$2M retail development planned in Middletown

Nov 19, 2014, 10:19am EST

Tristan Navera
Staff Reporter-Dayton Business Journal

    A new $2 million gas station, convenience store and restaurant development is coming to Middletown.
   The city announced the project will be a 6,000 square foot building at the Interstate 75 and State Route 122 interchange that will house a restaurant and convenience store of a "nationally branded gas station." The city did not identify the company.

    The project is part of the master-planned Renaissance District, at the corner of State Route 122 and Commerce Drive. Construction will begin in late winter or early spring, said Lenny Robinson, property agent and president of Robinson Commercial Real Estate, adding the project has been in the works for a year.

    It's the latest development along the I-75 corridor between Dayton and Cincinnati, which has seen major investments as the two cities have grown together. The Warren and Butler county areas have also added major new investment, including the Miami Valley Gaming racino and the $500 million Middletown Energy Center planned nearby, along that corridor.

    Robinson's client, MNR LLC has been working with the city to prepare the one-acre site for development. That group is led by managing members and Nick Patel, who operate several gas station and convenience stores in the Dayton area. They said the final details will be worked out before the holidays and the tenant will be named.

    "The area benefits from $150 million in interstate improvements, and, most recently, the freeway enhancement project which includes soft and hardscape and new signage," said Denise Hamet, Middletown's director of economic development. "To date, more than $300 million has been invested in the Renaissance District and this latest project will help trigger additional development east of the freeway."

Now this is some really GOOD NEWS!

Hopefully good news indeed Viv. Based on past history concerning the announcement of economic development versus actual outcome, I'll reserve my excitement until the groundbreaking and the actual construction equipment is on site. Hope it works out well for all. Will create some jobs albeit lower wage service income, but the upside is filling the emptiness out by the freeway while giving traffic a reason to take Exit 32 for gas or a quick meal. Just hope it's more than the Rt. 123 exit which offers a combo Marathon gas station/White Castle/ Sunoco choice on the west side.

I wish Lenny Robinson and the investors the best of luck on this deal. It was time.
Remember Mr. Kohler DID NOT want any gas stations in this area because he thought it would be tacky, tacky, tacky

Bill
I have heard this rumor about AK Offices coming back to Middletown several times over the past year and I just don't believe that City Hall can lure or has what it would take to entice AK to build a shiny big office building at 122 & I-75.

I was under the impression that AK was at one time looking at an east-end location for their Research Center. 

They didn't purchase their WC office building in 2007, but signed a lease.  I thought it was a 30-year lease with an option to purchase.   At this point, they are seven years into their lease.