The Dayton Arcade: Waking the Giant Part 1

[@thomasplant660]

I grew up in DAYTON and spent many times daily in the Arcade for shopping buying lunch, buying fish, meats , and exploring other stores. We often stopped into the Arcade on the way home from Central School in the afternoon each day. It was always exciting and busy with people. It was great to be able to access each store from inside the arcade particularly when their was inclement weather outside. it was always easy to access McCrory’s Department Store, Culp’s Restaurant, Thal’s, Donenfields, Capitol Cleaners, Liberals Market, and others from the inside. I am a great believer in historic preservation of our heritage and has dedicated my energies in Boston now, but I still have family in DAYTON and I return there several times yearly. I am very pleased that DAYTON is saving the Historic Arcade as a mixed- use center for business, residential, and entertainment. It will once again be a continuous vital part of the cities urban fabric of life for generations of Daytonians. I want to thank everyone for saving this beautiful iconic building we’re so many Daytonians have wonderful memories.

[@ASMRJeremiah]

I'm so excited about this! I went here as a kid in the late 80's. I've been living in Los Angeles for over 15 years and my wife and I are possibly buying a home in the Huffman district. Let's bring Dayton back! #renovatinDayton

[@lauralowery9303]

As a hippie teenager in the late 60's, I especially liked the hippie shop downstairs called the Village Underground! SO many memories of this beautiful place! I've been living in South Texas for 30 years and I had no idea that they closed the Arcade! What were they thinking! If they had fixed things as they happened it wouldn't be in such trouble! - Just my opinion. I know that when you abandon a building, it falls apart quickly. I'm so glad someone's going to bring it back. It'll never be the same though. It'll make new memories for a new generation. ❤

[@austinbecton5341]

Thanks to all those revitalizing Dayton and the Arcade :-) I can't wait to move back to Ohio and be part of this effort.

[@delaneygjr]

Same here Austin. Looking to make Dayton my second home.

[@angelofernando6637]

i guess Im kinda off topic but does anybody know of a good place to stream new tv shows online?

[@donovanatticus5677]

@Angelo Fernando Flixportal :)

[@angelofernando6637]

@Donovan Atticus thanks, I signed up and it seems to work :) Appreciate it !!

[@donovanatticus5677]

@Angelo Fernando happy to help xD

[@AzizPa]

As an Architecture student in Dayton, I will soon contribute to making our city even better and thrive even more. It would be an honor to work on projects like this. Growing up in Dayton I’ve seen DOZENS of vacant buildings, which I know have had an impact on the lives of thousands. I wish to bring this back and impact our generation and the next

[@Zelepookins817]

I lost my mother in 2013. This was our place! I so wish she could see this beauty come back.

[@raysnoderlyjr2950]

Fond memories of the Arcade. I'm praying for the completion. Dayton would never be the same without the Arcade.

[@nmikloiche]

I’ve don’t know many people who are raving fans of 12 million dollar gravel lots, so, I think I speak for most when I say I am deeply grateful to the collective of stakeholders, who were able to hold this deal together. This is not your average development deal, that can be green lighted by a few spreadsheets from the actuaries. This deal is not simply a financial one, it takes heart and It take patience and vision and gumption and grace and the courage to say yes to resurrect this treasure. It is as much art as it is architecture and I can not wait to walk into the rotondra and look up through the glass and take in its splendor.

[@scotttape1418]

I am really hopeful this gets restored. It will create a very vibrant atmosphere in the heart of the city of Dayton

[@RackGearAddict]

If you want to buy a historical house Dayton has plenty to offer. My house is 110 years old! I love it!

[@tyjomello]

Never got to see the arcade in any if it's heyday. But I've always felt a bit of nostalgia for it... and always imagined what it was like it's best days... always hoping that maybe it's best days could still be yet to come. So happy to see the progress being made.

[@jasonshaffer1717]

ive been doing metal restoration work in the rotunda, this is an amazing group of buildings, the innovation involved in this project is mind boggling.

[@lindamcconnell9441]

So many memories of the Arcade. Lunches with Mom at Woolworths and all the stalls inside. Especially the fish market where we bought shrimp for Christmas every year. In the 60s when it was alive.

[@DrummerDanVa]

Lived in Dayton area from 1987 - 1991. Enjoyed the Arcade especially at Christmas. But like many cities, for various reasons people moved farther away from the downtowns and rarely visited the downtown area. It is a shame but for many reasons understandable.

[@triplet9213]

I remember the Arcade back 80s. It was nice. It had a nice food court. Glass Elevators. Private Businesses throughout the first and second floors. We lost Mead World Headquarters Just Across The Street, NCR just outside of Downtown to the South, and Several Bank Merges 1st National and Gem City Bank, became Nation City Bank and then closed. Along with losing major Auto Manufacturers in the area, the City lost A Large Number of It's Population. So it just sat for decades. I am so glad it is being perseved. Native Daytonians over 40 yrs old know the history in the Dayton Arcade.

[@mildredorrender9276]

I am 65 years old and I remember my mom when I was about 5 taking me to Woolworths and going downstairs my mom holding my hand as I looked at all those toys. Something i never seen before lol that many toys in one place. We stopped and had lunch at the back counter that looked out at the arcade . About 60 years ago

[@mildredorrender9276]

@Cynthia Murphy your right it will never be what it was. We have our memories that we can look back on. I have a nephew that is the supervisor of the company that is doing all the drywall and painting there, he said it is a hugh project and he wishes he could have seen it in its original days

[@mildredorrender9276]

@Cynthia Murphy Cynthia if we make it till its finished maybe we can meet down there and walk it together and compare memories of h.h. greens, major's jewelers and the old mc Crowe's.

[@mildredorrender9276]

@Cynthia Murphy when it does open I will try to contact you or you contact me if you hear about it first oklol

[@keithnorris8982]

I remember it well... I'm 78.:-)

[@lindamcconnell9441]

Yes. I am 67. Mom and I shared a banana split in Woolworths every Saturday. You popped a balloon. Trying to always get that split for a penny. I remember the basement well.

[@bethpreston7622]

Used to go here in the 80's with my grandfather. Such great memories

[@michaelheintz8853]

When I was growinig up I spent a lot of time in McCrory's and the Arcade with its lunch counter and fish market.

[@lindatrombley3]

I love this old building. It is beautiful inside. Went there alot when they had all the restaurants were in it. Wish it were like tjat again. Then an evil company came and bought it and shut down everything and as a result, it has been closed for years.

[@BL-no7jp]

It’s nice to hear revitalization is taking place in Dayton because it’s been on the decline since the 70’s. I’m glad our family moved out in 1971.

[@vickynoname9860]

I am an investor for years. I sold everything in Tampa Fl to invest in Dayton. Give a few years and you will remember this comment.

[@IcelanderUSer]

What’s amazing about Dayton is that it wasn’t leveled to create parking lots the way many other cities were. And, there’s a huge housing stock of amazing homes that are affordable.

[@gandolfthegardener]

Admirable task!! 🙏❤🙏❤🙏❤🙏❤ "Up the pike" in 1989 Springfield, we lost our cause to restore/renovate our 1880s Kelly Arcade. The Citizen's Arcade Alliance tried similiar tactics to reinvigrate the complex. Ultimately, public apathy, city government indifference to the structures future, and alarge dource if investors and the monies doomed the project. It's demolition opened its block for wholesale clearing. The only survivors are the Regent Theater and the Wren Building. Then the Wren building was threatened with "demolition through neglect" after its gutting due to broken water pipes. Thankfully, we got the funding in place for new living spaces and a bit more retail. The Courtyard by Marriott hotel stands on the former Kelly Arcade site. Side note:ghe atcade begen its life as a factory and its additions as the agricultural implement maker prospered. What a story in bricks lost.

[@lawoman9351]

Memories, oh the memories.

[@johnlovell1035]

Very good

[@triplet9213]

The 23:40 mark, it is beautiful.

[@johnsavage6628]

The Arcade was the heart of Dayton. A place for working people. You could buy all sorts of things in the Arcade. The dome glass was colored, not clear.

[@yadyad1966]

Anybody remember Raggs? The homeless guy that lived downtown, died with all that money

[@mildredorrender9276]

Yelp sure do

[@keithnorris8982]

I remember but didn't know about his having any money. Actually, I talked with him a few times.

[@PeggyL58]

yep he was a regular downtown. I too heard he had money not sure if it was a rumor or truth. Someone somewhere has to have a picture of him

[@mildredorrender9276]

@@PeggyL58 there was and I believe still is an articule written about him. Check google for it because I know I have read it before it even gives his real name and his history

[@PeggyL58]

@@mildredorrender9276 thx

[@douggrabill]

Dayton needs more free parking to compete with suburban stores

[@ericd1084]

I didn't even see a single video game.

[@triplet9213]

Sell the City of Dayton as A Great Historical City. 🤷 The Original Home of the Wright Bros & Wright Patterson Air Force Base. To Include Reserch Laboratories. Dayton News to find a new Major Industry. Be it The Tech Industry, The Sports Industry. or Both. All the Corn Fields around Dayton. Those are sports venues waiting to happen. Some might say, " Well Dayton doesn't have the Population to support major venues. Offering Major Venues is what brings the population here. It's all in the MARKETING. Advertise as The First Silcon Valley: Siting The History Of The Wright Brothers National Cash Register (NCR) How Dayton is Repositioning Itself to do.......Future of Innovation~working with Wright Patterson Air Force Base Reserch Laboratories. The Spirit Of Development is in Dayton's DNA.

[@richardsensabaugh1312]

Don't you remember what happened last time they renovated the arcade? All that money put in to it , all those businesses that put all that money in were destroyed. Are they going to have security guards to protect the people being menaced as they enter and leave like they were last time with teens standing in all the entryways. That's what destroyed the Salem Mall too, remember that? It was a playground for the teens getting out of school. The buses drop them all off downtown. People don't want that. They want to feel safe. Until then people will go other places, they don't have to put up with it. I think it was Fairfield Commons Mall that wouldn't build unless they agreed to have no buss service. That's the only way it would work. They were wise not to make the mistake you are getting ready to make again. You can't babysit all the dreg of downtown. It won't work!

[@songster03]

You’re settling on old fears that was 35 years ago.. It’s 2021. Kids of this generation are preoccupied with their phones and video game consoles. Concerned with Tik Tok and Snapchat. Believe me they won’t be interested in going down there.

[@nova2nutt]

i am currently working at the site. as of last week since some UD administrators are moving in, theres is merchants security onsite and UD police will follow in the coming days.

[@coryweaver6118]

Good point, if something didn’t work in the 80s it’s guaranteed to not work now. Such a wise perspective. We should all probably stop trying to do anything other than what is safe and very very white.

[@SuperRoshua]

Gentrification has proven nationwide that when local law enforcement, government officials and the business community actually decide to stop crime in it's tracks by putting efficient resources on the ground to do so, it actually works. Look around.

[@SuperRoshua]

@@coryweaver6118 (lol), Nice take dude!!

[@slim2003]

This is a great piece just wish it showcased more people of color in it it’s sad that there were no people of color on the design teams or planning committee we have to do better as a city to revitalize our city

[@dmaxsba]

This complex should have been turned into a casino! It would have been able to have everything they currently want to have plus actually succeed! It would have single-handedly saved downtown bringing millions of needed tax dollars into the city budget.

[@pappap1702]

I wouldn't give 2 cents to live in Dayton or any big city. Drugs, crime, poverty must be addressed and solved.

[@gymeni]

Ok. Now, back to THE ARCADE…

[@lindamcconnell9441]

You have that in very small towns too. Even the rural. Drugs and crime and poverty are big and small.

[@pappap1702]

@@lindamcconnell9441 Yes but not on the same scale

[@bladerunner1b]

As I watched this series of videos I strangely broke out into tears of proud joy for what these people are trying to do for our beloved Gem City but I also noticed a feeling of dread in there as well. While I might have put it differently, your core points are indeed correct. Outside of the Dragons, people and the money are in the suburbs at places like The Greene. As much as I want this to succeed, and with all of my heart I do - I want Dayton back - the other problems must be taken care of as well. And those problems are a monumental task within themselves.

[@cainboss2d]

this is a money pit