TOLEDO, Ohio — Downtown Toledo is in the midst of a renaissance. According to ConnecToledo, a nonprofit focused on development downtown, 27 new businesses have opened since last May and there's little sign of stopping.
So why did Tin Can, a bar off of Erie and Washington streets, close last week?
"The owner of it ... he owns a lot of businesses and he decided it ran its course and its time to do something different," said Kevin Prater, principal at the RKP group, which owns the building that once contained Tin Can.
Prater said when he first purchased the building in December 2017, the downtown bar scene was still in its infancy. There was no Chevy's, no Alleyway and very few big rival bars.
"This was something we thought would work," he said. "Now there's other competition and it's time to evolve into something else."
But what will that evolution look like?
According to April Welch, the city of Toledo's deputy economic development director, a vacancy is an opportunity.
"Whenever we encounter a vacancy, we view it as a chance for an entrepreneur to bring their next great idea to life," Welch said in a statement. "We eagerly welcome businesses that resonate with both residents and visitors, infusing our community with vibrancy and enriching our shared experiences."
Prater hopes to tap into a different market with the vacant Tin Can space as downtown Toledo continues its growth.
"As this entire downtown becomes more of a residential neighborhood, we need more things that can support families, can support not such late-night activity, more afternoon and lunchtime activity," he said.
He said catering to families is an important way to entice even more people to come live downtown and he thinks a family-friendly mixed-use bar/restaurant could do just that, especially given its prime location right next to Fifth Third Field.
Prater said the next step is still in the planning phase, but multiple parties have expressed interest.