The plaza offers a large variety of eateries that are not seen by passers-by outside looking for a lunch destination. The revamped plaza at 50 S. Main St., formerly known as the Orangerie Mall, has been renamed the Shoppes at Akron Centre.

The owner, McKinley Inc., wanted people to know what's in the minimall, so it held an open house this week, offering cake and punch to tenants and newcomers.

The remodeled building has a new look with a more inviting atmosphere. McKinley officials said the company has spent more than $600,000 on upgrades. The Plaza's square footage totals about 66,500.

The Shoppes at Akron Centre joins two towers, the FirstEnergy Tower, which is 31 years old, and the Akron Centre Tower, which is 26 years old. Each tower has a section on the plaza. The complex, called the Akron Centre Plaza, was bought by McKinley 12 years ago.

Throughout the minimall, plasma televisions alternate between CNN news and the Weather Channel. A square fountain has been replaced with a gazebo seating area with new benches on its outskirt. Most of the brick columns have been replaced with wrought iron and stained-wood elements to give a warmer effect. Fifty new tables offer ample seating.

``It used to be that you could always find a chair; now the chairs are full,'' said Scott Kenney, regional property manager. ``That just tells us we did the right thing. We've also gotten a lot of positive feedback.''

The plaza now has crown molding, raised seating areas, new furniture, new lighting and a spruced-up entry carpet. New touch-screen directories identify building areas and list the companies in the building.

The towers have 1,800 workers; Akron Centre Tower has 18 tenants, and the FirstEnergy Building has 10. Tenants include Merrill Lynch, Smith Barney, Chase Bank, court reporters and law offices, the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of U.S. Trustees and two temporary employment agencies.

The plaza's minimall offers a variety of meals, including soups, salads, subs, pizza, sandwiches, Mediterranean cuisine and a coffee shop. A snack food store sells only popcorn and ice cream.

Also in the minimall are a drugstore without a pharmacy, a jewelry store and a beauty salon that welcomes walk-ins, offering hair and nail care and massages.

Delivery service stations are available just inside the front door.

The McKinley Co. was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich. It calls itself a manager of more than $1.2 billion in assets, including more than 15,000 apartments and 4.5 million square feet of commercial space in the United States.

``McKinley is a long-term investment company that continues to reinvest in its properties,'' Kenney said. ``Their philosophy is that you have to be proactive with property to keep its value.''

Officials said McKinley did not receive incentives or tax rebates to make the improvements.

Renovations were done at night. Although there is security at the complex around the clock, the plaza closes at 6 p.m.

``We didn't want to disrupt any businesses; that's why the project took a little longer. It took six to eight months,'' Kenney said. ``It was fun coming in each day to see what the contractors did overnight. And you could see the tenants pointing out the changes as well.''

The upgrades were designed by David Pelligra Architects of Cuyahoga Falls. All the construction work was by NSC Construction of Akron.

Additional improvements are on the way. Banners naming the businesses throughout the plaza will be replaced with wood and wrought iron signs to match the detailed columns. Kenney said the signs will have a sharp, more elegant look.

There are plans for ``wi-fi'' access in the plaza and possibly an expansion of the cafe outside.

The age of the towers makes upgrades constant, Kenney said. He said $1.7 million will be spent to improve the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment, $500,000 to upgrade the fire alarm system and $1.4 million in 2008 on an elevator modernization project.

``We like what's happening in downtown Akron,'' Kenney said. ``Mayor Don Plusquellic is focused on rejuvenating the city, and the Downtown Akron Partnership does a good job.''

Besides Akron and Ann Arbor, McKinley owns properties in Indianapolis; Norfolk, Va.; Oklahoma City; and Orlando, Fla.