New mixed-use facility is the next step in Piqua’s transformation
By Corinne Minard
Downtown Piqua residents will soon find more opportunities to work and play in the city thanks to the recently announced Piqua Station. Located at 113 E. High St., the building will be home to new businesses, restaurants, a coworking space and the headquarters of Winans, a Piqua-based chocolate and coffee company with 22 stores in Ohio.
“This project punctuates an exciting time for Piqua. In the last several years, the city has begun to transform,” said Wilson Reiser, owner and CEO of Winans, in a press release. “Piqua Station will provide much-desired amenities including coworking space, three food service tenants offering unique food options, and health and beauty services. Downtown Piqua is changing fast, and momentum is accelerating.”
Piqua Station is the result of a partnership between Winans and Small Nation, a Bellefontaine-based commercial real estate company. In the last 12 years, Small Nation has purchased and renovated over 56 historic buildings and storefronts in the downtown and invested over $33 million in new private capital.
“This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our mission to help revitalize downtown Piqua,” said Jason Duff, founder and CEO of Small Nation, in the release. “Partnering with Winans Coffee & Chocolate allows us to blend tradition with innovation, creating a vibrant space for both businesses and the community to thrive.”
The building, which was formerly home to a AAA Travel office and a real estate company, will continue to house MB Aesthetics and will be the new home to the second location of Sidney-based Smoothie Life, Sushi Kazu and BUILD Cowork + Space, Small Nation’s small-town coworking concept.
According to the release, the facility will offer a modern, flexible workspace for entrepreneurs, freelancers and small businesses, supporting the growth and development of the local business community in Piqua.
“The uses planned for the building align perfectly with the downtown Piqua Placemaking Initiative,” said Chris Schmiesing, community and economic development director for the City of Piqua, in the release. “The food service establishments will be a great addition to the downtown offerings, and the coworking and office uses will contribute positively to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in downtown Piqua.”
Piqua Station joins other significant Piqua projects with which Winans has been involved.
Over the last decade, Winans has renovated the former Piqua Daily Call building to be used as a hub for chocolate production, coffee roasting and retail and purchased and renovated the former Francis Office Supply and Vern’s Automotive buildings to expand Winans coffee roasting, office and distribution operations.
Additional recent downtown Piqua projects have been the new YMCA, Lock 9 Park and Stage, Crooked Handle Brewing Co. and the Piqua Arts and Innovation Center.
“As someone that grew up and has made their career in downtown Piqua, this progress is encouraging and we are inspired to craft what’s next,” Reiser added in the release. “Winans is firmly rooted in Piqua, and we are blessed with a loyal community, results-driven governmental leadership and a world class workforce.”