The History of Dunaway's

Opening in December 1998, the restaurant is housed in the former office and manufacturing facilities of The Indiana Oxygen Company. Originally constructed by The Oxygen Company in 1930 (at a cost of $45,000) on property located a few blocks away on South Delaware street, the building was used for the manufacturing of bottled oxygen and hydrogen until it was purchased in 1991 by neighboring Eli Lilly and Company. Lilly then generously donated the current property and the building to The Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. Thus in 1995, the 735 ton building was moved to its current location rather than face demolition.

Moving Day

On February 25, 1995 the Indiana Oxygen Building is moved from its original location on Delaware Street approximately 5 blocks West to its current location. In the process it achieves the distinction of being the heaviest building moved in the United states up to that time. Please note the full martini glass placed on the front door threshold, not a drop was spilled during the move.

Local restaurateur Jeff Dunaway, former owner of St. Elmo's Steak House purchased the property in the fall of 1997 with the intent of opening a fine dining establishment featuring prime steaks and a flair for Northern Italian dishes, hence the name Palazzo Ossigeno (Oxygen Palace) was adopted. An expansive renovation was begun and within a year the planning and construction had been completed, transforming the building into the beautiful restaurant that is here today. The Art Deco designs & motifs compliment the original Gothic and Tudor interiors in a most inventive fashion. In addition, the new building expansion on the east facade was designed to provide not only a state of the art kitchen and banquet facilities but also the first open-air rooftop dining in the city.

The restaurant is located at the edge of the historic Fletcher Place district, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.