The first business has filed for a permit to go into the former Rite Aid location on the corner of West Main Street and Virginia Avenue. And it is a business expanding for the first time with a Harrison County history dating back to 1961.

 

Veltri Family Dentistry, which is currently operating under the name of Veltri, Day & Veltri Dentistry in downtown Clarksburg, will open its second location in one of three suites in the Rite Aid site. The current business, located on Court Street in Clarksburg, will remain open and assume the name of Veltri Family Dentistry as well, said owner Vince Veltri.

 

The name change is not the first. According to Gerard “Jerry” Veltri, the previous owner and Vince’s father, the practice on Court Street began in 1961 as Dino Colombo, DDS. While the site has served, and will continue to serve, its client base, Vince said there was a reason for the second site.

 

“In all honesty, when you look at the number of patients we’re dealing with, we’re backed out a little too far,” said Vince. “With the high demand of patients needing service we knew we needed to grow and there is no space here in Clarksburg. To do right by our patients, this was the move that makes the most sense.”

 

Vince learned about the space after talking with one of the owners, Jack Spatafore. Spatafore and his wife Maria purchased the property next to their own Bridgeport Physical Therapy site and Maria had led the way in converting the once dilapidated site into a now attractive piece of real estate.

 

“After we talked it went from an idea to being possible to knowing we need to grow. Being able to do it in your hometown and help more people and help others on a faster timeline just makes everything work,” said Vince, a 2001 Bridgeport High graduate.

 

Veltri said the plan is to have himself and Dr. Rebecca Day working primarily at the new location. He said he will be going back and forth a bit with the plan to bring on another associate to fill in as well.

 

As for the services that will be offered, Vince said it will mirror what the Clarksburg location currently offers. He said they hope to expand services at both sites based on continuing education and dentistry programs.

 

“We’re in the process of interviewing people to add to the staff to stay away from being behind the eight ball,” said Vince. “We’re trying to see what the right fix with mixing new hires in Clarksburg is or just having all the new hires in Bridgeport. We’ll likely learn more as we train people here.”

 

Contractors are currently on-site handling work. Veltri said he hopes to see operations begin by mid-July.

 

“I couldn’t be more excited for this, and for the visibility the site brings. In Clarksburg, we’ve done so well essentially being in an alley with no visibility,” he said. “To get a space on Main Street at one of the busiest intersections is great for visibility.”

 

The city of Bridgeport is also excited about its future business arrival. Community Development Director Andrea Kerr was thrilled with the news.

 

“Veltri, Day & Veltri bring a highly reputable business that has been successful since the 1960s in Clarksburg to our city,” said Kerr. “The add immediate credibility to that new area of development because they are highly reputable in their industry.”

 

Veltri, a 2008 graduate of West Virginia University, said the business will be open Monday through Friday. The hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

Editor's Note: Shown at the top, from left, is Dr. Rebecca Day, Dr. Vince Veltri, Dr. Gerard "Jerry" Veltri.