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The summer months may offer a break for Miami University students, but Oxford continued to pursue new economic developments with further completion of Stewart Square and two new restaurants uptown.
The newest addition to uptown, College View Restaurant, debuted Aug. 16. College View, dubbed "Uptown Oxford's Breakfast House," features a cereal bar with 14 different types of cereal for mixing and matching; unique breakfast sandwiches like "The Dead Elvis" and the "Sasquatch Sausage Double Stack;" baked goods; and several other breakfast choices.
Lori Hoelle, one of three co-owners and previous owner of the Uptown Café, said College View fills the void for places to eat breakfast in Oxford. Hoelle worked for Uptown Café several years ago, but is now back in the restaurant business.
"There simply weren't enough places to eat breakfast uptown while there are so many for lunch," Hoelle said.
College View will appeal to both Oxford residents and students, because of their creative menu, Hoelle said.
"I describe it as an eclectic eatery," Hoelle said. "We have a funky menu with several vegetarian entrees that cater to a broad variety of people."
Hoelle also said they were pleasantly surprised with the turnout on their opening weekend.
This past summer also experienced a transformation from fashion to food.
Taking the place of the fashion retail store Soho, Iggie's-a new restaurant next door to The Smokin' Ox-opening within a few weeks, will feature smoothies, gelato, and baked goods.
Owner and manager Sean Pennington, who also owns and manages The Smokin' Ox, said Iggie's will open as soon as they receive their food license.
"We will be serving coffee, espresso, salads, lunch combos, and bread bowls," Pennington said.
According to Pennington, everything will be 100 percent juice with a healthy, fresh and modern twist.
"No other smoothie place exists in Oxford, and I feel that we fit the local market," Pennington said.
The addition of Stewart Square also blends nicely with the Oxford community, according to Pam Lindley, business operations administrator for Hotel Development Services LLC, a construction and developmental company based in Oxford.
"It is a nice transition from the uniqueness of uptown to the surrounding residential area, but with the enhanced amenities so many of the new shopping areas have today," Lindley said.
Lindley said phase two of Stewart Square is complete. The remaining first floor construction can be credited to the new location of First Financial Back, which will merge the two local branches and feature a larger drive thru and drive up ATM, said Lindley. Lindley expects First Financial to be open before the end of the year.
According to Lindley, five loft apartments on the second floor have joined CVS, Luna Blu Spa and Galleria, and The UPS Store.
As one of the 20 new Miami University tenants who now call Stewart Square home, sophomore Kelsey Kirk is pleased with results.
"Stewart Square is really nice and quiet, but still not too far from campus," Kirk said. "The apartments are exceptionally new, and the environment is great for getting to know your neighbors."
Further residential development included an addition with College Suites apartments. Oxford Community Development Director Jung-Han Chen said the city of Oxford completed the annexation process to obtain the property containing the College Suites apartment complex this summer.
"The College Suites are now considered to be in the city of Oxford," Chen said.
Additionally, Chen said interest has sprung from real estate developers regarding the vacant Pedro's building.
Lindley credits the community for welcoming the new developments.
"The city of Oxford has done a nice job improving the streets and giving the Spring, College and Locust businesses new life," Lindley said. "Stewart is enjoying being in the middle of this transition."
The Community Improvement Corporation-the organization that handles the economic development in Oxford-will meet Sept. 21 to further discuss the economic potential of the Oxford community.
