Death of funeral home may mean new life

OAKWOOD, Ohio (WDTN) - The last funeral held at the former Routsong Funeral Home was for the house itself, but few shed any tears.

"It was definitely time for the building to come down," says Jeff Samuelson with JZ Companies, which is building what will take the home's place. "It was hurting the value of the neighborhood."

Workers spent Wednesday dismantling the old Routsong Funeral home at Oakwood and Irving Avenues.

The place that also doubled as the family's home has been empty for about the last seven years since Routsong opened more modern funeral homes.

Taking its place will be a more than 8,100 sq. ft. building that 2 NEWS is told will be occupied by about four different stores, including according to our partners at the Dayton Business Journal, a Saxby's Coffee.

"It's definitely stuff the neighbors will be happy about," Samuelson says. "I think it's going to be a good use for the corner."

But some neighbors have expressed concern in the past at Oakwood City Council meetings.

The project took more than four years to get underway, but now that it's happening, the builder thinks the new stores will be able to draw in customers.

"Definitely the market can support it," Samuelson says. "It's a thriving area."

JZ Companies hopes to have the new building finished by the end of the year with the stores opening in late December or early January.