By George NelsonYOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Even before the Mahoning Valley's newest Curves fitness salon opened for business yesterday, women were ready to sign up. The fitness salon -- which is open to women only -- offers half-hour, assisted workouts. The new Curves is located on the ground floor of the Phar-Mor Centre and currently has five employees in addition to the owners."They wanted to sign up before we even had our first day of operation. They actually wanted us to take their money to go ahead and sign them up. We've had people coming every day," says Jerry Rodgers of Lordstown, who with his wife, Janet, owns and manages the new downtown Curves. The owners and community leaders joined in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday morning. Janet Rodgers is optimistic about the untapped market she says the downtown represents. She hopes to eventually have 400 to 500 monthly memberships. "I think women would agree with me - whatever they can accomplish during that time while they're at work, so they don't have to do it after work, they'll do it," she says. Other proponents of downtown Youngstown join the Rodgerses in their hopes for the city core. "The fact that they wanted to bring Curves downtown I think speaks a lot for the direction the city has taken," says Tameka Woodberry of the city's economic development office. The couple received assistance through the Youngstown Initiative program, including a $7,500 performance grant and technical assistance, Woodberry says. Also, a loan by Sky Bank has received a guarantee from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The new business also received waivers on certain permit fees as well as assistance from the Service Corps of Retired Executives. Woodberry says she hopes that Curves will draw women from throughout the downtown to Phar-Mor Centre and make people more aware of the building. "Also, it can stimulate some activity in the food court," she says. In addition to the recently launched Federal Plaza renovation, Woodberry says a new club is scheduled to open shortly next to the Wick Building. Also, another ribbon-cutting is scheduled for Wednesday morning at B&B's Ladies Unique Boutique, at 12 N. Phelps St. The retail shop, which features an assortment of women's accessories and Avon products, opened downtown in October and relocated in January from a second-floor suite at 18 N. Phelps. "I wanted to open a boutique in the city of Youngstown and I figured downtown would be the best place, being that there aren't a lot of businesses down here," says owner Bea Holley-Lindsey. She hopes that the opening of her business could help trigger a "domino effect" of other businesses locating downtown. So far she says business is going well and that a lot of people have been stopping by the store. She says she may expand to clothing and bath products, but that even if she has to get a larger location she plans to remain downtown."It's a possibility, but for right now I plan on staying here for a while," she says.Contact Senior Reporter George Nelson: gnelson@business-journal.com "