In January, the Dayton region saw 8 restaurants announce closures, 9 open

CLOSING

Tim Hortons closes in Moraine

Credit: Natalie Jones

Credit: Natalie Jones

The Tim Hortons on Kettering Boulevard in Moraine has closed its doors, according to a sign posted at the cafe and bake shop.

“After years of serving our wonderful community, we regret to inform you that we have made the difficult decision to close our Tim Hortons location,” the sign reads. “This was not as easy choice, as we have truly cherished being a part of your daily routines, special moments, and everything in between.”

Customers are encouraged to visit its nearby location at 959 Patterson Road in Dayton for coffee, baked goods and meals.

The Local 937 sandwich shop announces it will close

Credit: Jim Noelker

Credit: Jim Noelker

In a heartfelt Facebook post, the owner of The Local 937 sandwich shop in the St. Anne’s Hill Historic District of Dayton announced it will close.

The final day of business will be Feb. 27. The post said employees were already notified.

“Myself and my wonderful staff have worked very hard over the past 15 months to build something really special. We have made a lot of friends and appreciate everyone who has supported us along the way,” Owner Rachel Gannon wrote. “Unfortunately, things are tough right now. I personally, have put so much of my own money into getting us this far but that is not something I can sustain anymore.”

Gannon is a realtor and real estate investor who plans to sell her current office on East Fifth Street and move her real estate brokerage, Local Roots Realty, to the space at 1501 E. Fifth St.

Old Dayton Pizza at Riverside Hideaway to close

Credit: Mark Fisher

Credit: Mark Fisher

Old Dayton Pizza at Riverside Hideaway will be closing its doors end of shift Feb. 10, according to a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

“...We are committed to making every moment count until then. Going forward we will be accepting cash only,” the post said. “We would like to thank all of our loyal customers for all of your continued support!”

Sherri and Steve Zelen purchased the former Green Lantern and the surrounding three-acre property at 3490 Old Troy Pike in Riverside in 2019.

1Eleven Flavor House closes in downtown Dayton

1Eleven Flavor House Restaurant, located at 111 W. First St., closed its doors on Jan. 31, but the owners’ event center will remain open with carryout and delivery services available for lunch.

“It is with heartfelt gratitude that we thank you for your unwavering support and business over our four years as a thriving establishment in the downtown Dayton community,” a letter from the restaurant to its customers and community stated. “It has been an immense pleasure serving our flavorful dishes and colorful cocktails with love to our customers, who became like family and friends over the years.”

The restaurant opened in January 2021 offering comfort and Caribbean cuisine. The owners went on to open an event center, located at 312 N. Patterson Blvd. in the former space of Basil’s On Market, in February 2023.

The Flavor House Event Center will offer takeout and food delivery 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The lunch menu will feature dishes previously served at the restaurant.

Jubie’s Creamery closes Moraine ice cream shop

Credit: Submitted Photo

Credit: Submitted Photo

Jubie’s Creamery closed its Moraine ice cream shop in January to focus on growing their wholesale and catering business.

“Our partnership with Dorothy Lane Market has really expanded our wholesale and catering accounts, which is both exciting and (a) whole lot of work,” Julie Domicone, who owns the business with her father, Fred, and mother, Stacey, wrote in a Jan. 15 Facebook post. “Their wide reaching network allows us the opportunity to still provide the best ice cream on the planet to those surrounding our Moraine location.”

With the focus on wholesale and catering, it will give the owners more time to search for new Jubie’s fans and expand their brand.

Domicone thanked their Moraine employees for being with them since they opened the shop at 2749 W. Alex Bell Road in May 2022.

Jubie’s Fairborn and Troy locations remain open.

Taste of Belgium closes at The Greene

Credit: Natalie Jones

Credit: Natalie Jones

After closing its Austin Landing bistro, Taste of Belgium announced the closure of its last location in the Dayton region.

Taste of Belgium at The Greene, located at 10 Greene Blvd. in Beavercreek, permanently closed Jan. 12.

“The evolution of full-service casual dining and changing consumer habits around dining out have significantly impacted the way we do business. As difficult as this decision is, we’re taking this opportunity to return to our roots and our original vision,” said Taste of Belgium founder Jean-Francois Flechet. “We expected a much stronger shopping season at The Greene during the holidays, but we just did not see the influx of people we had hoped for. We’re committed to ensuring the survival and sustainability of our business.”

Taste of Belgium closed its Austin Landing location on Dec. 22, 2024 after opening the restaurant in July.

Roost closes in Oregon District

Credit: Cornelius Frolik

Credit: Cornelius Frolik

Roost Modern Italian in Dayton’s Oregon District has closed its doors and is not reopening, Chef Dana Downs confirmed to the Dayton Daily News.

“We’re just moving forward in our journey,” Downs said. “We’re going to miss our customers and our employees, but sometimes you have to do things for you.”

Prior to opening Roost, Downs had a booth at 2nd Street Market called Black Rooster Pasta Bar. Her desire to pursue fine dining grew after encouragement from a friend who owned the building at 524 E. Fifth St.

Downs and her wife, Katherine, know what they want to do in their next chapter and are excited to move forward with it.

“We want to thank Dayton for their support for so many years,” Downs said.

Scramble by Cafe 19 in Brookville closes

Credit: Submitted Photo

Credit: Submitted Photo

Scramble by Cafe 19 closed its doors in Brookville on Jan. 4.

“We hate to become another statistic of this location and I did everything in my power to not let it happen, we just don’t have the resources to continue on without taking everything down in the process,” said Dillon Allen, who owns the restaurant with his girlfriend, Elizabeth Brunotte, and brother, John Allen.

This news comes a week after Allen posted on social media that the restaurant was in trouble.

“Sales in general have started to decline across all locations, but Brookville is our most expensive restaurant to operate,” Allen said in a Dec. 17 Facebook post. “We’ve come to a point where my business is in trouble and if things don’t turn around fast I’m gonna be left with no choice but to close our Brookville location.

NOW OPEN

Insomnia Cookies is open near Wright State in Fairborn

Credit: Natalie Jones

Credit: Natalie Jones

Insomnia Cookies, known for serving warm cookies all day and late into the night, has opened a second location in the Dayton region near Wright State University.

The bakery is located at 3800 Colonel Glenn Highway Suite 700 in Fairborn — in between Great Clips and Hot Head Burritos.

Insomnia Cookies offers a variety of classic and deluxe cookies with flavors such as chocolate chunk, snickerdoodle, peanut butter chip, s’mores, chocolate peanut butter cup and salted caramel. Customers can also order brownies and ice cream or make their cookies into a “cookie’wich.”

The bakery has gluten-free and vegan options.

4 food vendors officially open at The Silos in Dayton

Credit: Natalie Jones

Credit: Natalie Jones

The Silos, a new food hall and beer garden near 2nd Street Market in downtown Dayton has had its official grand opening and is welcoming patrons now.

“I think we really lucked out with all of our vendors,” said Shannon Thomas, who owns The Silos with Wes Hartshorn. “They all bring something unique to the table and all their food is top notch.”

Here’s a look at the four food vendors:

Chef Phillip Morgan opens restaurant in Wright-Dunbar District

Credit: Natalie Jones

Credit: Natalie Jones

Chef Phillip Morgan, the owner of Morgan’s Catering, has opened a restaurant in the Wright-Dunbar District after operating in a food trailer since 2021.

Morgan’s is located at 1101 W. Third Street in the former location of Texas Beef and Cattle Company, across the street from W. Social Tap & Table.

The restaurant features American fusion cuisine including anything from chicken wings and beef, chicken or salmon Philly’s to Cajun shrimp and sausage alfredo, bourbon glazed salmon and much more.

“I like to do a lot of creole style food,” Morgan said. “I really love Asian-style food, so I do a little bit of everything.”

Customer favorites include salads served with made-from-scratch dressings such as pesto ranch, a soul food turkey leg featuring a braised turkey leg with collard greens, macaroni and cheese, smoked turkey gravy and sweet potato cornbread, gumbo and tacos.

‘Get the Pho Out’ opens in Kettering

Credit: Natalie Jones

Credit: Natalie Jones

Get The Pho Out is open at 10 W. Stroop Road in the former space of W.g. Grinders in the Castle Hills Shopping Center across from Town & Country offering a mix of Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese cuisine.

“I always worked as an employee in the restaurant, but this time I’m stepping up to the owner,” Pratya Kaewkheaw previously said. “I hope the customers will like my food and my restaurant.”

Customers can expect a variety of pho such as chicken, beef, meatballs, or shrimp with their choice of rice, vermicelli or glass noodles.

The menu also features banh mi, a Vietnamese sandwich served on a croissant with a special sauce made by Kaewkheaw’s mom.

Jet’s Pizza opens in Miamisburg

Credit: Submitted Photo

Credit: Submitted Photo

Jet’s Pizza celebrated the grand opening of its newest location in the Dayton region on Jan. 14 with free pizza.

“It’s very exciting for us to grow our footprint and continue to introduce Jet’s Pizza to the area,” said Jake Kogelman, part owner and operator of Jet’s Pizza in Miamisburg. “We are best known for our Detroit-Style Pizza and making the dough fresh in house every single morning. We’re looking forward to welcoming customers in for our grand opening event to give us a try.”

The Miamisburg store, located at 216 Springboro Pike, officially opened its doors in Dec. 2024.

‘Gem Cakes’ by Bae’s Bakery available at The Yellow Cab Tavern in Dayton

Credit: Natalie Jones

Credit: Natalie Jones

27-year-old Alisha Bergsten has always had a love for baking. Her grandmother, Beatrice, taught her how to bake cakes at an early age and during her teens she baked for family and friends.

Bergsten is now the owner of Bae’s Bakery, who currently operates at The Yellow Cab Tavern.

“I’m super blessed that when I moved to Dayton, Brian Johnson and James Burton (owners of the Pizza Bandit) took me under their wing,” Bergsten said. “I love their dream and it’s nice that they are able to reciprocate that.”

When The Pizza Bandit started offering brunch on Saturdays and Sundays in September 2024, Bergsten began making biscuits and cinnamon rolls for them. Since then, she has started offering chocolate chip cookies and a unique item called, “Gem Cakes.”

Troni Brothers opens new Troy

Troni Brothers Bella Bistro has opened at 2311 W. Main St. in the former location of Rapid Fired Pizza.

This is the third Troni Brothers restaurant location in the Dayton region. Other restaurants include 417 W. Second St. in Xenia and 4654 Wilmington Pike in Kettering.

“What my goal has always been is to hire the right people that have that entrepreneurial spirit in them that want to eventually have some type of ownership,” owner Dave Keen previously said. “That’s the ultimate goal to create future ownership for future people that are invested into it.”

The Troy restaurant will be led by one of Keen’s chefs in Xenia. The goal is for him to work himself into some type of ownership role, Keen said.

COMING SOON

Growing apples for a decade has local farmer ready to launch ciderworks

Credit: Natalie Jones

Credit: Natalie Jones

Stephen Martinek, of Sugarcreek Twp., planted six apple trees on his farm in 2015. After nearly 10 years of learning and growing, he’s hosting his first public cider pour at Joui Wine in downtown Dayton on Feb. 16.

He plans to pour a 2023 Harrison vintage, which was awarded a silver medal in the 2024 Great Lakes International, in addition to a sparkling and still Gold Rush vintage.

Martinek hopes to have licensing and zoning done in September, so he can begin selling cider to restaurants and shops throughout the Dayton region under Lammes Creek Cider.

If successful, the next step would be to open a commercial ciderworks with a tasting room in late spring 2027.

New juice, smoothie bar to open in Fairborn near Kroger

Credit: Marshall Gorby

Credit: Marshall Gorby

A new juice and smoothie bar is expected to open this spring in Fairborn.

Pulp Juice and Smoothie Bar will be located at 2012 Commerce Center Blvd. next to Chipotle in The Shoppes at Valle Greene II near Kroger.

“Phil and myself wanted to provide a healthy option that allowed our customers a quick grab and go service. With the smoothie industry growing annually, and a push for a healthy America, we thought this would be a great industry to join,” said Danny Henry, who is a franchisee with his father-in-law, Phil Thomas.

Customers can expect more than 40 customizable smoothies, freshly squeezed juices, wheat grass shots, ginger shots, blended bowls, wraps, salads and more in the 1,172-square-foot space.

New speakeasy to open in West Carrollton on Valentine’s Day

Credit: Facebook Photo

Credit: Facebook Photo

Whisperz Speakeasy, a prohibition-era style cocktail lounge, is opening its doors Feb. 14 in West Carrollton.

The lounge is located at 926 Watertower Lane near Miami Valley Sports Bar. Guests must be 25 and up to enter.

Reach back in time to the Roaring Twenties with “stunning chandeliers, stylish credenzas, and sophisticated furnishings sourced globally and all thoughtfully curated to embody the essence of the speakeasy period,” a press release from the lounge said.

The lounge will feature handcrafted cocktails and small plates in a cozy space perfect for catch-ups or intimate gatherings. A password is required for entry and will be available on the speakeasy’s website.

Region’s first revolving sushi bar coming soon to Beavercreek

Credit: Natalie Jones

Credit: Natalie Jones

After opening a second location in Cincinnati, Kawa Revolving Sushi is headed to the Dayton region.

The restaurant will be located in the former location of Jason’s Deli at 2819 Centre Drive in Beavercreek. It joins Giordano’s Pizza and Le Reve Massage in the strip center at the corner of North Fairfield Road and Crossing Boulevard.

Kawa Revolving Sushi announced the new location via Instagram in August 2024. The 4,800-square-foot restaurant is expected to open this spring.

If you’ve never been to a Kawa Revolving Sushi restaurant, a conveyor belt carrying plates of sushi rotates around the restaurant.

How Carillon Brewing Co. is changing - and the company with which it is collaborating

Credit: Natalie Jones

Credit: Natalie Jones

Carillon Brewing Co. is teaming up with Dayton Barbecue Company for the rebirth of its food program with local chef Ashley Ashbrook at the reins.

“So much of Carillon Park is celebrating entrepreneurs,” said Brady Kress, president and CEO of Dayton History. “Here’s an opportunity for us to not only carry on this trade tradition and educate the community about these early processes, but we can invest, support, help and partner with local entrepreneurs.”

Customers can expect some of their favorite dishes from Dayton Barbecue Company such as meat platters with pulled pork and brisket, smoked fried wings, salads and the “Smoked Stack,” a double patty burger with brisket, pulled pork, house made pickles and red onions.

“We’re taking what our community knows and loves about Dayton Barbecue and elevating that to a new standard,” owner Eric Evans said.

Pizza Dive to open second Beavercreek location

Credit: Natalie Jones

Credit: Natalie Jones

After taking over ownership of the Beavercreek Pizza Dive in May 2022, owners Amy and Michael Jones are ready to expand.

The restaurant, now dubbed the Pizza Dive, is opening a second location this summer next door to Rusty Taco at 2760B Towne Drive in Beavercreek.

“We’ve been super excited to always look at the possibility of expanding and we love Beavercreek so much,” Amy Jones said. “There’s been a demand.”

The pizza shop has been in need of a bigger dining room and kitchen — especially on Wednesday Buffet Nights where adults can eat as many slices of pizza as they would like for $12 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Kids (ages 2 to 10) cost $6.

Barry Bagels to open second location in Dayton region

Credit: Facebook Photo

Credit: Facebook Photo

Barry Bagels is opening a second location in the Dayton region this summer on Wilmington Pike in Sugarcreek Twp.

Jen Fester and her business partner, Cody Klueter, have recently signed a lease for the 2,950-square-foot space at 6228 Wilmington Pike in the Sugarcreek Plaza II shopping center that’s anchored by Walmart.

“We have been strategically considering the right location and the right time for our second store and are excited about this new location,” Fester said. “This space will expand our customer base and also serve as our local commissary.”

Barry Bagels opened its first location in the Dayton region in 2017 at 4313 Far Hills Ave. in Kettering. Initial expansion plans were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

New hibachi express restaurant coming to Kettering

Credit: Natalie Jones

Credit: Natalie Jones

Zen Grill is coming soon to 2821 Wilmington Pike in the former space of Ice Ice Smoothie, between Jersey Mike’s Subs and Wingstop in Kettering.

Hannah Huang, who owns the restaurant with her husband, Bob, said customers can expect the same type of food you would typically get at a hibachi restaurant — just without the show.

“Our express hibachi menu is thoughtfully crafted to highlight fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and the timeless art of Japanese cooking,” Huang said. “Every meal is a balance of simplicity and taste — grilled protein, crisp vegetables, and fragrant rice, elevated with our signature sauces. It’s everything you love, with nothing you don’t.

All food will be cooked to order with customers choosing the base, meat, vegetables and sauces for their bowls. Every bowl starts with either steamed rice, fried rice or noodles topped with customer’s choice of chicken, steak, shrimp, salmon or tofu. Vegetables include carrots, onions, broccoli, zucchini and bean sprouts.

Bella Sorella Pizza to open restaurant in Clayton

Credit: Facebook Photo

Credit: Facebook Photo

The owners of Bella Sorella Pizza are planning a late summer/early fall opening for their new restaurant, to be located just east of the Esther Price store in Clayton.

“There’s not a lot of places to eat on this side of town. There’s plenty of people, but there isn’t a whole lot of choices,” said Elizabeth Corrado Weizman, who owns the catering company with her sister, Gail Corrado Okafor.

Bella Sorella, the first wood-fired pizza food truck in the Dayton region, was started in 2013 at a time when no one in the area had heard of food trucks.

Over the years, Bella Sorella has evolved from a food truck to a catering company. The sisters are planning to scale back on public events this year as they focus on private events and the restaurant.

EXPANDING

Cincinnati cookie company expands to Dayton with restaurant partnership

Credit: Submitted Photo

Credit: Submitted Photo

Cookies from Davis Cookie Collection in Cincinnati will soon be available at Mz. Jade’s Soul Food inside W. Social Tap & Table.

“It’s just a way for us to collaborate together,” said Christina Davis, who owns the cookie company with her husband, Miles. “It’s the biggest blessing ever for her to even want to invite our product in her business. I’m so grateful for the opportunity.”

The restaurant is expected to offer the following cookies:

A launch date is still to be announced.

Koji Burger adds another day of lunch service in downtown Dayton

Credit: Submitted Photo

Credit: Submitted Photo

Koji Burger returned to downtown Dayton’s Fire Block’s District with three days of lunch service.

“At Koji Burger, we’re all about delivering an elevated burger experience and to keep up with the demand, we’re making some exciting changes starting this week,” Chef Zackary Weiner said in a social media video posted on Jan. 14. “We’re going to open up on Thursdays, and we’re going to be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch service.”

Koji Burger is the brainchild of Chef Brendon Miller, who owns Jollity with Weiner. The concept was tested and developed during the 2022 Miami Valley Restaurant Association Winter Restaurant Week and has been a hit ever since.

Dana’s Soul Food finds new home inside Club Evolution in Dayton

Credit: Natalie Jones

Credit: Natalie Jones

When Dana Myrick was 9-years old, her father owned Kings & Evans on Third Street in the Wright-Dunbar District. That’s where she learned her love of cooking and serving people food.

“As a child, I was in there with him all the time,” Myrick said. “Every day after school we would come down there and I would just watch him and my mom cook and take care of the people.”

Dana’s Soul Food offers anything from chicken wings, burgers and sandwiches to smothered pork chops, ribs and fish. Customer favorites include oxtail, baked chicken and dressing and soul rolls.

She opened inside Club Evolution, located at 130 N. Patterson Blvd. in Dayton, in early January.