Century Bar inks deal for larger downtown home
Longtime watering hole to move into 3-story former DP&L building.
The ink has dried on a deal that will allow one of Dayton’s most beloved bars to move into a bigger space.
Century Bar will be moving next door to the former Dayton Power & Light building at 18 to 20 S. Jefferson St., according to Joe Head, who said he and business partner Diane Spitzig just signed the lease.
“We’ve all said ‘yes’ to the deal,” Head said. “We are going to double the Century Bar’s capacity.”
Head anticipates Century will be open in its new location in August. Head and Spitzig are leasing the space from Fire Blocks District developer Windsor Companies and the goal is to eventually buy the building.
In December, Head had shared the proposal to move the Century Bar — the city’s oldest bar under the same name — but things were not finalized at the time. He estimated the three-story former DP&L building is at least 9,000 square feet.
The first floor of the building will be the Century Bar’s new home and house its historic bar. Head said the yet-to-be named second floor of the bar’s new building would hold a separate cocktail and wine lounge. Previous plans for a speakeasy-style club have been scrapped.
The third floor will be managed by the Century Bar as part of a partnership with Windsor. Eric VanZwieten of Windsor said Century’s expansion is part of the larger development of the district that will include housing, restaurants and other businesses.
“Century draws people from all the Dayton region and the world,” he said. “It is more about creating a larger space so everybody can fit.”
The Century dates back to 1942 under that name and in that location.
With a popularity fueled by local and national acclaim, the Century Bar is often packed. Head said it has long been apparent to them that the business needs to grow. The lease represents Century’s commitment to the city, he said.
“We are here. We are investing,” he said. “All of our efforts will be in downtown Dayton.”
The old space is on track to be filled by a new restaurant, opened by Maria and Eric Walusis, owners of Watermark restaurant in Miamisburg. The two are in negotiations to open a new restaurant at the corner of South Jefferson and East Third streets, which would include The Century Bar’s current 10 S. Jefferson St. location.