A local businessman is working to bring more companies to the Weirton area, after he and his partner already helped create hundreds of jobs by bringing in big-name businesses, like Wal-Mart and Bob Evans.

After developing over a dozen acres with stores, property developer Lewis Anile and his partner, Nick Palavis, said they are looking to grow business on Three Springs Drive.

"Hopefully, we can land maybe another national restaurant, hopefully on the soccer field," said Anile.

Anile said he and Palavis bought about 20 acres from Weirton Steel in 2004, and it's taken years to develop the property.

"We needed some anchor tenant to push this thing along. Like my partner nick always said, 'We need an engine that's going to pull the package together,'" said Anile. "So, that's when we worked with Wal-Mart to get them here."

With those big-name stores in the shopping area, Anile said at least 600 jobs have been created, and they hope for 200 more.

"It seems like things have lightened up a little bit. We got into this thing at the exact wrong time," said Anile. "It was hard to borrow money, and the economy was pretty much in the dumps."

But now he said, interest in available land is picking up, particularly in office space. Anile said the land can start at $200,000 an acre.