Get a final peek at the old Arcade Friday night

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Scott and Carla Lachecki take a tour of the historic Dayton Arcade during Urban Nights in 2007. Visitors to the Friday, Sept. 11, 2009 Urban Nights will be the last to see the Arcade interior before a $30 million renovation begins.

Teesha McClam Scott and Carla Lachecki take a tour of the historic Dayton Arcade during Urban Nights in 2007. Visitors to the Friday, Sept. 11, 2009 Urban Nights will be the last to see the Arcade interior before a $30 million renovation begins.

Historic downtown site to get a $30 million restoration.

By Margo Rutledge Kissell, Staff Writer Updated 9:11 AM Friday, September 11, 2009

DAYTON — Visitors to Urban Nights Friday, Sept. 11, will get a final peek inside Dayton’s historic downtown Arcade before a planned restoration begins.

“It’s definitely going to be open for anybody that wants to take a last look at it,” said Sandy Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership.

The Partnership presents the twice-yearly event from 5 to 10 p.m. throughout downtown, the Oregon Arts District and the Wright-Dunbar Business Village.

The Arcade will open at 5 p.m. at the Third Street entrance facing Courthouse Square, giving visitors an opportunity to walk through part of the rotunda.

Two years ago, the site drew large crowds when it opened to the general public for the first time in more than a decade.

Gudorf expects a lot of visitors again Friday.

“It’s one of those very special places in our community that is long in tradition and fond memories,” she said. “It’s also a glimpse into our future if we can turn this around and make it a destination. People want to see it redeveloped.”

New owners Gunther Berg and Wendell Strutz bought the arcade at a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office tax lien sale on March 12.

They could not be reached for comment, but Berg said in July that he hoped work on the exterior of the five-building complex would be evident by Urban Nights. Restoration of the facade was to start in August with power washing of the exterior, but Gudorf said that has not begun.

“It’s my understanding he’s going to start some of that work in September,” she said.

The arcade owners also said earlier that they were interviewing contractors to work on the estimated $30 million restoration, and applicants were being evaluated.

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