Historic Inner East - Dayton, OH Area Guide

Plans were created to develop St. Anne’s Hill in 1815, but the neighborhood’s first residence – a farm mansion – wasn’t erected until 1838. When the Miami-Erie Canal opened, an influx of immigrants – primarily German – migrated to the area causing a drastic increase in housing demands, and a portion of the neighborhood became housing for working-class families. Several prominent homes were built in the mid-1800s, and with them came more working-class families to care for the estates’ domestic needs. By the late 1800s the neighborhood was primarily a working-class neighborhood, and it had expanded to include the Huffman District.

The Great Flood of 1913 brought flood victims from various ethnic backgrounds to the area, creating a diversely cultured neighborhood. By the Great Depression of the 1930s, the area was so densely populated that most prominent homes were divided into multi-family rental units that housed middle-class families.

You won’t find any restaurants in Historic Inner East Dayton, but the adjacent Oregon District houses several local eateries that serve Italian, Chinese and American cuisine. Eastern Hills, the neighborhood directly east of Historic Inner East Dayton, houses several fast food restaurants and a few locally owned eateries.

Favored by locals, Franco’s Ristorante Italiano on East Fifth Street has served diners in the Oregon District since 1976. Don’t let its strip-mall location and kitschy Italian décor fool you. The small family-owned establishment serves an array of flavorful, authentic Italian dishes. Crowd favorites include Franco’s “World Famoso” Spaghetti, which comes topped with a creamy sauce made from a combination of egg, romano cheese, olive oil and fresh roasted garlic, and Franco’s Pasta Balsamico, which features a mixture of fresh onions, artichokes, peppers, pine nuts and portabella mushrooms sautéed in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Next door to Franco’s, the China Buffet serves everything from General Tso’s chicken and shrimp Lo-Mein to fried rice and crab rangoons.

Taco Tuesdays in Dayton aren’t complete without Taqueria Mixteca’s spicy chorizo tacos. The hole-in-the-wall establishment sits directly north of Historic Inner East Dayton, on East Third Street, and attracts people from all over the area. The bright-yellow walls and solid wood tables create a warm, inviting atmosphere that complements the restaurant’s authentic Mexican cuisine. Crowd favorites include the shrimp tostada, which comes loaded with pico de gallo and guacamole, the massive ground-beef burrito and the enchilada verde.

Many residents consider Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery one of the best casual eateries in the Oregon District. Known for its vast selection of microbrews, Lucky’s attracts customers who visit intent on sampling a new brew and end up hooked on the pub’s scrumptious food. Regulars recommend the freshly made mozzarella sticks, the chicken pesto grilled cheese sandwich on cracked wheat bread, the fried pickles, which arrive with a side of thousand island-style dip and the sweet potato fries.

The neighborhood’s nightlife consists of a few local dive bars, including Chris’s Band Box and Connell’s Bar on East Third Street, but a short drive to the Oregon District allows residents to experience some of the best clubs and bars in Dayton. Popular options include Ned Pepper’s Bar & Grill, which hosts a DJ every weekend, George Newcom’s Tavern, which features a patio seating area complete with a small bar and an upstairs dance floor, and The Dublin Pub, which often features live music and hosts a spectacular St. Patrick’s Day event.

Historic Inner East Dayton rests in a hilly area that isn’t suited to walking or biking long distances. Most residents drive to their locations, which offer free public parking, and direct access to State Route 35 makes getting to other Dayton areas simple.

Those who don’t drive take advantage of the Greater Dayton RTA bus system, which travels throughout Dayton and its suburbs. Even though the neighborhood sits in an inner-city location, hailing a cab or requesting an Uber doesn’t work in this area. Those in need of a ride will have to call a local cab company to arrange for pickup.

Historic Inner East Dayton doesn’t have parks that offer regular exercise programs. However, Bomberger Park, located on the corner of South Keowee Street and East Fifth Street, features tennis and basketball courts, baseball and soccer fields and a playground. Plenty of green space makes Bomberger Park a great place for residents to take their dogs; however, dogs must remain on their leashes. St. Anne’s Historic District houses several small playgrounds to keep the neighborhood’s children entertained, including Fred’s Park, Terry Street Park, Alice’s Park and Victorian Park.

None of the neighborhood parks host annual events, but RiverScape MetroPark in Downtown Dayton hosts several events throughout the year. Most events are free to the public, including the Fourth of July Fireworks, the Dayton Celtic Festival and the Hispanic Heritage Festival.

The cost of living in Historic Inner East Dayton remains on par with the city’s average cost of living. Expect to pay between $350 and $475 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, around $3 for beer, and $1.75 for a one-way bus ride. Area gas prices sit 4 percent lower than the national average.

Historic Inner East Dayton doesn’t have any central shopping locations or high-end retail establishments, but public buses transport residents to major shopping areas in other parts of the city, including The Mall at Fairfield Commons, the Dayton Mall, and the chain of discount and department stores in Sugarcreek. Residents also frequent the boutiques in the nearby Historic Oregon District and the handful of specialty shops in the Historic Inner East Dayton district.

Peace on Fifth, a compassion consignment store located on South Dutoit Street, was opened to raise awareness about modern-day slave labor. The shop specializes in fair-trade, handmade and local products, such as handmade jewelry containing hand-pressed flowers, one-of-a-kind artwork and chocolate bars that are traceable from bean to bar.

Avid fisherman buy everything, from artificial and live bait to fly-fishing gear and locally hand-crafted lures, at Fisherman’s Headquarters on South Keowee Street. The shop also provides several services, including rod and reel repair, custom rod building and reel respooling.

For everyday necessities and large grocery trips, residents visit Kroger on Wayne Avenue in the Historic South Park District or Ray’s Xenia Avenue Market in the Twin Towers neighborhood, which sits directly south of Historic Inner East Dayton. Downtown Dayton houses the closest farmers' market, the PNC 2nd Street Market.