Downtown Dayton and its historic neighborhoods are taking some significant steps forward. In the first episode of my new Dayton Vistas Podcast, I take a closer look at five redevelopment projects to watch in 2026, spanning major adaptive reuse efforts downtown as well as … [Read more...] about 5 Dayton Redevelopment Projects to Watch in 2026: Housing, Office, Retail, and Historic Preservation
The Dayton Arcade’s Flemish-Style Grand Entrance Through Time
On this site I've written a variety of articles about the Dayton Arcade as it has worked its way through an inspiring redevelopment, including a new Arcade history guide that breaks down its past and current status in detail. But today I will look at just one particular … [Read more...] about The Dayton Arcade’s Flemish-Style Grand Entrance Through Time
History of the McCook Theater and Bowling Alley
In a recent article I dug into some history of the McCook shopping center, the first suburban-style commercial strip in Dayton. In that piece I mentioned that two major tenants were a theater and a bowling alley, and here I will share their histories in more detail. The … [Read more...] about History of the McCook Theater and Bowling Alley
America’s Packard Museum: Where Dayton’s Automotive History Still Lives
Dayton, Ohio has no shortage of museums due to its history as a major center of American innovation and industry. But while visitors often gravitate to the best-known attractions like the Air Force Museum, Carillon Historical Park, and Wright Brothers sites, the city is also … [Read more...] about America’s Packard Museum: Where Dayton’s Automotive History Still Lives
Belle of Dayton: A Distillery with a Prohibition-Era Connection
Located at the edge of Dayton's Oregon District, the Belle of Dayton distillery has a fascinating history not only for its location, which has housed a wide range of tenants over the years, but also for the story of the Belle of Dayton brand which takes us all the way back … [Read more...] about Belle of Dayton: A Distillery with a Prohibition-Era Connection
Joui Wine and History of the Huffman Block Building
Another stop on our Holi-Dayton Vacation last week was Joui Wine on East Third Street in the Fire Blocks for drinks and small plates. That district's name dates back to the Great Flood of 1913, but as the name indicates, the most destructive force on this block was fire, … [Read more...] about Joui Wine and History of the Huffman Block Building
Lily’s Dayton: A Site with a Wild Historical Chapter
Last weekend I was excited to participate in an experience called Holi-Dayton vacation, where I joined a group of local social media creators to tour local businesses and participate in some fun holiday activities around the downtown area. As part of it we got to enjoy a … [Read more...] about Lily’s Dayton: A Site with a Wild Historical Chapter
The History and Architecture of 1922 and 1918 Brown Street
A pair of interesting buildings on Brown Street forms part of one of the more intact blocks of neighborhood commercial structures in Dayton, and also help tell the story of the surrounding area. Recently these buildings were sold, and online posts have advertised the … [Read more...] about The History and Architecture of 1922 and 1918 Brown Street
The Fate of McCook Shopping Center, Dayton’s First Suburban Commercial Strip
I've written about Downtown Dayton's retail history, as well as its decline as suburban shopping malls emerged to take advantage of a region that was spreading out significantly in the 1950s and 1960s. But today we will look at an interesting chapter bridging the gap in … [Read more...] about The Fate of McCook Shopping Center, Dayton’s First Suburban Commercial Strip
New Indie Bookstore Open in Historic Building on East Third in Huffman
There's a new bookstore on East Third Street in the Huffman neighborhood. The Cozy Book Nook, a shop focused on indie authors, has recently opened at 1400 East Third Street after relocating from a smaller space on South Dixie in Moraine. Husband and wife team Tony and … [Read more...] about New Indie Bookstore Open in Historic Building on East Third in Huffman