Something about Sunbury Square is changing, but it has nothing to do with a new building or storefront.
In August, Sunbury, Ohio City Council approved a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area — commonly called a DORA — for the downtown square. Once the remaining approvals and setup are complete, adults 21 and older will be able to purchase an alcoholic beverage from a participating business and carry it within a defined outdoor area around the square.
It sounds like a relatively small change. In practice, it changes the way people can use one of Sunbury's most familiar gathering places.
And that distinction matters because there are really two downtown Sunbury stories unfolding at the same time. One changes how the existing square can be used once the final approvals are in place. The other involves new commercial development that will take several years to arrive.
What Is the Sunbury DORA?
Sunbury City Council unanimously approved the DORA on August 5, 2026.
A DORA creates an exception to Ohio's open-container rules within a specifically defined area. Alcohol must be purchased from a participating business and served in an approved DORA container. It is not permission to bring alcohol from home or carry drinks anywhere in downtown Sunbury.
The Sunbury DORA covers the downtown square, including the public park, sidewalks and portions of East Cherry, South Columbus, East Granville and South Vernon streets.
Sunbury Town Hall, the Municipal Building and several nearby parking areas are excluded from the boundary.
The change is centered on the square itself: the restaurants, sidewalks, park and public gathering spaces people already use.
Which Sunbury Restaurants Can Participate?
Four businesses are located within the approved DORA boundary:
- District 13
- Firehouse Tavern
- Branch Pizza
- Surve
Being inside the boundary does not automatically make a restaurant a DORA participant. Each eligible business can decide whether to take part.
When the DORA is operating, participating businesses will serve eligible beverages in designated containers. Drinks purchased at one establishment cannot be carried into another business, and beverages cannot be taken outside the DORA boundary.
What Are the Sunbury DORA Hours?
The approved operating hours are noon to 9 p.m. daily.
The ordinance also allows the DORA to be suspended for certain community events, including Sunbury Sizzle and Sounds, the Memorial Day Market, the Independence Day celebration, the Labor Day Market and Christmas on the Square. City Council can make additional temporary changes when needed for individual events.
This is a defined program with specific boundaries, hours and participating businesses — not an unrestricted open-container district.
When Will the Sunbury DORA Begin?
This is where the August approval can be a little misleading.
Council approved the DORA as emergency legislation, eliminating the usual local waiting period. But council approval was not the final step.
The Ohio Division of Liquor Control must also approve the DORA, the city must install boundary signage, and participating businesses must complete the necessary steps before drinks can actually leave their establishments.
At the time of publication, a firm public opening date had not been announced.
Sunbury has approved a DORA, but the program does not become usable simply because council voted for it.
Why This Matters for Sunbury Square
What makes this interesting isn't really the alcohol.
It's the way communities are increasingly thinking about their downtown spaces.
Sunbury already has something newer communities often try to create from scratch: a recognizable central square surrounded by locally owned businesses and gathering spaces. The DORA gives those existing businesses and public spaces another way to work together.
A drink from a participating restaurant can become part of an evening spent walking around the square rather than something that has to stay inside one establishment. During the right events and evenings, that may keep people downtown a little longer and create more activity between businesses.
The buildings haven't changed. The way the space can be used has.
For a growing community like Sunbury, those smaller changes are worth paying attention to.
Don't Confuse the DORA With Sunbury Center
There is another commercial project underway nearby that has generated attention this year: Sunbury Center, planned for the corner of West Granville Street and Sunbury Meadows Drive.
The two projects are separate.
Sunbury Center is a planned three-building commercial development on approximately 4.64 acres about 1,000 feet west of Sunbury Square. Plans call for roughly 34,000 square feet of restaurant, retail and service space. Building A is being marketed as the first phase, with potential restaurant, taproom and dining uses, and the developer currently projects completion in 2028. Buildings B and C are planned as a later phase.
That is a much longer-term change to the commercial landscape. The DORA works with businesses and public spaces that are already here.
Understanding the difference gives a clearer picture of what is actually changing in Sunbury now and what belongs to the community's longer-term growth story.
A Small Change That Says Something Bigger About Sunbury
New neighborhoods have expanded outward from the older center of town, and new construction continues to reshape parts of the community.
At the same time, Sunbury's established neighborhoods and older homes remain part of what gives the community its sense of place. The square is part of that same story.
That's why something as seemingly minor as a DORA is worth noting. It isn't another subdivision or large development announcement. It's an attempt to make an existing part of the community work a little differently as the city around it grows.
Understanding a community isn't only about knowing home prices or new construction. It's also about noticing how people use the places around those homes — and how those places evolve over time.
When the time comes to think about buying or selling in Sunbury or anywhere across Delaware County, Ludwig Real Estate Group follows this community the same way — at the level of what's actually changing, and why. We're glad to talk when you're ready.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Sunbury DORA
What is a DORA in Sunbury, Ohio?
A Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area allows adults age 21 and older to purchase alcoholic beverages from participating businesses and consume them outdoors within a specifically marked area. Sunbury's DORA is centered on the downtown square.
When does the Sunbury DORA start?
Sunbury City Council approved the DORA on August 5, 2026. State approval, signage and business participation are also required before the program becomes operational. At the time of publication, a firm start date had not been announced.
What are the Sunbury DORA hours?
The approved hours are noon to 9 p.m. daily, although the DORA is suspended for certain community events and hours may be temporarily adjusted by City Council.
Which Sunbury restaurants are inside the DORA?
District 13, Firehouse Tavern, Branch Pizza and Surve are located within the approved DORA boundary. Each eligible business chooses whether to participate.
Can you bring your own alcohol into the Sunbury DORA?
No. Alcohol must be purchased from a participating DORA business and served in an approved container. Drinks cannot be carried beyond the marked DORA boundary.
Is Sunbury Center part of the DORA?
No. Sunbury Center is a separate planned commercial development at West Granville Street and Sunbury Meadows Drive, west of the downtown square. It is not part of the Sunbury DORA.
