The Dils Center, as seen from Market Street, as the property was bought in November 2022 with plans to renovate the building to create retail, office space and other opportunities. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — The owners of the Dils Center building in Parkersburg have plans for the former department store which they hope will make it a vital part of the community’s downtown revitalization efforts.

Yshai Amichai, representing Extraordinary Properties LLC who bought the building at auction in November 2022, said work is currently being done to fix the building’s roof which he is estimating to be about half done.

Once the roof is complete, they want to find a tenant to rent the whole first floor.

​”My goal is that the first floor will be utilized as retail space, as this should help revitalize the downtown and also return the Dils building to its former glory.” he said. “I think this would be best achieved with a unique retailer.

“Such a retailer would need to be able to attract customers to downtown Parkersburg, with unique products not found elsewhere, and also with a unique shopping experience.”

The building, located at 521 Market St., was once home to the Dils Department Store. Over the years, it has been an event center, used for office space and more. Recently, the Dils Center was one of the sites considered for a proposed $13 million activity and recreation center that is expected to be built in City Park.

Amichai is hopeful the City of Parkersburg will be receptive to their plans and help with the revitalization of downtown by providing free street parking. Without the parking, he believes it would be hard to attract shoppers, given the competition elsewhere in Parkersburg, and especially in Vienna, where customer parking is plentiful and free.

Although the first floor might be too big for most retailers willing to move downtown, he would like to see someone utilize the restaurant space as a place where people can come and eat with the possibility of the back ballroom space being utilized for catered events.

“Alternatively, I have a backup plan to create a type of food court, similar to the Downtown Exchange in Zanesville, Ohio, where food vendors are given small spaces to set up shop, allowing for many different food options in a lively, food market environment,” Amichai said. “I think this option would also be good for downtown, but I would need an investor willing to set it up and manage the space.”

Plans are for the building to be called the Dils Plaza.

“With time I would like to restore and beautify the front facade on Market Street,” Amichai said adding in addition to the roof, the HVAC and elevators will also need to be repaired or replaced.

In the past, the second floor was divided into suites and used as office space when the Community Action Center operated there.

Amichai would like to leave those suites intact and utilize the space as a law center, where different attorneys can lease space, with a shared receptionist, waiting area and conference rooms.

The third floor was divided into two very large office spaces, which could be combined into one. Amichai hopes there could be a demand locally again for a large office space within the area sometime in the future.

A long-term plan will be to convert the fourth floor into luxury loft apartments while the basement could be utilized as storage space for the various tenants of the building.

“The Dils building has a long and reputable history,” Amichai said. “Recently, due to neglect, the building has fallen into disrepair and received a bad reputation. Extraordinary Properties LLC, its new owner, is working to restore the building to its former glory, both physically and in the minds of its beholders.

“This goal is in line with the work that the City of Parkersburg, Downtown PKB, and the Ross Foundation are doing. Downtown Parkersburg is coming back to life, with vigor and beauty. The Dils building will take its rightful place in that revitalization.”

Contact Brett Dunlap at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com