Bean Haus Bakery, known for "Big Ass Buckeyes," has expanded from its Main Strasse Village location to the Eastern Corridor. This is a neighborhood Covington would like to see "come back."
Economic Development Director Tom West explains. "This is an area that has seen lower median home values than other parts of Covington. We have more business vacancies here, and there have been some demographics and economic challenges."
West went on a walking tour in June, taking inventory of every business. A new zoning plan will help. It's the ability for stores to now be on the corner, like Bean Haus. West says a long time ago, this was illegal and apartments took over the space. He now wants to convert the corner spaces back to stores and restaurants.
Tim Eversole, the owner of Bean Haus Bakery, lives just a few blocks away from his new location in the Eastern Corridor. The Corridor is considered Madison Avenue to the Licking River and Eleventh Street up to 21st.
"We really hope it's the beginning of the neighborhood," he says. "This building's been vacant for 30 years. It opened in 1865 around the Civil War time as Boodies Saloon and grocery."
The location has a rich history:
- 1869 as Boodies Saloon and Grocery (the owners had portraits made by Frank Duveneck)
- 1904-1919 as Covington's first Kroger store
- 1955-1964 as Modern Grocery
- 1970s as a church
Eversole says he's committed. "We're a Covington business. We have three locations in Covington - Main Strasse, Latonia and the Eastern Corridor - and this is where we want to grow."
Covington is working with the Center for Great Neighborhoods.
"So, the next steps will be to focus on identifying those property owners and acquainting them with the incentives we have and what those opportunities might be," says West.
