Earlham College-led Revitalize Richmond initiative announces next downtown collaboration

A significant step forward in Downtown Richmond’s ongoing revitalization effort was reached this week with the approval of the latest historic restoration project at 713 E. Main St.

In a strategic collaboration between Earlham College’s Revitalize Richmond initiative, the Wayne County Land Trust, and Richmond Neighborhood Restoration, this project aims to stabilize and rehabilitate a key architectural asset while strengthening the fabric of the downtown neighborhood.

Plans for 713 East Main St., formerly the home of Tabletop Adventures, include maintaining a single commercial storefront on the first floor and restoring the residential unit on the second floor. The residential space will feature a single-bedroom apartment with both street and alley access, as well as a rooftop outdoor space.

The Wayne County Land Trust will retain ownership of the building and lease the commercial and residential spaces following the completion of the renovations, which is anticipated later this year.

“Projects like this are exactly what Revitalize Richmond was created to support,” said Dakota Collins, director of community relations at Earlham College. “By working with strong local partners like the Wayne County Land Trust and Richmond Neighborhood Restoration, we can take buildings that have been part of Richmond’s story for generations and prepare them for the next one. This project preserves an important historic structure while creating new opportunities to downtown living and business.”

Once a three-story structure, this building traces its history back to the 1870s. Over the last century and a half, it has housed a variety of businesses including stores selling shoes, cigars, groceries, a dentist office, and a men’s store on the ground floor.

In 1935, Muir’s Cut Rate Drug Store, part of a chain of stores across the Midwest, moved into the building and remained until 1958. During this time, the building lost its third floor. This most likely occurred in the wake of the massive fire at the former J.C. Penney store in 1942, when the building at 719-721 was completely destroyed.

Muir’s closed in 1958, and the building was remodeled for the Kennedy Clothing Co., which moved there in 1960. Sanders Jewelry later occupied the space from 1972 until 1988. From 1989 to 1993 it was home to the Treaty Line Council of the Girl Scouts. After several years of vacancy, Tech Plus Computer set up shop in 1999. Finally, in 2008, Tabletop Adventures moved in, where it remained until its closure in 2023.

The Wayne County Land Trust purchased the property in 2025 as a part of its ongoing efforts to support revitalization across Richmond’s downtown and the Depot District. Earlham College’s Revitalize Richmond initiative will fund the renovations of the building, which will be managed by Richmond Neighborhood Restoration.

While Revitalize Richmond and Richmond Neighborhood Restoration recently completed the renovation of the Readmore Building at 901 East Main Street, this project is the first building undertaken by this new collaborative partnership between the three organizations. At least two additional buildings downtown are expected to be completed through this partnership model in the coming years, though specific properties have not yet been identified.

“The Wayne County Land Trust is proud to play a role in preserving and stewarding important downtown properties like this one,” said Rebecca Gilliam, executive director of the Wayne County Foundation and Wayne County Land Trust. “Partnerships like this allow us to ensure these historic buildings remain part of Richmond’s landscape while supporting the continued revitalization of our community.”

“RNR is excited to bring our experience in historic rehabilitation to this project,” added Roxie Deer, executive director of Richmond Neighborhood Restoration. “Buildings like this are part of Richmond’s story, and through thoughtful restoration we can ensure they continue serving our community as vibrant spaces for business, housing, and downtown life.”
 

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About Earlham College 

Earlham College and Earlham School of Religion foster a collaborative learning community that inspires and motivates students with transformative opportunities and experiences so they can become catalysts for good in a changing world. Located in Richmond, Indiana, Earlham is one of U.S. News & World Report’s Top 100 national liberal arts colleges and offers one of the top 20 classroom experiences in the nation, according to the Princeton Review.