History of the Chelley Belly Soup, Sandwich, and Sweets Building in Delaware, Ohio

V.T. Hills Whole Sale Grocers, circa 1900.  Photograph provided by Delaware County Historical Society

Built in 1874 by J.H. Mendenhall, this three-story Italianate building originally housed V.T. Hills Wholesale Grocers. The Steeves building, to the south of this building, was built for dentist, Dr. Moses Steeves in 1890, and housed a variety of businesses over the years including a photography studio and furniture store. V.T. Hills moved his grocery business into a new four story building further south on Sandusky Street in 1916. The Mendenhall building then housed the Columbus and Southern Ohio Electric Company from 1929 until 1969 when Disbennett Real Estate Company moved in. They remained there until the end of the 1980s, when a variety of businesses came and left including Whitney Title Agency and Nelson’s Photo-N-Frame. Chelley Belly has been here serving coffee, sandwiches, soups, and desserts since 2012.
Columbus and Southern Ohio Electric Company occupancy, next to Blair Kelly Furniture, circa 1940   Photograph provided by Delaware County Historical Society

Prior to this structure, Probate Judge Isaac Ranney’s office was located on the property, according to an 1866 plat map. Judge Ranney wrote a letter to the Governor William Dennison, stating that V.T. Hills was an exemplary man of good moral character with a strong business background and knowledge of military tactics. Ranney also explained that Hills was a very humble man, never taking on any position he knew he could not handle.

Italianate architecture was at its height of popularity when this building was constructed. The building features the most identifiable features of Italianate architecture; flat roofs with brackets beneath the eaves. Additionally, the building features large store-front windows on the first floor and hood moldings over the windows on the second and third stories. In contrast, the Steeves building next door was constructed during the next popular phase of architecture; Richardsonian Romanesque Revival.