Culp’s Café reopens at Carillon Historical Park
A café giving guests a glimpse back into the early 1900s has reopened at Dayton’s Carillon Historical Park, located at 1000 Carillon Blvd.
Culp’s Café is a one-of-akind eatery paying homage to small soda fountains, lunch counters and the Culp family.
Charlotte Gilbert Culp, a widow who began selling baked goods in 1902 to support her six children, is the café’s namesake. The family opened a stand at the South Main Street market and eventually expanded into the Arcade where they sold poultry, eggs, cheese and dill pickles at three lunch counters. In the 1930s, the family opened a full cafeteria in the Arcade, and nearly 10 years later, were serving as many as 5,000 customers a day during World War II. The cafeteria was sold in 1960.
Brady Kress, president and CEO of Dayton History, told Dayton.com the Culp family gave the museum an initial gift over 20 years ago to start a small café. Kress said it was originally located within the park and operated seasonally.
In 2019, the museum relocated the café to the Winsupply Center for Leadership at the entrance of the park and reflected a “classic time period in Dayton history” throughout the restaurant. Kress explained that the early 1900s was the “golden age of business, manufacturing and entrepreneurship” in which the Wright brothers began flying and Charles Kettering started working at NCR.
The restaurant was built around a restored 1903 Barney & Smith interurban car where guests can eat inside.
“At the end of the day, we’re in a museum environment
so we’re telling a story,” Kress said. “People that have visited the museum, it’s a continuation of their visit here. Folks that come off the
street, whether it’s here at Culp’s or over at the (Carillon Brewing Company), it’s unlike anything else around.”
Culp’s Café opened in its
new space towards the end of 2019 shortly before the coronavirus pandemic began. The restaurant was forced to temporarily close from
March to June due to state mandates. Kress said when they reopened, it was a success with guests eating outside on their patio, but as winter began people weren’t comfortable eating inside. Kress said they closed the restaurant and waited until museum traffic increased to reopen.
Culp’s Café began a soft opening to test the kitchen and service team a few weeks ago. Kress said the restaurant is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays for preview days as they prepare for a grand opening on Tuesday, April 4.
Kress said they hope to expand their hours and operate daily with the museum.
The café is now operating under a counter-service model where guests can place an order at the counter.