4916 Underwood Avenue including Mark’s Bistro and Ooh-De-Lally’s Mission

Published October 31, 2023 | Updated July 8, 2026

October 31, 2023

Edward Bayer bought the large two-story home located in the heart of Dundee at 4916 Underwood Avenue in 1951. The house, which had been the home to Fred Larkin’s Toy Shop, had been split into two apartments and was being advertised for business use. After adding a two-story storefront, Bayer relocated both his family and his business, Bayer Electric.

While this photo from the Durham archives has no date, it’s before 1951. The white house on the far hasn’t had the storefront added yet.

By 1961 he was on the move again, and from that point forward for the next 40 years, it had seen a number of different businesses call it home, including Dundee Antiques, The Finishing Touch, Primetime Sports Cards, and Great Harvest Bread Company, among others.

1951 Durham Museum photo of Bayer Electric before it became Mark’s Bistro.

The storefront with its large windows overlooking Dundee’s main street proved to be the perfect place for a neighborhood restaurant called Mark’s Bistro. Opened in 2003, it placed an emphasis on wine and cheese and offered a limited menu that changed seasonally.

In this 1954 photo from the Durham archives, Bayer Electric can be seen on the side of the building with the white house behind it.

The restaurant was on the second and third floors of the 1906 house. Inside, it had multiple small dining rooms, which were even smaller on the top floor where the bedrooms were once located. The bar was located in the center of the main dining room, which had the benefit of the large, south-facing windows. Just outside the dining room was a garden patio that was among the best outdoor dining spaces in town, with its colorful flowers, plants, and intimate spaces. In 2016, the owners opened a cocktail bar called Jumbo Cat on the first floor in the space that had been the Dundee Gallery.

2017 photo of Mark’s Bistro from Underwood Avenue.

Jumbo Cat closed in 2019, as it was not making enough on its own to be viable. One year later, the pandemic forced the closure of Mark’s. Even after restaurants were allowed to fully reopen, its owners felt it was in their best interest to remain closed rather than put their customers at risk. Mark’s did open a market and bottle shop selling wine in addition to vinegar, sauces, condiments, grains, and pasta. They even offered recipes so customers could make a home-cooked meal with the ingredients.

Photo of the new restaurant courtesy of Ooh-De-Lally opening in 2024.

I don’t think the market and bottle shop was ever considered to be a long-term venture, and it closed in 2022 after the building was sold. This wonderful site in the heart of Dundee became the home to a new restaurant concept called Ooh-De-Lally in 2024. Its name was inspired by a carefree song from Disney’s 1973 animated film Robin Hood. From its small kitchen, the restaurant offers New American cuisine from a menu that includes Mark’s signature mac and cheese. In the fall of 2024, they opened La-Bo, a bodega on the first-floor space. It offers wine, cocktails, and small bites to go.

Photo on the left of the ground floor entrance to La-Bo courtesy of Shelby J on Yelp. Photo on the right of the patio at Ooh-De-Lally courtesy of LaRue on Google.

Inside Ooh-De-Lally. Photo courtesy of Grow Omaha.

Ooh-De-Lally’s mission extends beyond just food. Instead, it celebrates the hands that make the food. It aims to amplify those stories as it connects with the community to help give everyone a seat at the table. To that end, the restaurant supports individuals who have been impacted by the justice system by helping them gain entry to the culinary industry. This is in collaboration with Metropolitan Community College and its 180 Re-Entry Assistance Program. The program allows these individuals to work alongside professionals, giving them the opportunity to try different roles in both the front and back of the house. The experience helps them excel in the industry. For those who decide to pursue the career further, there is an opportunity to enroll in Metro’s Institute for Culinary Arts.

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