6 Businesses Powering North Ridgeville’s Growth

RUF Briquetting Systems

North Ridgeville held all the cards when RUF Briquetting Systems wanted to expand its operation in the United States. The family-owned German company has had a North American Sales and Service facility, for RUF Briquetting machines in Elyria. RUF machines are used to compress metal, wood, biomass and other scrap materials into usable briquettes. Roland Ruf, CEO of RUF Maschinenbau Gmhb & Co., wanted to reduce lead times for customers and also find a location that could expand to 100,000 square feet.

North Ridgeville was the answer, according to Jim Weist, president of RUF’s North American Division. The new, 32,000-square-foot facility on 11 acres will house offices and factory space. Occupancy at the Taylor Industrial Parkway complex is expected in December 2025.

“This is Phase One, and we expect to substantially increase our capacity over the next five to 10 years,” says Weist. “North Ridgeville is a great location for us. We are looking forward to being part of the community.”

38778 Taylor Parkway

440-779-2747

ruf-briquetter.com 

lil’ ranger rumble

You never know. One of those little kids climbing all over the 2-story jungle gym in lil’ ranger rumble, a new indoor playground that will open in late fall in North Ridgeville, may someday be the next quarterback of the North Ridgeville High School football team.

“The sense of community is very strong here, and everyone loves their Rangers. These local kids will all be Rangers someday. We want to support the healthy habit of being active when they are young,” says lil’ ranger rumble owner Maria Ferris. 

The indoor gym is geared to kids seven and under and features climbing tasks, slides, a ball pit and other soft structure play areas, according to Ferris, also owner of MarDom Real Estate.

Ferris chose North Ridgeville to open her new business because the city is her home and she wanted to create a safe and comfortable environment for other parents as well as for her family. 

Party packages are available and accommodate 15 children with an additional cost for each child.

33135 Center Ridge Rd.

play@lilrangerrumble.com

lilrangerrumble.com

UH Urgent Care

A new University Hospitals Urgent Care facility opened in North Ridgeville this past August, managed in partnership with WellStreet Urgent Care, and the timing was perfect, according to Jonathan Stokes, vice president of operations at WellStreet.  

“Demand is really there right as flu season starts,” says Stokes, adding that the facility offers a wide variety of testing and screening options, including those to detect flu, strep throat and COVID. “We offer injury and illness care options, from a simple cough to a broken bone. We have X-ray capabilities on site and an in-house pharmacy. We are trying to make it as convenient as possible for our patients. The pharmacy offers standard medicines like antibiotics, because you don’t want to spend time standing in line at a pharmacy someplace right after you got out of an urgent care facility. And most prescriptions are $10 or less.”

School sport, camp and employer physicals are also available.

Stokes believes North Ridgeville is a logical location for the new urgent care facility due to market demand and because UH already has an established presence in the community with a number of UH primary care physicians and specialty care groups.

The new UH Urgent Care facility is open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome or patients may book appointments online.   

34548 Center Ridge Rd.

216-490-1150

uhurgentcare.org

KLT Insurance

The letters in KLT Insurance represent the words “Know, Like and Trust” — the guiding principles followed by Founder and President Chris Hibsman.

“KLT is an extension of what I am,” explains Hibsman, who opened his insurance company in 2020 and who has been in his present office space in the center of North Ridgeville for the past two years. “I want to be busy in the community. I want people here to say, ‘We know those people from KLT Insurance. They are really nice people.’  Our footprint in North Ridgeville has gotten much bigger, and it’s because we try to do whatever we can for the community.”

Hibsman, chairman of the board of directors for the North Ridgeville Chamber of Commerce, has no trouble staying busy. He and his company’s staff are active in chamber events all year round, including the popular North Ridgeville Chamber Annual Golf Event. 

Hibsman also takes part in Heart & Sole, a community collaborative promoting health and wellness. In addition, he has been involved for a decade in the North Ridgeville High School’s band leadership program.

Between all his volunteering, Hibsman says he will find clients a policy for “anything you can insure.” KLT even offers wedding insurance.

“You never know what happens at a wedding,” Hibsman says.

6480 Pitts Blvd.

440-584-0558  

kltinsurance.com  

Italian Coffee

This summer, Italian Coffee opened a spacious new patio with 15 tables, adding to five tables near the business’ front door. But from the way business has been growing since opening in January 2025, and the love from the community the coffee shop has gratefully received, even that extra space might not be enough.   

Arben Alia and his wife, Ledia, have 28 years’ experience in the restaurant/food industry. But nowhere, Alia says, have they been as welcome as in North Ridgeville. Local customers are impressed with the owners’ friendliness, passion for their work, dedication to service and, of course, the food.

Italian Coffee serves a wide variety of hot and iced coffee drinks, with coffee directly sent to Alia from his family, based on the east coast of Italy. The family roasts the coffee and ships it every two or three months to assure freshness. 

The shop sells salads and sandwiches, desserts and smoothies that are made fresh. “In the smoothies, you can taste chunks of fresh strawberries, mangoes, blueberries and so many fruits I can’t even remember,” says Alia.

Pastries include cassata cakes, chocolate cannoli and Italian cheesecake. The baking flour Alia uses is also sent by his family. 

But it is also the 25 flavors of handmade Italian gelato that have helped Italian Coffee win its “must-try” reputation.  

34960 Center Ridge Road

440-391-8092

italiancoffeenorthridgeville.com     

Legacy Roofing Services

Legacy Roofing Services is one of the largest roofing contractors in the area. Its locations include Columbus, Akron, Bath Township and, as of 2024, North Ridgeville. But Dave Sipes, a vice president with the company, wants customers to know Legacy Roofing Services is dedicated to supporting local community interests.

Sipes has lived in North Ridgeville for 15 years. He and his family plus the company have been active with the North Ridgeville Parks and Recreation Department and Recreation Center. Sipes has been a softball coach for six years. “I feel passionate about embedding ourselves into the community and giving back,” he says.  

Legacy Roofing Services provides “just about everything you can put on a roof,” plus vinyl siding, gutters and downspouts, according to Sipes. It provides roof repair and replacement and free roofing inspections.

“The technology that has been developed for shingles in the past five to seven years is phenomenal. It’s mind-blowing. They will last 30, 40 years if installed properly. That’s bad news for me,” jokes Sipes. 

Also keep an eye out for Legacy Roofing Services’ new mascot — a cute Bernedoodle equipped with roofing tools in hand (paw?). The mascot is named “Bernie,” of course, and inspired by Sipes’ own dog.

6287 Lear Nagle Road, Unit 1

440-739-3498

legacyroofing.com