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HOUGHTON - Moyle is one of the largest and most successful businesses in the Upper Peninsula, specifically here in the Copper Country, where they've been the driving force behind countless businesses.

One recent addition is the Ridgecrest Plaza in Houghton. The Plaza is the latest of the retail centers Moyle has built in southwestern Houghton.

Ridgecrest shares a parking lot with Applebee's, and both are right on the way to Walmart.

"(It's) arguably the best possible retail location," Executive Director of Sales & Marketing Kevin Geshel said.

Already the retail center has two tenants, with Superior National Bank and Trust and Maurice's both making the move from the Copper Country Mall to Ridgecrest Plaza.

Geshel said it's no surprise that the retail centers have continued to fill through the years. Customers love to drive up, walk in, get what they want and walk out. With retail centers, that is exactly what customers do.

"People have continued to love the retail centers," Geshel said. "We're dealing with difficult economic times, but these are doing great."

Moyle owns the land that many of the other retail centers are built on as well. Geshel said finding retailers for them, both nationally and locally, is fairly easy to do, especially because of the unique look that each of them has.

"Very eclectic facade, unique design, convenient parking ... (it's) not just another cinderblock building," Geshel said.

While the Ridgecrest Plaza does have a unique look, it isn't just a quality front. The building, like all of Moyle's buildings, is built very efficiently. According to Geshel, the buildings are very easy to heat, meeting the needs of today's retailers.

Beyond the city limits of Houghton, Moyle is spreading throughout the Upper Peninsula. They are currently working on a new Walmart Supercenter and medical office building in Sault Ste. Marie, a retail center in L'Anse next to the new Pamida, a new assisted living facility in Menominee and dozens of others.

"It is refreshing to see work continue, even in the face of the economic crisis that we are continually reminded of on television every night," Geshel said.

For a full list of the projects they are currently working on, visit their Web site, moyleusa.com. For information on leasing space in the Ridgecrest Plaza, call Geshel at 482-3000.

Michael H. Babcock can be reached at mbabcock@mininggazette.com.