In Dayton, a new Puerto Rican restaurant will open across for the Eastown Center on Linden Avenue in a location that housed Mi Tierra.
Eric Leventhal of Brentwood, Calif. — who with his wife Serena Walther Leventhal owns the building that houses the former Neil’s — has spent the last several weeks cleaning up and restoring the facility at 2323 W. Schantz Ave. Serena is the granddaughter of Neil Swafford, the founder of the restaurant that was owned and operated in later years by Walter Schaller.
Leventhal has spruced up 17 upstairs offices and is now turning his attention to the restaurant and banquet room. The intent, Leventhal said, is to open an upscale bar-and-grill-type 80-seat restaurant as early as spring 2011, with the rest of the former restaurant devoted to banquet facilities. Serena Walther Leventhal said the restaurant will be called “Grandfather’s Office.” For more information, email neilsheritagehouse@gmail.com.
Millie’s Philly Cheesesteaks, 1122 E. Dorothy Lane, is named for owner Adam Arnold’s late grandmother, Mildred Arnold, who worked at three Dayton-area restaurants before she passed away 11 years ago, Adam Arnold said.
Millie’s Philly Cheesesteaks will specialize in authentic-style cheesesteaks and will also feature calzones, other sub sandwiches and pizza, Arnold said. The restaurant will be open six days a week for lunch and dinner, closed Sunday.
Antojitos Criollos Authentic Puerto Rican Restaurant is scheduled to open this fall at 3937 Linden Ave. The restaurant’s owners are Francisco and Iris Matias of Sabina and their son Francis. Francisco Matias said the family has served their specialties at Puerto Rican festivals in Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland and were looking to open a restaurant. Matias said he has signed a three-year lease.
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