Owensboro native John Ross Martin is breathing new life into two prominent downtown buildings — 210 Allen Street and 105 West 3rd Street — as part of a broader effort to invest in and revitalize the city’s core. Though he couldn’t give full details, he hinted that one space will be a restaurant and event venue while the other could have multiple uses.
Through his newly launched development company, Southern Ridge, Martin has already begun renovating the properties and says more projects are in the works.
A Daviess County High School graduate, Martin left Owensboro for college and spent a decade in corporate America, including time as a market manager for Toyota. In 2020, he shifted into real estate development and has since completed projects across Kentucky and southern Ohio. After operating under various LLCs, Martin officially launched Southern Ridge upon returning to Owensboro late last year.
“This is where I want to settle down and make an impact in the community I care most about,” Martin said. “I went away to get experience, and now I’m back home doing what I love.”
At 210 Allen Street, Martin is transforming the two-story building into a restaurant and event space. The first floor will feature an open-concept dining area, while the second floor will serve as an assembly space for private events. Martin will own the building but lease it to an operator.
He said to stay tuned for more information surrounding the restaurant.
Just around the corner at 105 West 3rd Street, formerly home to Studio 105 for more than 30 years, Martin is developing a mercantile space that could house a retail or office tenant. He said he’s eager to partner with a business looking to relocate downtown.
“These are just the first of many projects we plan to do as the downtown overlay district continues to grow,” Martin said.
Martin said he’s especially passionate about revitalizing historic and underused structures. Most of the buildings he’s worked on were stripped to the shell — lacking plumbing, HVAC, and electrical — and he enjoys reimagining those spaces with a mix of old character and modern design.
“We try to keep the exposed beams, brick walls, and other architectural elements, but we also add our own modern touches like chandeliers and open layouts,” he said.
Martin leads the design himself and manages a small crew that handles full-scale renovations. His company also takes on outside contract work for other downtown property owners and beyond.
“We’ll build a bathroom, install siding, or convert a building into apartments — whatever it takes,” he said.
Martin, now 31, is also a licensed realtor with BHG Realty, where he plans to specialize in commercial properties.
To follow his work or inquire about opportunities, Martin can be found on Instagram at @john.ross.martin.
