Correction:
This article was updated to correct the name of the Otis Roubaix hill climb challenge ride.
Two old and empty buildings near West Hill’s historic Glendale Steps will soon be the new homes of Dirty River Bicycle Works and Akron Glass Works.
The business investments come as the city and local organizations continue efforts to revitalize the West Hill neighborhood, particularly around the steps.
After operating in the shopping area outside Northside Marketplace for about a decade, Dirty River Bicycle Works saw the building at 55 Glendale Ave. as a good opportunity to expand.
“Every summer we run out of room once we’re filled with bikes that need servicing, and we don’t have space for a full inventory of bikes to sell,” said Ben Grom, a representative of Dirty River Bicycle Works.
Grom said the business became interested in the Glendale Avenue property, the home of the Daily Monument Co. until 1996, after the city issued a request for proposals to sell the building. He said the size of the space and its proximity to the historic steps made it an ideal fit.
The original building, built in 1912 according to Summit County Fiscal Office records, was tucked into the corner of Bates Street and Glendale Avenue, with a three-story main section that housed apartments upstairs and a first-floor office space with a long extension to one side.
The three-story portion was demolished after an arson fire in 1998 — the building that will house the cycle shop is what remained after the fire.
“It’s an opportunity to bring more life to that area,” Grom said. “The Glendale Steps have such historic significance, and we’re excited to be part of what that area becomes.”
The building was last used as a party center called Remembering the Journey, which appears to have closed in 2013. Dirty River Bicycle Works is renovating the space to include a retail sales floor and a separate service area, with plans to add native plants around the exterior.
The shop plans to announce the grand opening on its Facebook page later this spring. Grom said the business also plans to continue hosting its annual Otis Roubaix hill climb challenge ride in March, which includes repeated climbs up nearby hills such as Cadillac Hill.
“We’re really excited to see how the revitalization of Glendale Park and the steps all come together,” Grom said.
Akron Glass Works, a glassblowing business founded in 2006, is anticipating a move into the building at 65 Glendale Ave., near the historic Glendale Steps. The property was the longtime home of Automotive Electric Service; the building was sold at auction in 2024.
The studio at 421 Spicer St. is known for handmade glass art and offers glassblowing and fusing workshops. The business has not yet announced how it plans to use the space.
New businesses add activity, connect neighborhood retail and art scene
Dirty River Bicycle Works and Akron Glass Works complement existing retail and cultural activity in the area, said Suzie Graham Moore, Akron’s director of economic development.
“We’re thrilled to see their investment,” she said, noting the two businesses have been Akron icons “for years.”
Moore said the bike shop could attract additional Towpath Trail users and expand opportunities for bicycle rentals and repairs, while Akron Glass Works strengthens connections between art-based businesses along Market Street.
“As these two businesses grow and thrive, it’s exciting to think about what might be next for that area of West Hill near Glendale,” Moore said.
Dana Noel, director of Progress Through Preservation (PTP), said the businesses near the steps support broader efforts to protect and activate the historic site.
PTP has a license agreement with the city to repair and restore the steps to their original condition. Noel said the organization is currently in the fundraising phase.
“It will take several months to a year to complete fundraising before reconstruction can begin,” Noel said.
Preliminary assessments estimate the restoration costs will be between $285,000 and $325,000, with an additional $50,000 to $100,000 projected for landscaping.
Noel said the area surrounding the steps also holds deep historical significance, pointing to nearby Glendale Cemetery, established in 1839 and the burial site of several of Akron’s founders, as well as one of the city’s oldest Krispy Kreme locations, at 354 S. Maple St., built in 1939.
Cadillac Hill, a part of Bates Street, is located around the corner from the steps — it holds personal meaning for Noel.
“When I was a kid, Cadillac Hill was always a fascination because it was so steep,” Noel said. “My dad drove me down it once, and it felt almost like an amusement park ride.”
West Hill Neighborhood gears up for revitalization
The revitalization of the West Hill neighborhood reflects a collaboration among city officials, business owners and community members.
A West Hill resident and president of Friends of Glendale Park, Karen Wilkie Edwards, said the neighborhood will see significant improvements this year. She said the group has received support from the city to enhance Glendale Park, including a sports and wellness grant to create a naturalized play space.
Plans also include pollinator-friendly native meadows, open green space for recreation, additional bike racks and expanded play areas for both children and adults.
She said both Dirty River Bicycle Works and Akron Glass Works have been involved in the neighborhood through outreach efforts and community work such as maintaining nearby vacant lots.
“We have a really collaborative spirit in West Hill,” she said. “There’s so much wonderful history, and we’re going to have a lot of activity down there.”
