Canton's biggest years of growth occurred around the turn of the twentieth century, and Guy Tilden was the city's leading architect of the period.

Soon after obtaining the Belmont, Benders bought two buildings next door, and before long the restaurant had displaced the former occupants, a livery and barbershop.

[3] By 1918, Bender's reputation had grown to the point that the Automobile Blue Book was promoting it as a destination for out-of-state road travellers.

[2]: 8  Bender's facade is divided into three bays; much of the exterior features stained glass in place of ordinary display windows, and comparatively little ornamentation is otherwise present.

[2]: 4  Inside, large amounts of wooden panelling are present, and other original elements are also present, including the separate women's entrance, the marble wainscoting, the coffered ceilings with visible structural elements, tiled floors,[3] and a group of murals produced by a travelling German painter.