Last Friday I attended the reveal of the new retail spaces inside the Dayton Arcade’s restored North Arcade. It was striking to see such a large crowd gathered inside a landmark that sat vacant for decades. I have been covering the Arcade’s story for years, from … [Read more...] about New Retail Shops Now Open in the Dayton Arcade’s North Arcade
Dayton Arcade
The Dayton Arcade is a multiple-building complex in the heart of downtown Dayton.
Start with our Dayton Arcade complete history guide
And to read our individual articles about the Arcade, click the links below.
5 Dayton Redevelopment Projects to Watch in 2026: Housing, Office, Retail, and Historic Preservation
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
New Arcade Hotel and History of the Gibbons and Third Street Buildings
The brand-new Hilton Garden Inn is now open at the Dayton Arcade. It features 93 rooms as well as a 2nd floor bar and restaurant open to the public which overlooks Courthouse Square and the North Arcade retail marketplace. The hotel occupies two buildings, the Third … [Read more...] about New Arcade Hotel and History of the Gibbons and Third Street Buildings
The Young Building, From Bowling Alley to Longtime Downtown Grocery
Today it's not one of the 9 interconnected buildings in the Dayton Arcade redevelopment, but the 3-story structure immediately to the west of the Third Street Building has an interesting history of its own as well as a long association with the complex. And today it also … [Read more...] about The Young Building, From Bowling Alley to Longtime Downtown Grocery
The Commercial Building: Before and During Construction
In my posts on the Dayton Arcade I've written about the Commercial Building, the 10-story structure designed by Albert Pretzinger for Adam Schantz Jr. which anchors the southern edge of the complex at the NE corner of 4th and Ludlow. It connects to the adjacent Ludlow … [Read more...] about The Commercial Building: Before and During Construction
1989 in Dayton: A Lost Historic District and Two Office Towers
A little while back I covered Dayton's oldest commercial buildings that survive downtown. There I wrote about how the classic 19th century business block, most often Italianate or other Victorian style architecture, is all but extinct in Dayton's central business … [Read more...] about 1989 in Dayton: A Lost Historic District and Two Office Towers
Dayton Arcade Hotel, Retail Nearing Completion: Some Reflections
The second phase of the Dayton Arcade (the North half of the complex) is looking closer to completion. These photos were taken in late February, 2025. Pictured above are the Third Street Building (in the middle) with its iconic Flemish-style façade and the Gibbons Annex … [Read more...] about Dayton Arcade Hotel, Retail Nearing Completion: Some Reflections
What’s the Story Behind Downtown’s Pretzinger Lane?
One of the shortest streets downtown can be found just across from the south side of the Dayton Arcade. Pretzinger Lane is a mid-block street that runs only from Fourth to Fifth, and it offers nice vistas as one walks down it but overall is a bit of a curious case. … [Read more...] about What’s the Story Behind Downtown’s Pretzinger Lane?
How Did the Great Flood Affect Dayton Businesses?
The Great Flood of 1913 was devastating for Dayton, as floodwaters as high as 20 feet engulfed huge areas of the city. The damage to homes, businesses, factories, and infrastructure was over $100 million in 1913 money (roughly $3 billion today). But among the wreckage there … [Read more...] about How Did the Great Flood Affect Dayton Businesses?