The Downtown
Exchange
Mon–Sat · 527 Main St. Plan a visit

The Downtown Exchange / History

Built in 1876. Still on Main.

Formerly known as The Black-Elliott Block, The Downtown Exchange is a historic commercial building in downtown Zanesville, Ohio.

Walk the timeline The C.E. Johnson signatureWho was Peter Black?
1880'sBuilt
2022Repurposed
Over 20,000Square Feet

The Black-Elliott Block

Brick, sandstone & iron.

The restored Italianate façade of The Downtown Exchange on Main Street

Located along Main Street near the Muskingum County Courthouse it was built in 1876 in the Italianate style of architecture.

The partnership of Henry Elliott and Peter Black arranged for the construction of the building; it was one of several significant downtown buildings for which the pair was responsible, along with such important structures as the Clarendon Hotel.

At the completion of the building, each man operated his own business inside.

The building was built of brick on a foundation of sandstone; it also features elements of iron.

Both Black and Elliott were prominent Zanesville businessmen: the Baltimore native Elliott founded the city's Elliott Paper Company in 1885 and continued to operate it until his 1899 death, while Black led the First National Bank.

From its earliest years, the building was known as the "Black Elliott" block, even in published writings shortly after Black's 1878 death.

After the two men's deaths, the most prominent tenant was the S.S. Kresge Company, which operated on the property from 1916 until 1977 as the Jupiter Discount Store.

In 1979, the Black-Elliott Block was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, qualifying because of its historically significant architecture.

Key to this designation was its exterior. No other late nineteenth-century Italianate building survives in downtown Zanesville with so few changes.

National Register listings, Muskingum County

Then & now

Same façade. New appetite.

No other late nineteenth-century Italianate building survives in downtown Zanesville with so few changes. Drag the handle to compare.

The Downtown Exchange storefront on Main Street today The same storefront as the Jupiter Discount Store, mid-twentieth century Jupiter · c. 1950sDTX · Today
The building during its antique mall years, before the restoration
The antique mall years · until spring 2021

1844 – 2022

178 years on Main Street.

From a stagecoach arrival to a food hall opening — the people and moments behind 527 Main.

A full house inside The Downtown Exchange
  1. 1844

    John and Peter Black arrive in Zanesville by stagecoach and open Black's Retail Dry Goods Store on Main Street.

  2. 1859

    Peter Black's Music Hall rises at Main & 3rd — a theater, recreation and meeting room for the city.

  3. 1863

    Peter Black helps organize the First National Bank and serves as its first President.

  4. 1875

    Black and his brother-in-law William A. Graham build the Clarendon Hotel on Main.

  5. 1876

    Peter Black and Henry Elliott build the Black & Elliott Block in the Italianate style — brick on sandstone, with iron.

  6. 1878

    Peter Black dies at 59. The building is already known as the “Black Elliott” block.

  7. 1880

    Barn painter C.E. Johnson signs and dates his work 4/10/80 on a wall — soon hidden under plaster for 140 years.

  8. 1885

    Henry Elliott founds the Elliott Paper Company, running it until his death in 1899.

  9. 1916

    S.S. Kresge Company moves in. For six decades it is the Jupiter Discount Store.

  10. 1977

    The Jupiter Discount Store closes after 61 years on Main Street.

  11. 1979

    Listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its Italianate architecture.

  12. 2021

    The antique mall era ends in the spring; a 12+ month renovation begins.

  13. 2022

    Reborn as The Downtown Exchange — food hall, coworking and meeting rooms.

1916 – 1977

The Jupiter years.

After Black and Elliott, the most prominent tenant was the S.S. Kresge Company, which ran the Jupiter Discount Store here for 61 years. Today the bar inside carries the name.

Visit The Lucky Jupiter Bar
Archive photo of the Jupiter Discount Store, 1 of 7 Archive photo of the Jupiter Discount Store, 2 of 7 Archive photo of the Jupiter Discount Store, 3 of 7 Archive photo of the Jupiter Discount Store, 4 of 7 Archive photo of the Jupiter Discount Store, 5 of 7 Archive photo of the Jupiter Discount Store, 6 of 7 Archive photo of the Jupiter Discount Store, 7 of 7
The C.E. Johnson signature, dated 4/10/80, uncovered beneath the plaster during restoration
Signed 4/10/80 · uncovered in the restoration

Under the plaster

Who is C.E. Johnson?

The answer is we may never know but through the restoration process of The Downtown Exchange his unique signature was uncovered under the plaster. Fitting with the time period of when the building was built you will see he dated his work 4/10/80. That’s right, this tasteful autograph was done in 1880 and was hidden under plaster never meant to be seen. Uncovering this and having it visible to the community was a must for the DTX owners.

C.E. Johnson, the barn painter from Zanesville, Ohio, appears to be a local artist known for painting in the area. While specific information about C.E. Johnson may be limited, barn painting as a tradition has a long history in rural America.

Barn painting became popular in the early to mid-20th century, particularly in agricultural regions like Ohio. Farmers often hired itinerant painters to decorate their barns with colorful designs, often featuring geometric patterns, landscapes, patriotic motifs, or advertisements. These paintings served both practical and aesthetic purposes, protecting the barns from weather damage while also adding a touch of individuality and character to the rural landscape.

The tradition of barn painting has experienced a resurgence of interest in recent years, with communities recognizing its cultural significance and efforts to preserve and document these painted barns. Artists like C.E. Johnson would have contributed to this tradition, leaving their mark on the countryside and becoming part of the local cultural heritage.

While specific details about C.E. Johnson may be scarce, his work as a barn painter likely played a role in shaping the visual landscape of Zanesville and its surrounding areas during the time period he was active.

The builder

Peter Black, his family & businesses.

A pioneer family that came from Ireland and began changing early Zanesville in the 1840s. Highlights from the family history:

Read the full history (PDF)
  1. 1844John and Peter Black arrive in Zanesville by stagecoach after four years running a dry goods store in Pittsburgh, and open Black’s Retail Dry Goods Store on Main Street.
  2. 1852Peter Black and Dorothea (Dora) Van Hamm marry on November 12; the same year Peter’s brother Alexander is lost at sea off California, headed to the gold mines.
  3. 1853Their first child, Clara, is born February 28 at the Eagle Hotel; six weeks later the family moves into their new Market Street home.
  4. 1859Peter Black’s Music Hall is built at Main & 3rd — a popular theater, recreation and meeting room.
  5. 1863Peter Black helps organize the First National Bank and serves as its first President.
  6. 1871Peter Graham Black is born on November 4.
  7. 1873Peter Black Sr. is elected the first President of the Brown Manufacturing Company.
  8. 1875Peter Black and his brother-in-law William A. Graham build the Clarendon Hotel on Main.
  9. 1876Peter Black partners with Henry Elliott to build the Black & Elliott Block — today’s Downtown Exchange.
  10. 1878Peter Black Sr. dies at 59 of heart disease; his youngest son, Peter Graham Black, is only six.
  11. 1900Peter G. Black opens a commercial insurance firm, first Gutherie & Black, later Black & Co.
  12. 1901Peter G. Black and George & Martin Young found the Young Hardware Company.
  13. 1910Peter Jr. organizes “Black’s Organization for Better Government.”
  14. 1950The Black family’s Market Street homestead is sold and torn down to build a Kroger store.
The Downtown Exchange from Main Street with its DTX mural

2022 – today

The next chapter.

The Downtown Exchange has undergone an over 12 month renovation transforming it from a multi-tenant antique mall into a vibrant community destination offering multiple food vendors, coworking space and meeting/conference rooms.

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