Downtown Peoria adds business to its scorecard

Downtown Peoria adds business to its scorecard
Business owners Monte and Candace Ryan are looking to score a touchdown in downtown Peoria.
The couple began excavation at 85th Avenue and Washington Street last week, knocking down a dilapidated house that will be replaced by a 4,000-square-foot building. The building will house the Ryans' longtime business, Touchdown Sportswear and Promotions, now operating out of leased space at 83rd and Grand avenues.
"We are excited about it," Candace said. . "We love Peoria and do a lot of work with the city and the schools."
The Ryans join a number of businesspeople who are reinvesting in Peoria's aging downtown.
"They are committed to downtown revitalization," said Councilwoman Vicki Hunt, whose district includes Oldtown. "It's a belief that our downtown will prosper, and they want to be part of it."
Hunt noted Thom Gyder took the lead last year when he revamped his Wilhelm Automotive Service Center at 82nd and Grand avenues. Gyder also was a key contributor to the building of the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, meant to be a catalyst for downtown revitalization. A flower shop and a bicycle shop also have expanded their locations downtown.
Peoria last month kicked off talks to update its revitalization plan for historic Oldtown and the surrounding area.
Touchdown Sportswear & Promotions embroiders and prints corporate, city and school logos on everything from uniforms to coffee mugs to golf balls.
The company's handiwork can be found on Football Jerseys at the Dysart Unified School District to souvenir T-shirts for the Sedona Jazz Festival on the Rocks.
"We are always on deadline for games or events where they have to have their T-shirts or coffee cups or whatever," Monte Ryan said. "Whatever it takes, we do it, even if it means running 24 hours. That is where the competition drops the ball."
Ryan, who has been in the business for 37 years, learned long ago that to stay competitive, he needed to diversify. He expanded his clients from schools and youth sports to include corporations and municipalities like Glendale and Phoenix. And he puts heavy emphasis on customer service.
"There's a lot of competition," said Ryan, who was on his way to deliver Football Jerseys, ordered late, to a school team in time for an afternoon game. "We are big on customer service. That is why we are able to pick up a lot of accounts."
The Ryans, who have eight employees and a satellite facility near Luke Air Force Base, are now looking to expand their business with the new building at 85th and Washington, not far from where they now lease a 2,000-square-foot facility. The anticipated completion date for the $250,000 building is March 1.
The new building will give the company much-needed elbow room and enable the Ryans to put their silk-screening production, now housed elsewhere, under the same roof.
Ryan said they purchased the lot four years ago at a low price and are moving forward with construction now because the property's value has doubled, making it possible to borrow money cheaply.
Ryan said the lot is valued at about $150,000 because of its location. He's received a number of calls from people inquiring about buying the property.
"It's very tempting," he said. "But in the long run, it's going to be much more valuable to build a structure on it."
Monte said that in 10 years, when Peoria's downtown revitalization is completed, "the commercial building will be worth quite a bit."