Erica Arndts, a mural artist who grew up in Centerville, said she collaborated with Chris Riegal, chief executive of Stratacache, on the design.
“They wanted the old retro-style postcard mural and I’ve done a lot of these in the past,” Arndts said. “They wanted the feel of the mural to capture the essence of Dayton and all of its history.”
The mural spans 25 feet next to the entrance and is 15 feet high. Within the lanky letters spelling out “Dayton” Arndts has painted scenes that represent the community.
The city’s skyline, a view of Sunwatch Indian Village, Deeds Carillon and Heater, the Dayton Dragons mascot, are among the images.
Arndts, 34, left the area after graduating from high school in 2004 and has been painting murals around the world for the past decade. She considers Tulum, Mexico, her home base, but returned to the Miami Valley last summer.
The new mural is the first of two planned for the tower entrance. She said the location has personal meaning for her and her family.
Her grandfather, George Helm, worked right across the street for 45 years in George & Son Shoe Repair, a shoe shop founded by her great-grandfather.
“It’s extra special to be painting in a place where my grandfather looked right out the window at where I was painting.” Arndts said. “It’s been a nice walk down memory lane for me, too, and a way to relive some of Dayton’s history.”
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