The summer is turning out to be a boom time for Vidalia’s business community, with several new businesses set to open their doors or entering the final planning stages.

Three businesses have opened their doors at a new shopping center at Carter and Cross streets in recent weeks: United Credit Corp., Video USA, and Four Rivers Home Health.

A Subway restaurant is also planned for the development, said Dick Ayres, whose Alexandria, La., based company, Petron, is building the shopping center.

No information was available as of Tuesday on exactly when that restaurant is expected to open.

&uot;It should be sometime within the next few weeks,&uot; Mayor Hyram Copeland said.

In addition, a medical clinic and a hotel are still planned for Concordia Square, a shopping center located at Carter Street and Nichols Drive that includes such businesses as Fred’s and Pizza Hut.

The clinic &045; which will be open 7 a.m. to midnight at first, then 24 days a day &045; should be open within three to four months, said Fred Bayles.

Bayles is based in West Monroe and is in charge of renovations, development and expansion for Concordia Square LLC.

Data from Riverland Medical Center of Ferriday, as well as other studies, indicate there is a growing need for a clinic that is open at night, Bayles said.

&uot;A tremendous number of people are not being served,&uot; Bayles said. At night, &uot;they either have to drive two cities up from there or over to Mississippi (for care).&uot;

A 60-room hotel is also in the works.

While Concordia Square LLC is now refining plans for the development, Bayles said he still hopes to have the hotel built by the time construction of Vidalia’s new conference center is completed.

Construction of the conference center should start by November, Copeland said.

There is space for businesses behind the hotel site, although it is not yet certain what types of businesses will be recruited for site, Bayles said.