MIAMI TOWNSHIP — A local nonprofit is now looking for a new home after they say they had three days to leave their space at the Dayton Mall after four years of being there.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
“We know that there are over 200 people in the Miami Valley making their living from film. We want to make sure that they feel connected,” Lisa Grigsby, of FilmDayton, said.
That goal is now more challenging for the nonprofit after being told they must move out of the space on the second floor of the Dayton Mall.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Court transfers ownership of historic Miami County cemetery to nonprofit with plans for restoration
- Suspect dead after hostage situation at Butler County apartment complex
- Patrick Stewart, stage giant also of ‘Star Trek’ and ‘X-Men’ fame, dies at 86
“The new owners of the mall said, you know, [that] we are not a retail-facing business, but they didn’t want us here,” Grigsby said. “You know, we thought we were at least good through December.”
FilmDayton marked their old space with a mural of movies shot in Dayton. Members gathered there for screenings for years and professionals shared their craft, but now it’s just a plain white wall.
Grigsby told News Center 7 that the move will impact foot traffic.
“But have you been to the mall lately? You know, one of the things that was a selling point when we got our original contract with the previous owners is we’re generating, you know, bodies coming into the mall that may not normally be here,” Grigsby explained.
As reported on News Center 7 at 6:00, Hull Property Group brought the Dayton Mall last year with the mission to revitalize it. In September, the Georgia-based real estate company announced plans to renovate the mall and add murals in 2027.
Meanwhile, FilmDayton is looking for a new home to help them become a strong resource for this region.
“There is not a prop warehouse in Columbus, Cincinnati, or Dayton, so FilmDayton, as a 501c3 looks at that as an opportunity for some ongoing support if we can, you know, have props that could be rented out to the various movies that come through,” she said.
News Center 7 has reached out to Hull Property Group about their plans for FilmDayton’s former space. We have not received a response at the time of this report.
[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
@2026 Cox Media Group
