Unlock Delaware: City’s economic development team highlights available downtown spaces

DELAWARE — As Delaware’s population continues to grow, available commercial space is becoming increasingly difficult to find.

Downtown vacancy rates typically fluctuate between 3% and 5%, according to Economic Development Coordinator Sarah Young — well below the national commercial vacancy rate.

To help fill the remaining empty storefronts and upper-floor spaces, the city’s economic development department hosted its second Unlock Delaware event Wednesday, giving business owners, entrepreneurs, investors and bankers a behind-the-scenes look at seven available downtown properties.

“Although 3-5% is amazing, and I’ll take it, I would love to have 0% vacancy,” Young said.

“The idea of this event is that we have vacant spaces, even if we just have one, we want to bring any investors, entrepreneurs, businesses that feel like Delaware is the spot for them and actually show them the spaces.”

While Delaware’s growth is very apparent and enticing, Young said developers and investors still sometimes miss the area.

“It is still smaller, growing, still not fully out there, so we’re trying to bring outside businesses that are in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, that may not necessarily think about Delaware,” she said.

“We may be the small guys, but we actually have a lot going on.”

The first event of its kind, then called Vacant Spaces, took place in December 2025 and resulted in one property getting a new tenant.

Take a look at some photos of the properties from Wednesday’s tour:

5 N. Sandusky St.

Located above Son of Thurman, featuring 100-1,025 available square feet for lease. This building was built in 1920 and renovated in 2019. 3CRE Commercial Real Estate manages the property.

19 N. Sandusky St.

This building has three spaces, 17-19 N. Sandusky Street, totaling 18,229 square feet of space between three floors, and is for sale at $2,300,000. 3CRE Commercial Real Estate manages the property.

4 W. Winter St.

Located next door to Bun’s Restaurant and Bar’s patio, this building has 1,764 square feet of available space for lease. The lease rate for the one unit marketed as retail space is $23.81 per square foot per year. 3CRE Commercial Real Estate also manages this property.

57 N. Sandusky St.

The entire 6,301 square foot building is for sale, with Goat Local signed on as a long-term tenant. The vacant space features a stage all the way in the back. Once again, 3CRE manages this property.

20 W. Central Ave.

The historic Delaware County jail is owned by the Delaware County Historical Society and has all kinds of spooky features, but also four office spaces for lease. Pagam Properties Realty manages the office spaces.

For those not brave enough to work out of the space, the next paranormal tours are at 7:45 and 11:15 p.m. on July 13.

18 N. Sandusky St. and 4. N Sandusky St.

The Miller Building, 18 N. Sandusky St., and Stephen Hartman’s historic soon-to-be office space or apartment, 4 N. Sandusky St., rounded out the tour.