PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
DEMOLITION … The Sooz Building, once a locally owned restaurant, has fallen into disrepair and is soon to be demolished.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Sooz Building, located at 101 East Baubice Street in Pioneer, has long been a familiar downtown structure, but is now nearing the end of its use.
Originally opened in 1994 as Sooz, a locally owned restaurant, the site once served comfort food in a casual setting.
In recent council sessions, the Village of Pioneer and the Maumee Valley Planning Organization (MVPO) discussed the deteriorating structure’s future.
Asbestos testing of the Sooz Building was scheduled by late August 2025, with demolition bids already received with pending test results.
Officials have confirmed that the structure had fallen into disrepair and would likely be razed once environmental clearance was granted.
The date for demolition has been set for September 8, 2025, with North State Street of Pioneer expected to be closed for 7-10 days. A detour for the road will be provided through state-level help.
The pending demolition marks the closing of a chapter for a building that once housed a small but memorable local business.
The Sooz Building stands as a reminder of Pioneer’s changing downtown and the efforts underway to prepare older properties for new opportunities.