The Wright Dunbar Food Hall project at 1100 W. Third St. is projected to include outdoor seating and entertainment as well as food vendors. It is being overseen by Dillin, a development company led by Larry Dillin, whose company, Viscap Development, managed the Austin Landing multi-use development from 2016 to late 2019, when Austin Landing changed ownership. Dillin entered into a joint venture for the project with Wright Dunbar Inc., the non-profit organization dedicated to the management and development of the Historic Wright Dunbar Business District.
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Credit: dillincorp.com
Credit: dillincorp.com
"West Dayton is a re-surging area of investment, particularly along Third Street in the Wright-Dunbar neighborhood — home to aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright and writer Paul Laurence Dunbar," the company said on its Dillincorp.com web site. "Located adjacent to the National Aviation Heritage Museum and original Wright Bros Cycle shop sits a 6,000 square foot one story building where Dillin is creating a Food Hall containing five food stations, coffee shop and bar to serve the surrounding neighborhood and destination foodies alike in a first-phase investment."
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“The Dillin-led project is a joint venture with nonprofit Wright-Dunbar, Inc. with support from the City of Dayton. This critically important food location facilitates the continued resurgence of new investment in a traditionally challenged neighborhood. The historic character of the surrounding community creates much interest from homeowners, and more recently, investors, to this area located less than five minutes from downtown Dayton.”
Jeff Jackson — member of Wright Dunbar Inc.'s executive board — posted the artist's rendering of the food hall on his Facebook page with a two-word description: "Game changer!" The post was warmly received by commenters. Jackson declined further comment Sunday afternoon, saying Wright Dunbar Inc. would release an official statement soon.
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As part of an effort to land a $250,000 grant from the city of Dayton to assist with renovating the vacant conference center, Wright Dunbar Inc. and city officials said the proposed project would be transformative for the corridor and would leverage about $1.1 million in new private investment in the Wright Dunbar area.
“This project is critical to serving as a catalyst for development by adding much needed amenities for businesses to attract employees and developers for market-rate housing and continuing the redevelopment momentum in the Wright Dunbar/Wolf Creek geography,” wrote Dayton economic development director Ford Weber in a memo.
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Two weeks ago, this news outlet reported Grind House Coffee & Tea Company is planning to open a coffee shop in the Wright Dunbar neighborhood that will offer coffee, pastries, tea, bagged coffee and ice cream. That new shop is coming as soon as September to 1000 W. Third St., and it is not related to the Wright Dunbar Food Hall project, Grind House Coffee CEO William Miller said.
We are seeking more details about the food-hall project and will update this story with any new information.
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