A downtown institution is looking for a restaurant to fill a space left vacant when a downtown restaurant closed the doors of its second location there last week.
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Table 33 gave written 30-day notice Feb. 24 that it would close the cafe it opened last year inside the Dayton Metro Library’s main branch at 215 E. 3rd St.
The restaurant moved out Wednesday, March 6, said Chuck Duritsch, the library’s manager of external relations.
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Table 33 opened a second location in April in a 300 square-foot section of the library.
In the end, Duritsch said the relationship wasn’t the ideal fit.
“Although I appreciate the farm-to-table concept, I feel the food offerings could have been just a little bit more diverse so it could appeal to all of our patrons,” Duritsch said. “I think it’s important to have items at various price points. For the most part, their food options were a little more high-end and a little more expensive.”
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The menu included coffee, fresh-pressed juices and baked goods
Table 33 co-owner Chris Harrison said attempts were made to make the relationship work.
“After working together for almost one year, we are saddened, though believe it to be in our best interest, and the best interest of our employees, to no longer occupy space within the downtown Dayton Public Library,” he said in a statement. “After several months of conversation with library officials and multiple attempts to make it work, we believe the differences in operational and cultural business practices to be too vast. We wish the library, its employees and their guests the best as they serve our great city.”
The restaurant’s original and main location that debuted in 2016 at 130 W. Second St. remains open.
The library has issued a request for proposals in hopes of finding an experienced food vendor for the highly visible space.
“I would love for it to be a local business,” Duritsch said. “It may be an opportunity for someone to branch out downtown or expand a downtown footprint.”
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According to the request, “the library is looking for an independent partner and will not seek any monetary remuneration from the selected vendor.”
Opened in 2017, the $64 million library sees about 1,400 visitors daily,” the request says.
Those interested in submitting a proposal must indicate their intent by Monday, April 1.
Final proposals are due by Friday, May 10.
Those interested in more information can call David Hess at 937-496-8660.
“We really want to be able to offer this food service to our patrons and even the residents nearby,” Duritsch said.