Central Building revitalization will include new Parlor Doughnuts franchise

“We are bringing the heartbeat back to this building,” Ryan Craig said as he listed off the many updates, repairs and renovations undergoing the iconic Central Building located at the corner of Sixth and Newton streets in Jasper.

Adding a new roof, tearing through an inch of plaster to the original brick walls, removing the old mildewed carpet to expose the concrete floors, updating the windows, the HVAC, the wiring and adding elements necessary for the new businesses moving in.

After sitting empty at one of the busiest intersections in Dubois County for almost four years, the activity at the historical building is drawing attention.

“You drive past this every day, and it’s empty,” Ryan said. “And I think that’s what hits a lot of people, right? They want this to be nice.”

Ryan, his brothers, Ted and Tyler Krempp, and his mom, Brenda Krempp purchased the Central Building last summer after it had sat lifeless for three years. Since then, the four have been struggling through construction supply issues to check off the list of work the building is undergoing; they’ve been waiting on a new roof for eight months now. However, the steady progress in renovating and revitalizing the building’s interior has created excitement around town. As it should since the building is prominent in the area’s history as well as its location.

“It is literally right in the heart of downtown,” Ryan said while waving his hand at the windows framing a view of the Dubois County Courthouse.

The earliest newspaper clippings Ryan has are from 1863. So far, it seems that the building has been a hotel, a bus depot, doctors and insurance offices, a drugstore and other various retail establishments in its lifetime.

Ryan has images and newspaper clippings of the building to the 1940s that feature the current brick structure. It was created to house Wilson Drug Company — many people remember the soda fountain — and Victor Specialty Company.

Before that, it had been the Union Hotel for many years, with various businesses operating in one corner of the building.

Most recently, the first floor of the building held Flick’s Hometown Pharmacy and HLS Health and Wellness, operated by the Stradtner family for many years. The upstairs was filled with business offices. In 2018, the Stradtners closed their business, and the building was largely empty afterward.

As the renovations have been underway, tenants are lining up to set up shop. There is only one spot left — Dr. Thomas Gootee’s former doctor’s office. The joke among the contractors working on the building is that the office is haunted since someone died there. Supporting the theory is a newspaper clipping from 1959 regarding the unfortunate death of a resident after a minor fender bender in the busy intersection.

Krystal Luker, who started The Copper Fox Hair and Nail Salon in 2019, is set to take over the largest space on the second floor. She’s excited about moving into the large open spot with the trendy exposed brick and multiple windows overlooking downtown.

“It is going to be a trendy spot,” she said about the updated building and new location.

Downstairs will see Jasper’s newest eatery taking the stage.

Eric Youngblood and Kent Banning, owners of the local Jimmy John’s franchise, plan on opening a Parlor Doughnuts on the first floor of the Central Building later this summer. The craft doughnut and coffee shop will take 4,000 square feet, providing freshly made doughnuts and freshly roasted coffee.

The new location will have an ample open space featuring the franchise’s urban aesthetic for customers wanting coffee, specialty drinks, gourmet doughnuts made on site, and other healthy menu items available to eat there. Plus, they plan on utilizing the drive-thru window for pickup orders.

While Parlor will take up most of the first floor, two other businesses will also use first-floor suites.

The Melted Bead Wax Studio is already operating in the building. Kendra Brelage’s new business provides full body waxing services in her boutique, accessible from an entrance on Newton Street at the 511 Newton Street location.

Creations by Kayla is also operating in another suite located on the first floor. Kayla Nash opened her business in 2022 after handmaking self-care products while a stay-at-home mom. Her shop features items like bath fizzes, sugar scrubs, bath salts, specialty shirts, personalized tumblers, keychains, and more.

The downstairs area is set to become a members-only cigar lounge with 24-hour access. According to Ryan, after they ripped out the decades of mildewy carpet and knocked out the plaster, he appreciated the aesthetic of the basement but didn’t know what to do with it.

“I just kinda jokingly said I would just put a cigar lounge down there for myself and a couple friends,” he explained.

As he kept talking about the activity going on with the building, he noticed there was a lot of interest in the cigar lounge idea. Adding to that was the thought that members could have access to the area for private meetings or gatherings. Or just hanging out to play pool or ping pong while enjoying a cigar and some bourbon — all brought in by members, not supplied by the club.

Plans call for a locker area for members to use for the items they bring in and bathrooms and showers. In addition, a ventilation system is being installed to accommodate the cigar smoke, and furniture is already being stored in the space just waiting for the permits to be approved so they can dive into the renovation.

According to Ryan, the 75-member max waiting list for the club is already almost filled.

The exciting thing about the project for him and his brothers is that it will revitalize a historic corner of the city, and it fits in with the updates planned for the downtown area.
And with the fervor the work on the building has created so far, they know they are doing the right thing even though it has been challenging.

“It is a hell of a risk on this big property, but it needed to be done,” Ryan said. “So, we are excited to do it and do it right.”