The Historic Opera Block

08/29/2026

It’s so much fun meeting with visitors and tourists to Downtown Bellefontaine.

08/16/2026

This was an important week as the construction and design team met onsite to review locations for electric outlets and also worked to coordinate HVAC and plumbing details too. The project is on-schedule to be completed in Feb, 2027.

07/29/2026

The new elevator that will be installed and service all 3 floors of the The Historic Opera Block arrived this week!

07/21/2026

We are proud to celebrate the Oldest Concrete Street in America as we also celebrate America250.

The First Concrete Street In America: Court Avenue (1893)! 🇺🇸

As NRMCA proudly joins the American Concrete Pavement Association in celebrating and the 70th Anniversary of the U.S. Interstate System, we’re also looking back at a historic concrete milestone: the first concrete street in America – still in service today!

Court Avenue in Bellefontaine, OH was originally a dirt road that was dusty when dry and quickly turned to mud when wet. Inventor and entrepreneur George Bartholomew had the idea to create what he called an "artificial stone" for paving. In 1891, Bartholomew approached the Bellefontaine City Council with the concept and was given permission to pave a few square feet of Main Street as a test. Though many feared the pavement would quickly be damaged or destroyed, the concrete performed far beyond expectations.

By 1893, after watching the pavement for two years, City Council agreed to allow Bartholomew to pave the streets surrounding the Logan County Courthouse in downtown Bellefontaine. Still a bit skeptical, the council required Bartholomew to donate the cement and to secure a $5,000 bond to ensure that the pavement would last five years. The placing of the concrete was done under the direction of Logan County Engineer, James Wonders.

Bartholomew’s concrete was and and saw little damage for the first several decades. In fact, total maintenance over the first fifty years cost only $1,400!

Bartholomew was honored for his invention at the 1893 World Columbian Exposition in Chicago, IL. His award was titled, "First Place for Engineering Technology Advancement in Paving Materials."

Court Avenue remains in place, intact, and in service even today. On February 25, 1974, the street was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, it was designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1976.

Court Avenue is a testament to the strength, durability, and resilience of concrete pavement and stands as a shining example of concrete as the Foundation of Our Nation. 🇺🇸

06/25/2026

Over the past several weeks, the construction team has been carefully studying, measuring, engineering, and meticulously cutting through three floors of the original floor system to make room for a brand-new elevator. This has been one of the most challenging phases of the project, requiring precision, patience, and a tremendous amount of craftsmanship to preserve the building’s historic character while preparing it for its next 100+ years.

When complete, the new elevator will provide convenient access from Main Street to all three floors of the building, making it easy for visitors, customers, office tenants, and loft residents to enjoy everything this remarkable space has to offer.

The elevator will also connect directly to our private rear parking lot, creating an accessible entrance from the back of the building as well.

This fall, these floors will begin welcoming beautiful new office spaces, loft apartments, and professionals who will call Downtown Bellefontaine home. And yes…the views overlooking Main Street are going to be incredible.

Every beam, every cut, and every day of progress brings us one step closer to breathing new life into another historic landmark. We can’t wait to share what’s next.

06/08/2026

Pardon the mess while important repairs are being made to the roof of the Bell Tower on Court Avenue for the Opera Block. The street will remain open. The sidewalk will remain marked off the next few days only in the immediate working area.

05/30/2026

The Historic Opera Block is currently undergoing a massive upper-floor restoration, and we couldn’t be more thankful for the incredible team helping bring new life back into this landmark building. ❤️

From skilled tradespeople and craftsmen to architects, engineers, designers, and the many people working behind the scenes — thank you for investing your talent, creativity, and passion into something that will help shape the future vibrancy and energy of Downtown Bellefontaine for generations to come.

As we continue creating new loft apartments, office space, and spaces for training, collaboration, and events, we’ve also uncovered beautiful pieces of the building’s history along the way. Historic artifacts, original details, and hidden stories are being carefully preserved and thoughtfully incorporated into the future of the building so they can continue to be shared with our tenants, guests, and community for many years to come.

There’s something incredibly special about honoring the past while building for the future.

Check out this photo gallery for a behind-the-scenes look at the progress, craftsmanship, and discoveries happening inside the Opera Block

04/27/2026

Several new arrivals at Glitter&Grit at the Opera.

03/22/2026

We’re so excited to be getting started on this project.

03/19/2026

Join a great company and makes delicious cookies.

🍪 We’re Hiring at One-Eyed Cookie Lab! 🍪

Do you love a fast-paced environment, great people, and the smell of fresh-baked cookies? We’re looking for a reliable, friendly team member to join the Lab!

✨ Who you are:
• Dependable and ready to jump in
• Friendly (think bucket-of-sunshine warm ☀️)
• Comfortable multitasking and helping customers
• Willing to clean, scrub, and keep the Lab sparkling
• Respectful of our scent-free workspace
• Willing to complete PIC (Person in Charge) and Allergen training

🧁 What you’ll do:
Help with cleaning, packaging cookies, preparing drinks, scooping dough, restocking supplies, dishes, inventory, and getting ready for events.

🕘 Typical hours:
Thursday–Saturday around 9 am – 1 pm - this is negotiable
(Schedule may flex depending on events.)

🍪 Perks:
• Flexible scheduling
• Store discount
• A fun, creative environment
• The chance to help grow One-Eyed Cookie Lab

📋 Please note: We maintain a scent-free workspace and follow food safety guidelines including no nail polish, artificial nails, or dangling jewelry, rings, or bracelets while working.

✨ Interested? Send your resume to [email protected] and tell us why you’d love to work at the Lab!

Please Note: We will not be hiring any teenagers or close personal friends at this time.