A Conversation with Tanner Ott
You may not know John Ott's name, but surely his historic preservation work has touched your life. At 6 p.m. on Oct. 22, John will share the ups and downs of the restorations of buildings ranging from the Quonset hut on North Tenth Street, where the Acola Coffee shop now buzzes, to the grand Stephens Building on Broadway, where people munch on Seoul Tacos.
The meeting will be in the Columbia Public Library. CoMo Preservation meetings are free and open to the public. John will share his historical preservation work in an interview format.
John’s company, Alley A Realty, has restored nearly two dozen downtown buildings, including a former gas station that is now Cafe Berlin or an automotive dealership at Tenth & Walnut, which houses an event center called the Atrium on Tenth. In the Paramount building, Shortwave brews coffee at South Ninth and Cherry, and the nearly derelict Berry Warehouse on Walnut and Orr Street today includes the Sager Reeves Gallery and luxury apartments. In 2011, the building won a prestigious preservation award from Missouri Preservation, a state nonprofit historic preservation organization.
His work has been instrumental in revitalizing the North Village Arts District.
220 N. Tenth Street, gas station prior to transformation into Cafe Berlin; Photo Courtesy of John Ott
Alley A Realty includes his wife, Vicki Ott, and in 2014, his son, Tanner Ott, joined the firm.
In an August 30, 2018, COMO Magazine article, he explained, “We like to be involved in creating spaces that people enjoy spending time in—like places that have outlived some of their usefulness but can be made exciting again. Nothing gives us more satisfaction than seeing lots of people enjoy the spaces we helped create.”
A recent project involved renovating the old Columbia City jail, which now houses the recently opened Endwell Taverna, an Italian restaurant offering pizza and other dishes.
He and Vicki Ott started their historic preservation efforts in the late 1990s in Rocheport, bringing an abandoned schoolhouse to life as a bed and breakfast.
Alley A transformed the aged Quonset hut at Park and Tenth, a former feed and seed center, into the lively Acola Coffee. Many would never recognize Cafe Berlin as a former gas station and convenience store that is a popular breakfast and cultural center today. He also helped save the Tiger Hotel, which was eventually sold to developer Glyn Laverick.
300 N. Tenth Street, Koonse Glass prior to transformation into Acola Coffee.
John Ott came to Columbia from Affton, south St. Louis, to attend the MU School of Journalism. After graduating, he worked in the broadcasting business for two decades, eventually managing and owning several Columbia and Jefferson City radio stations with local partners David Baugher and Al Germond.
SOURCES
Alley A Realty About page. https://www.columbiamo.com/what-we-do/. Accessed Sept. 18, 2024
O’Brien, Dianna Borsi (March 4, 2011). Winning Warehouse: Berry Building gets preservation award. Columbia, Missouri: COMO Magazine. Accessed Sept. 19, 2024
https://comomag.com/2018/08/30/john-ott/
COMO Magazine Staff (Aug. 30, 2024). John Ott, owner, Alley Realty, 11 Questions, Columbia, Missouri: COMO Magazine. Accessed Sept. 18, 2024
https://comomag.com/2018/08/30/john-ott/
Vox Staff, Ben Landis (Oct. 20, 2015, updated Jan. 17, 2018). The faces of development. Meet a few of the players in Columbia’s plans for the future. Columbia, Missouri: VOX Magazine. Accessed Sept. 18, 2024
Fred Parry and John Ott (June 18, 2023). Developer John Ott discusses downtown Columbia projects and homelessness on 939 The Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Columbia, Missouri: KWOS.com Radio. Accessed Sept. 18, 2024.
CoMo Preservation is devoted to helping homeowners, landlords, and institutions prevent the destruction of historic architecture. Original period styles might be replicated, but will forever lack the social history of authentic structures. The preservation of historic places and spaces gives people a sense of place and boosts Columbia’s economy. You can get involved by volunteering, signing up for our mailing list, attending an event, becoming a member or donating.
Questions? Suggestions for speakers or events? Email CoMoPreservation@gmail.com