development in Harrison.

Harrison is at a point where momentum is visible. The focus now is making sure that momentum is shaped with intention, supported with the right infrastructure, and communicated clearly to the people it impacts. 

Harrison: Where opportunity grows from strong roots. Your future site for hometown memories!

By, Joett Greiwe - Director of Development, City of Harrison