Newsletter: In December, the Dayton region saw 12 restaurants close, 4 open🍴

The views were AMAZING and the town reminded me of a Hallmark movie.

My favorite part (besides snowboarding) was the food. If you’ve been keeping up with my newsletter from the beginning, you probably already know that I absolutely love crepes. When I was in college at Wright State, I was friends with a student from Germany that made crepes from scratch using his mom’s special recipe. In Breckenridge, there was a crepe place that had sweet and savory crepes available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The place even had gluten-free crepe batter! My favorite was a sweet crepe with Nutella and strawberries.

A special thank you to everyone that stopped by Holly Days at the Dayton Arcade to say hi to our team at the Dayton Daily News table. It was so nice meeting all of you!

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In December, the Dayton region saw 12 restaurants close, 4 open

Credit: Facebook Photo

Credit: Facebook Photo

As Red Star prepares to close its doors tomorrow in downtown Dayton, we take a look at other establishments that have closed, opened or are coming soon to the region in our December Restaurant Roundup.

In addition to Red Star, 11 other establishments announced closures.

Credit: Submitted Photo

Credit: Submitted Photo

Taste of Belgium closed its restaurant at Austin Landing on Sunday, after being open less than six months.

“Closing our Austin Landing location was an incredibly difficult decision, but one we needed to make to ensure the survival of our business as a whole,” said Taste of Belgium founder Jean-Francois Flechet in a statement. “While we originally chose this site for its promise as a vibrant community hub, shifting dynamics have made it challenging to meet our goals. Despite our efforts, we were unable to generate the momentum needed to thrive in this location.”

Taste of Belgium will continue to serve customers at its Beavercreek bistro, Flechet said.

Another round of Frisch’s closures have happened this month. Restaurant locations no longer listed on the company’s website include:

Restaurants that remain open in the Dayton region include:

Credit: Tom Gilliam

Credit: Tom Gilliam

Moeller Brew Barn’s last day of operation in downtown Dayton was Sunday. The brewery announced the closure via social media — three months after closing its Troy location.

The decision to close was “primarily a consequence of external challenges,” the Dec. 6 post said.

The downtown Dayton brewery, located across the street from right field at Day Air Ballpark, opened Aug. 2022. When I talked with owner Nick Moeller in September, he said the brewery had a good summer with the Dayton Dragons in town and hoped the momentum would continue in the fall and winter months.

Pins Mechanical Co., known for its blend of old-school entertainment, handcrafted cocktails and social atmosphere, is coming spring 2025 to the brewery’s former space.

READ MORE: In December, the Dayton region saw 12 restaurants close, 6 coming soon and 4 open

Local baker selling Argentinian cookies

Credit: Alex Cutler

Credit: Alex Cutler

Maria’s at the Market, a locally sourced food store at The Greene Town Center, is selling products from Sweet Ciro, an Argentinian bakery with a cause.

Owned by Beavercreek resident Natalia Zarate, Sweet Ciro specializes in selling alfajores, a traditional South American treat typically consisting of two cookies held together by dulce de leche.

According to the bakery’s website, Zarate and her husband, former professional soccer player Juan Manuel Lovato, were born in Argentina. The couple then moved to Guatemala where Zarate opened her own restaurant called El Diez. Soon after, the couple welcomed their first child, Ciro.

At 10 months old, Ciro was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder known as Canavan disease. The couple moved to the Dayton region so their son could take part in a new trial at Dayton Children’s Hospital and remain close to his medical team.

Zarate returned to her passion of cooking early this year by starting Sweet Ciro.

“Our alfajores are a unique blend of our Argentine roots, culinary expertise and the strength we have discovered in the face of this adversity,” Zarate said. “These treats are more than cultural delicacies. They represent our family’s unwavering spirit and love for each other.”

Quick Bites

🐥 Chicken Salad Chick opens in Centerville: The restaurant, offering more than a dozen flavors of chicken salad, is located at 5264 Cornerstone North Blvd.

🍕 LaRosa’s opens new pizzeria in Middletown: The restaurant features the pizza chain’s Drive-up Pick-up window.

🍚 Wasabi Japanese Cuisine coming soon to Springboro: The co-owner of the property at 784 N. Main St., the site of a former China Cottage location, said the restaurant could open in about four months.

🌮 El Toro submits plans for new ‘Express” location in Kettering: The plans would transform 3910 Far Hills — a former OinkADoodleMoo barbecue restaurant, as well as a former home for Chipotle and (much earlier) the Kettering Village Inn — into an El Toro Express. READ MORE

New Year’s Eve things to do in Dayton and the region

Credit: Getty Images

Credit: Getty Images

It’s not too early to start planning your New Year’s Eve celebration.

Mudlick Tap House will host a Boozy Brunch on Dec. 31 featuring Bloody Marys and Mimosas. Later in the evening, the bar will host a “low-key evening of sensational food with our specially crafted New Year’s Eve Features.”

Other restaurants hosting New Year’s Eve celebrations include Cosmo Joe’s Atomic Lounge, Dublin Pub, The Foundry, The Local 937, NextDoor, Oregon Express, 201 Tavern and Wings Sports Bar and Grille.

For more information, click here.

Tell Us

Thank you so much for reading my weekly newsletter! If you see a new restaurant opening or are wondering when an establishment is expected to open, feel free to email me here, and I’ll check it out.

Remember to follow Dayton Daily News on Facebook or search our Food & Dining section for the latest stories. I’ll have continuous updates on my Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok pages.

P.S. The food & dining newsletter expected to come out on New Year’s Day has been moved to the following day.