Austin Landing restaurant projects behind schedule

Rue Dumaine, Dublin 7 now scheduled to open in fall 2014

The portion of the Austin Landing development that includes three locally owned restaurants is as much as a year and a half behind the original schedule.

RG Properties, the developer of Austin Landing, is now scheduled to break ground on the village area of Austin Landing on Nov. 1, with restaurants in that part of the development projected to open in October 2014, according to Steve Tieber, owner of the Dublin Pub in Dayton. Thomas Sand Jr., co-owner of Rue Dumaine restaurant in Washington Twp., confirmed the new timeline.

In the developer’s initial announcement in January 2012, RG Properties said the development company was “looking toward a spring of 2013 opening date” for the locally owned restaurants.

Tieber, in collaboration with the owners of Archer’s Tavern in Centerville, is scheduled to open Dublin 7 Whiskey Pub and Carvery in Austin Landing. Sand and his wife Anne Kearney, who co-own Rue Dumaine, are scheduled to relocate the fine-dining restaurant to Austin Landing, and to open a second, more casual eatery called Alligator Annie’s near the new Rue Dumaine.

When asked this morning whether he was still committed to opening both restaurants in Austin Landing, Sand said, “That is our current plan right now.” Sand also said that he and Kearney “are committed to exploring every option that’s available.” He declined to elaborate on those other options, but said Rue Dumaine is nearing the end of its lease at its current location and is cramped for space. He added, “I truly believe in Austin Landing.”

Tieber, who said in October 2012 that he was hoping Dublin 7 would open “before the end of 2013,” said he would have preferred to be open before St. Patrick’s Day 2014, but has no issue with the delays that pushed the opening date back.

“I understand restaurants such as Rue Dumaine have a different set of expectations because they are in lease agreements with current buildings, and I am sure it is very difficult to manage that scenario,” Tieber said.

Austin Landing’s location “is tremendous and will put our name and product in a new arena in the restaurant business,” Tieber said. “This opportunity doesn’t come around very often, so we are very pleased to be a part of it.”

Gunlock could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Last week, after Miami Twp. trustees opposed it, Gunlock and RG Properties withdrew a request for an additional $6 million in public funding to revise and expand the $170 million mixed-use development off I-75 in southern Montgomery County. Gunlock said he would put together a new, modified plan for completing the development.

The first phase of the development — including three office buildings, a hotel, department store and supermarket — is near completion. A Panera Bread bakery-café opened in Austin Landing last week.

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