The commercial district on West Third Street in Wright-Dunbar has welcomed a number of new businesses in recent years. The West Social Tap & Table food hall which opened in 2022 at the corner of West Third and Williams has been the biggest.
But another large project at the other end of the same block has also been making progress as it evolves beyond its original vision and now represents a broader push to rebuild the neighborhood’s historic commercial corridor on West Third Street.
The “Cornerstone” project is focused on three adjacent buildings on the north side of the business district near the corner of Third and Broadway.
Project Funding and Investment
The city has supported the project, initially committing $350,000 in grant funding last year which would bring in $3 million in private investment. But more recently that agreement was updated to add an extra $300,000 to fill a funding gap and “help support $6 million in private capital investment in West Dayton” (DDN). A city official said the “increased budget reflects the developer’s desire for a transformational project instead of a basic rehab.”
The agreement is with the city and Wright Dunbar REH LLC and the grants are coming from the West Dayton Development Trust Fund. The developer is the Dillin Corporation, which also did the West Social food hall, and RDA Group Architects, LLC is the designer.
An earlier article said that the grant money was being used “for interior and exterior building improvements; electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems machinery and equipment; furniture and fixtures; and new signage and lighting at the restaurant.”
New Businesses Planned for the Cornerstone Development
These buildings on West Third Street will house new locally-owned businesses that were announced a couple of years ago: the XO Burger restaurant, Haymarket Deli & Sweets, and Saoko Leaf & Wine (a tea and wine bar). A recent article said that the ground floor spaces should be completed by this fall.
One new business associated with the Cornerstone project, the Wright Dunbar Cigar Lounge and Shoppe, already opened in late 2024 at 1153 West Third.
Recent news coverage has also referred to an additional unidentified tenant, and additional sources reveal that the Greater West Dayton Incubator will be occupying 4,000 square feet of second-floor office space in the Cornerstone development for “co-working, classrooms, catering and more.”
A restaurant was first announced for 1171 West Third back in 2022 by Anthony Thomas, owner of Taco Street Co then located at West Social Tap and Table (DBJ). That concept has since closed at the food hall and Thomas is focused on the XO Burger venture which will also include a cocktail bar.
A city staff member said that Dayton “wants to see real, lasting investment and opportunity in the Wright Dunbar business district and West Dayton” and that this project is “a key part of a larger push to support economic growth.”
History of the Buildings on West Third Street
The building at 1171 West Third (future site of XO Burger) is known historically as the Sapp Building.
It was built in 1912 and represents influences of the Prairie style associated with Frank Lloyd Wright. According to Preservation Dayton, these buildings “seem low, as though they are hugging the earth, due to their pronounced horizontal emphasis and overhanging roof line.” On this building, the white brick detailing on the pilasters is a notable feature.
A close look at the cornice also reveals an acanthus leaf decorative panel on the brackets, which is interesting given the fact that “Saoko Leaf and Wine” will be occupying the space next door.
The two other buildings are twins known as the William Webbert Building (1167 West Third) and the Groneweg Building (1155-1153 West Third). They were built from 1912-1914 and feature nice bay windows, brick detailing and metal bracketed cornices.
A recent post by RDA Group shared that the rear of the buildings is “undergoing a dramatic transformation, from uncovering the original building facade and light well, to the construction of the new elevator tower.”
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