Downtown Akron’s long-quiet O’Neil’s Building is about to get loud. Crafty Steere is rolling out a two-story mashup of market, restaurant and full bar just steps from Lock 3, taking over a long-vacant corner of South Main. Owner Brian Steere says this downtown outpost will be the company’s largest location, pulling together a walk-in shop, grocery-style shelves, private event rooms, games and a full bar under one roof. For a stretch of downtown where storefronts have sat dark for years, it is one of the biggest new retail plays in the latest wave of redevelopment and is expected to put fresh, daily foot traffic on the street.
As reported by Cleveland.com, the space at 222 S. Main St. will come in at roughly 18,000 to 20,000 square feet and will stock West Point Market products, locally sourced beef, Pandora’s Cupcakes and other regional staples. The downtown address previously held Damon’s Grill and then sat empty for about 12 years while the historic building underwent renovations. Cleveland.com also notes that plans call for a catering commissary in the building and retail shelf space dedicated to local makers.
What’s Inside The Two-Story Spot
Crafty Steere’s own locations page currently lists the downtown Akron address as “coming soon” and outlines a lineup that includes a market counter, deli selections, grab-and-go meals, private dining rooms and family-friendly games, according to Crafty Steere’s website. The company has already brought back West Point Market recipes at its Fairlawn and Tallmadge locations, and those same signature spreads, triple-layer brownies and Pandora’s Cupcakes are slated for the downtown shelves. Beyond the markets, the brand also runs a cafe at Springside Athletic Club and operates catering and food-truck services across the region, all of which feed into the new downtown hub.
Timeline And Renovation…