Downtown Hilliard’s former Chase bank could soon swap deposit slips for pasta specials, as the city moves ahead with a plan to turn the vacant building into a mix of dining, retail, and a handful of upper-floor apartments. According to city and developer materials, the Hilliard Development Corporation (HDC) has picked a local firm to negotiate a purchase and redevelopment deal that would keep the existing bank structure, add a mixed-use addition with indoor and outdoor dining, and top it off with a covered rooftop. Early sketches also call for more on-site parking than the lot has now and a design that hangs on to Main Street’s historic character.
What the City Put Up for Bid
In February, the Hilliard Development Corporation put the roughly 0.836-acre site at 4056 East Main Street out to bid, asking developers to pitch a community-friendly, mixed-use project. The request for proposals called for walkable retail, sit-down dining, and upgraded parking and access, and it pulled in public feedback that asked specifically for more upscale, chef-driven restaurants in Old Hilliard, according to the HDC’s RFP from the City of Hilliard.
Developer’s Concept
Local developer Westwood Collective says it was selected by the HDC to pursue a deal for the former Chase site and has floated early plans centered on a sit-down Italian restaurant called La Volta. In a LinkedIn post, the company said the existing bank vault would be turned into a dramatic wine backdrop and teased an addition with indoor-outdoor seating plus a covered rooftop. The post even spelled out the name choice, noting that “La Volta = vault in Italian.” Westwood Collective also highlighted design partners SSOE Group and Studio 3e and publicly thanked city staff for their help, according to Westwood Collective.
Downtown Hilliard’s Dining Scene
Old Hilliard already punches above its weight for a compact district, with the Center Street Market food hall, Crooked Can Brewing, bakeries such as Bakes by Lo, and family magnets like the Station Park splash pad all packed into a walkable stretch. That existing energy, along with a growing appetite for more chef-driven, sit-down spots, is driving the push to turn the vacant bank into a restaurant and retail anchor. Recent coverage points to how redevelopment and small-business investment have already reshaped the neighborhood’s commercial feel, according to Ohio Magazine.
Next Steps and Timeline
Being chosen to “pursue an agreement” is only the opening move, not a signed-and-sealed sale. The HDC still has to negotiate terms, the board must approve any deal, and the project will need the usual lineup of permits and city approvals before construction can start. The developer has stressed that current drawings are conceptual and says it plans to work through the review process with city staff and the HDC. Local reporting and the company’s announcement say the proposed mixed-use building would feature ground-floor dining and retail, a limited number of luxury apartments on the upper levels, and more parking spaces than the site offers today, according to 10TV.
Why It Matters for Old Hilliard
If the plan holds together, it would check two big boxes that residents repeated in the HDC’s outreach: more upscale sit-down restaurants and walkable mixed-use development that still respects Old Hilliard’s historic look. City and developer statements say the goal is to pair new housing, retail space, and additional parking with an adaptive reuse of the bank building in a way that boosts evening foot traffic and supports nearby small businesses. Many specifics are still up in the air, but the selection of a developer marks a visible step toward finally answering long-standing calls for more sit-down dining options in Old Hilliard.
