Businesses expand in Terre Haute

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Vacant buildings, boarded up windows and "closed" signs are all that remains for some of the restaurants our families used to frequent.

News 10 reported several businesses leaving the Wabash Valley within just weeks of each other at the end of 2012.

Two months later, despite the unwanted trend of closings, one business owner feels surprisingly optimistic.

"It's kind of been up and down with the economy, as things have changed, but the sewing machine business has definitely grown over the last few years," Wabash Valley Fabrics co-owner Theresa Market said.

The National Association for Business Economists predicts growth will be light overall.  However, it says it'll slowly climb through 2013.

Pyle Sew 'n' Vac has been in the community for 26 years.

Now, it's expanding under a new name, Wabash Valley Fabrics.

It's even adding more to its business, offering sewing and quilting classes.

"Technology, like everything else, has changed the industry," Market said.

It's not just the sewing business that's expanding, it's restaurants too.

The Cheddar's Casual Café franchise will be opening a restaurant on Terre Haute's south side.

Within the next year, a Cheddar's will be built on the former Sycamore Chevrolet lot, bringing 200 jobs with it.

In Terre Haute, businesses seem to be sprouting up against the odds, hoping that a little work will pay off.

"It's iffy.  It's a shot, and we hope in doing what we're doing, that, maybe, it will be an encouragement to other businesses in Terre Haute to expand," she said.

Wabash Valley Fabrics plans to open its doors February 11.

The grand opening celebration is scheduled for March 1.