Owner Tasha Walton said the new restaurant will offer “comfort food with a twist” including burgers, hot dogs, barbecue pulled pork, pulled chicken baskets, a tender basket, peanut butter-and-jelly fried wings, soups, salads and an ice cream bar offering desserts like “boba” or bubble teas, shaved ice and “Crazy Shakes.”
The full-service, family-friendly casual dining restaurant will offer online ordering and eventually introduce delivery. A recently installed order window facing the patio will be available for pickup orders and outdoor ordering and seating in the spring and summer.
Walton said the business is located inside “a super-cool and unique building.”
“When it was originally built, it was a bank, so there’s a walk-in vault that couples can request to eat in for a romantic dinner,” she said. “We’ll rent out the place on Sundays for small private parties and receptions.”
An upstairs area will be available for rental from Monday through Saturday. Live music will be offered on stage from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays.
Walton said she’s been around the business world her entire life.
“My dad owned a car lot when I was growing up and my great-grandpa, Woody Bowman, practically owned all of West Carrollton businesses at one time. I grew up in Woody’s Market, mostly working in the bakery.”
Walton has worked as a nail technician for 20 years, owning a nail salon for nine of them. In 2018, right before Miamisburg’s bicentennial, she opened Ohana Shaved Ice, a small, seasonal, outdoor-only business .
“Our customers were requesting indoor, year-round food — burgers, nachos and pretzels, specifically — so we began our search during a national pandemic,” she said. “Most people say it’s nuts to open at this time, but I took it as a great opportunity and ran with it.”
Walton said she knew she wanted to stay close to Ohana Shaved Ice’s former location so its regulars will still be able to frequent Dreamy Cafe. She also wanted to stay near to all of Miamisburg’s events and attractions.
“What can I say, my heart is in the ‘Burg,” she said. “I found this location a few short weeks after looking, set a time to see it and fell in love with it. The former owners did such an amazing job at decorating, we chose to keep the original look.”
She said received much help from friends and family, as well as a small grant awarded this week from the recently established Louise Epperson Restaurant Rescue Fund.
“Honestly, it was a God thing. Everything lined up perfectly,” Walton said.
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