The deadline for contractors to enter sealed bids for the 14th Street Development – Building Demolition Project that would clear the way for a new downtown hotel has been set by the City of Wheeling for July 21, but the razings will not take place in 2026 if the developer’s “capitol stack” is not finalized this year.
Wheeling’s City Manager Bob Herron was a guest on River Talk’s “Novotney Now” radio program when he explained that the Wheeling received a state enhancement grant for the demolition, but the only way those funds can be utilized is if the financing structure is in place for the proposed $60-million hotel. Plans and renderings depict a vibrant complex featuring a 122-room hotel, a spacious 2,600 square-foot event center, dedicated retail space, residential living units, and a rooftop bar and entertainment area boasting stunning views of the Ohio River.
“City Council approved the retention of M&G Architects about a month ago as the engineer to spec the remediation and demolition of those buildings there for the potential hotel project,” Herron said. “They’ve been designing it, and the demolitions will be paid for by an economic development enhancement grant from the state of West Virginia.
“One of the requirements to use those funds for this demolition is that the capital stack for the hotel project must be in place,” the city manager stressed. “So, that means that after Council’s two readings on the demolitions, we’d be into August and the capital stack would need to be in place and confirmed by the end of August. And we believe that will be the case. That’s why we released the bids.”
So, if a bid is awarded and crews begin clearing the structures where Mountain Mama’s, Wheeling Coffee & Spice, and National Equipment once operated, the developer – Vol for Life, LLC, and Wheeling entrepreneur Barry Allen – is prepared to move forward?
“The only way the City of Wheeling can use the enhancement grant funds to tear down those buildings is if the hotel project is a go,” Herron confirmed. “Those are the stipulations involved with the grant, so we’ve released the bids so we can be ready for that to be the case.
“The vast majority of this project is privately funded. The state involvement right now is a grant provided for $2.5 million,” he defined. “The City has a TIF contribution of $5 million, which is normal for a project like this and it’s well within our TIF district’s ability to do, but beyond those funds, this is a private sector transaction.”
Vol For Life, LLC is a Wheeling-based development company established by Barry and Lisa Allen with the mission of creating impactful and sustainable projects that contribute to the revitalization and future success of Wheeling, W.Va. The proposed hotel, Herron believes, is a true representation of that mission.
“I’m very proud of it,” he said. “I’m very proud of Mr. Allen and the effort that he’s put into it.”
A National Name
According to reporting by the Wheeling Intelligencer, the building at 13 14th Street was the home of Joseph Speidel Grocers before it was transitioned into Wheeling Coffee & Spice in 1896. Joseph and Mary Ann Lokmer purchased the roasting and wholesale distribution business from the Shram family in 1977, and in 1993, they opened a retail coffee shop to the public.
Mary Ann Lokmer sadly passed away in 2019, and ownership of the business was transferred to the David family later that year, the newspaper reported. Wheeling Coffee & Spice was shuttered in October 2023, and the hotel project was announced in May 2024.
“The initial idea was to try to save the facade on that building, but it was going to take millions of dollars to do that. Because of the age of the building, it was going to be incredibly difficult and expensive,” Herron explained. “So, the design of the hotel will pay tribute to those storefronts after a lot of work went into trying to save those facades.
“It just wasn’t economically feasible to do that,” he said. “This is a $60 million project, and every effort was made to try to save them.”
Now, if – for whatever reasons – the hotel project fails to move forward, would the City still hope to clear the corner of 14th and Water streets in the future?
“Eventually, maybe, but the state funds would not be used and the City would have to figure out the funding for such a project,” Herron explained. “Right now, the key is we’ve got a project that appears to be ready to go, and the City has secured the funds to take care of our end of it and prepare the site for the project.
“That’s the mode we’re in right now. As to what would happen down the road if the capital stack is not in place and announced later this summer, the demolition will not go forward this summer. I can tell you that right now,” he said. “But I believe everything appears ready to move forward.”
Allen is a native of Nashville, and he moved to Wheeling about 19 years ago after marrying his bride, Lisa, who was the chairperson of the board of The Ziegenfelder Company before the Budget Saver Twin Pop maker was sold in January 2022. The Allens have not released an updated timeline for construction since the announcement in May 2024.
“The developer has conducted studies, and I know the consultants were with a national firm and considered the top in the country when it comes to the hotel business,” Herron said. “I know when they completed their work, they presented the developer with information about the potential occupancy rates, and it also stated how much they thought they could charge per room and things like that.
“All of it was backed up by other data and hotel studies that are performed monthly, and that information has national chains interested,” he said. “From what I understand, there are chains that are in love with the site and in love with this project. Plus, this project has been checked out by the lending institutions, too, so the homework and groundwork have been done and everything points to this being successful in downtown Wheeling.”
