Miller, the president and CEO of Grind House Coffee & Tea Company, announced on his company’s Facebook page that he will be opening a coffee shop in the Wright Dunbar neighborhood that will offer coffee, pastries, tea, bagged coffee and ice cream.
>> PHOTOS: Damage in the aftermath of Saturday protests in Dayton
The new shop is coming to 1000 W. Third St., and it could open as early as September, Miller said. The 2,000-square-foot space will eventually, after coronavirus social-distancing restrictions are lifted, seat 30 inside and about 15 outside, or about half those capacities under the current restrictions. The new shop is expected to create 12 to 15 new part-time and full-time jobs, Miller said.
>> ALSO NEW TODAY: THIRD WAVE: Many local restaurants reopen today — and more are on the way
“Growing up in West Dayton, I've always wanted to open a coffee shop here,” Miller told this news outlet. “The community has been wanting a quality coffee shop for a long time. The fact is, there is a coffee drought in West Dayton, and it spoke volumes to me. We shouldn't have to drive 10 or 15 miles for a quality cup of coffee.”
Miller currently operates a Grind House Coffee Shop inside the Meijer store in Huber Heights, and his company sells bagged coffee and tea online.
>> ALSO NEW TODAY: One of Dayton's longest-running food trucks is for sale; owners plan restaurant
The coffee entrepreneur said he has seen revenues increase during the pandemic, especially via delivery and online sales. “I saw the opportunity for this space, and we decided to move forward with our Miami Valley expansion plans starting with this location,” Miller said.
>> Dayton restaurant to open location in Springfield
The next Grind House Coffee shop may be in downtown Dayton. Miller said he is negotiating and is “close to closing on” space for a downtown coffee shop.
“Over the next 3 years our future plans include opening more Miami Valley locations and pursuing the Columbus and Cincinnati markets,” Miller said.
>> BACK TO BUSINESS: How fitness centers are finding new normal
The building at 1000 W. Third St., known as the Allaman building, was once used as doctor’s offices, apartments and retail space, but it has been vacant for years. The Main Street Program, which later became Wright Dunbar Inc., acquired the Allaman property in 2002. In the mid- to late-2000s, Wright Dunbar Inc. gutted and renovated the building, adding new windows, an elevator and rear stairwell. It sold the property six months ago to a developer, Urbannovation Development Group LLC, according to Montgomery County property records.
>> Small businesses need grit, creativity and cash to survive coronavirus
About the Author