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MCCFA: Phase I of Dayton Convention Center complete; Elevate Café to open in May 2026
Summary
Pam Plageman told the Montgomery County commissioners that Phase I of the Dayton Convention Center renovation is finished and that Elevate Café and Bar will open in May 2026, offering daytime café service and an evening bar with patio access to Fifth Street and beverage service under the Downtown Dayton DORA.
Pam Plageman, executive director and CEO of the Montgomery County Convention Facilities Authority, told the Board that "Phase I of the Dayton Convention Center project has been completed," and that work is underway on a new dining experience inside the convention center. Elevate Café and Bar is scheduled to open in May 2026 and will operate as a café during the day before transitioning into a bar in the evenings.
Plageman said the space will be accessible from both inside the Convention Center and from Fifth Street, and will feature a flexible grab-and-go menu, a covered patio and service of beverages within the Downtown Dayton Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA). The presentation materials also promote the café's social account and indicate the amenity is part of a broader effort to increase visitor amenities and downtown foot traffic.
The update followed a slide set that the MCCFA used to summarize district milestones, including a completed $45 million renovation of the Dayton Convention Center and a 10-year capital planning process. Plageman did not present estimated revenue figures tied specifically to the cafe during the meeting; questions and open discussion followed the presentation slides.
