An 1864 building reimagined into five storefronts, seven apartments, and a new center of downtown life
Project Overview
This 8,000 SF project sits within one of the oldest building blocks in downtown Bellefontaine. The structure had been neglected for decades—riddled with fleas and roaches and carrying the strangest, most unpleasant smell imaginable.
The goal was simple but ambitious: take the darkness and negative energy and inject as much light, vibrancy, and life as possible.
Over a 12-month construction timeline and with a $1.2M investment, the building was transformed into five unique storefronts on the first floor and seven apartments on the second. Along the way, the existing historic slate roof was restored, and a new accessible “front porch” and side patios were created through deep collaboration with the city.
A Building Ready for Its Second Chance
Like many small towns, Bellefontaine has a constant need to stimulate its local economy by creating spaces for small businesses to thrive and expanding housing options.
Rainbow Row was a building sitting empty, just waiting for the moment when it would have its second chance at life. Constructed around 1864, it is one of the oldest buildings in downtown Bellefontaine.
When it was purchased by Small Nation in August 2021, the vision was to bring something new to the town: a space filled with color, functionality, and fun. The goal was to attract artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs while also providing short-term rental units for visitors looking to experience downtown Bellefontaine.
Designing for Life, Color, and Community
The first floor is made up of five street-level storefronts, each flexible enough to accommodate a wide variety of retail uses.
The upper level features seven short-term rental units—ranging from studio to one- and two-bedroom apartments—each fully equipped with kitchens, bathrooms, and on-site laundry. These units, known as The Flats, provide lodging for weekend visitors, corporate stays, and extended trips.
Inspired by the iconic Rainbow Row in Charleston, South Carolina, the design approach focused on giving each storefront its own distinct identity while maintaining a cohesive overall look.
Colors were carefully selected to be vibrant yet slightly muted, creating a vintage feel that complements the brick facade and historic architecture. High-contrast tones were paired with more subtle accents, reflecting both the individuality of each business and the unity of the building as a whole.
Honoring History While Creating Something New
Every design decision worked to balance preservation with new energy. The classic architecture of the building was respected, while updates introduced approachability and life back into the streetscape.
Exterior lighting was designed to keep the colorful facade visible at night, creating a sense of warmth and activity that had not previously existed.
A custom porch railing was designed with pineapple finials—an intentional nod to hospitality and southern charm, as well as a tribute to the pineapple as a beloved local symbol in Bellefontaine.
Today, Rainbow Row is home to five small businesses and seven residential units, contributing to both economic activity and housing in the downtown core. What was once a neglected, deteriorating structure is now a place full of energy, creativity, and community life.
This project stands as a reminder of what is possible when thoughtful design, strategic investment, and local collaboration come together.
Press & Recognition
AIA Focus on Design Award winner
Heritage Ohio award winner
Pizza, beer and coffee are keys to success in Bellefontaine, one of Ohio’s best small towns
November 12, 2025
Cleveland.com
Rainbow Row Creates a New Bellefontaine Landmark
Jan/Feb, 2024
Ohio Magazine
Small Nation Finalizes Rainbow Row Project in Downtown Bellefontaine
August 18, 2023
Small Nation
“The concept of downtown revitalization may traditionally describe the long-term efforts and planning required to make incremental improvements in the streetscape of dense metropolitan areas and urban cores, but feels equally appropriate for characterizing the transformation achieved in a single intervention by the design team behind Rainbow Row. The bright color palette is striking in its vibrance, tasteful in the selected accent color pairings for each section and still reverent to the historic bones beneath. While the exterior is impressive in its own right, the transformation achieved is made even more compelling on review of the pre-construction existence of this once neglected piece of Americana main street. The new life given to this historic structure, and the downtown of Bellefontaine is a testament to the vision, determination and passion of the Rainbow Row design team.”
— Evan Sack of AIA Central Oklahoma and Chair of the 2023 AIA Dayton Focus on Design Awards selection committee
