Who are you?
Grandma’s Gardens & Landscape, a family-owned company founded in 1979 by Doug and Paulette Rhinehart who still own and operate the business.
What do you do?
Grandma’s is a retail garden center and gift shop open four seasons. We offer landscape design and installation or all the advice needed for do-it-yourself projects. In our 14-acre wooded, landscaped, park-like setting, we feature the finest trees, shrubs, blooming and edible plants, garden art, pottery and fountains. In the 1880s Victorian farmhouse that serves as our cozy gift shop, we offer unique home décor, custom wreaths & arrangements, candles & home fragrances, fashions, jewelry, garden wear, specialty foods and the largest local collection of miniature gardening plants & accessories.
Throughout the year, Grandma’s experts offer educational and how-to classes for adults and fairy garden parties for kids of all ages. Our holiday craft workshops and ladies nights fill up quickly. We’re proud to raise funds for Honor Flight, Trees for Troops, Hannah’s Treasure Chest, and just partnered with the Humane Society of Greater Dayton on our first dog adoption event.
What makes your business special?
It’s beautiful here, especially when Spring is in bloom! Our unmatched setting, selection and service make a trip to Grandma’s a fun outing for the whole family. The size of the garden center and the number of staff members have multiplied many times over. But Grandma’s Gardens has been growing with generations of local families at the same country setting on Route 48 south of Centerville since the beginning.
We are celebrating our 40th anniversary this year. The combined experience of key staff members totals hundreds of years, with most department managers proud to average over 20 years in our always growing business. It’s a good thing we all started so young! The Rhineharts were in their mid-20s when they opened their little landscaping business with a few tables of annuals in the perfect location between Dayton and Cincinnati. But not everyone sets such deep roots. Working at Grandma’s Gardens has been the perfect first job for local teens. Now operating businesses or raising families of their own, many have shared fond memories of the experience they gained as a loader or cashier at Grandma’s.
The little train that carries happy passengers around the Fishin’ Hole to the Pumpkin Patch every October weekend has to be one of our most unique and memorable attractions. Doug and his dad Jim have always been train buffs and, over 20 years ago, added the track on which Dewey the Diesel clicks along.
We also have some friendly furry seasonal guests that visitors love to pet and feed. A couple of Pygmy goat nannies and their kids are chosen by a local farmer to spend their summer in Grandma’s goat pen where they get all kinds of attention. The new babies usually arrive by late April.
What do you love about Dayton?
The warm and friendly nature of local residents, many of whom have settled here from other areas of the country to raise families. We love hearing their stories and becoming one of their favorite destinations. Dayton offers culture and convenience — big city benefits without all the traffic!
Who are you?
MVP Dance Fit offers a wide variety of fitness classes for all fitness levels. If you are looking for a FUN, friendly, no judgement zone to get in shape, this is definitely the place for you!
What do you do?
We offer a wide variety of Group Fitness classes for all fitness levels. We have cardio classes, strength training classes, and lean sculpting classes to help you reach your goals no matter
where you are in your fitness journey.
What makes your business special?
We are FOR everyone and ACCEPT everyone. We truly area no judgement facility and when you walk in our doors you will be greeted with a smile and by name. We are a family at MVP Dance Fit and we offer the most unique fitness classes in the area. You are sure to find new friends and your perfect fit here. We love the unique culture of Dayton and the wide variety of people who live here. Everyone has a different story but together we can all co exist and support one another on our journeys, no matter what they are. We are small enough to
know people in surrounding areas, but large enough to make our mark and blaze trails.
Who are you?
I’m Rose Lounsbury, a minimalism and simplicity coach, 2018 TEDx Dayton speaker, and author of the Amazon bestselling Less: Minimalism for Real. After blogging about my personal journey toward a minimalist lifestyle, I was inspired help others simplify their lives by owning less stuff. I spend my days writing, coaching my clients to stuff-free freedom, and soaking up the moments with my husband and wild triplets in lovely Oakwood, Ohio. I’m a regular guest on Fox News Good Day Columbus and has also been featured on NPR, Good Morning Cincinnati, and Living Dayton. Come say hello to me on online at RoseLounsbury.com.
What do you do?
I help people declutter their spaces and schedules so they can enjoy more peace of mind, productivity, and room to breathe. I can work side-by-side or virtually with clients to help them cut through the chaos and create order in their homes and offices. I also offer online courses that teach my tried-and-true decluttering methods to anyone with an Internet connection. And I love talking about minimalism, so I offer a variety of speaking topics about minimalism and simplicity for businesses and organizations.
What makes your business special?
My business was born out of a very personal need — to balance my work and family life better. I started my minimalism blog in 2012 when my triplets were 2 years old and I had recently returned to work full-time. I realized that, in order to create some semblance of work/life balance, I had to get a handle on all the excess “stuff” that was absorbing my time. As I started to shed my excess things, I began to experience a sense of freedom and peace of mind that I didn’t know existed. As a result, I wanted to share this with others; thus, a small business was born!
What do you love about Dayton?
Oh man, so much! I love our history of innovation and creativity. Every time I hear the Wright brothers mentioned in books or media, I’m proud to live in walking distance of their Oakwood home. I love that Dayton is a friendly place to live, a place where neighbors truly reach out to help each other. I love the focus on education with two large universities and a thriving community college in our midst. And I love Dayton’s downtown arts scene, with a beautiful museum, philharmonic orchestra, ballet company, and several theater groups.
This local women-owned business opened in 2018. Willow Rust produces amazing pieces of custom furniture, as well as beautiful decor pieces. Willow Rust believes that people deserve to have beautiful furniture without breaking the bank so they handcraft pieces at affordable prices. Check out their store in Miamisuburg store!
Who are you? HBYOB- “Home Brew Your Own Beer”
What do you do? HBYOB is a local home brewing supply store. We sell ingredient and equipment to make beer, mead, and wine. We also sell kegging supplies and fill Co2 tanks.
What makes your business special? The business is founded on a love for beer and wine making. Joeys passion for the hobby has lead him to many hours of research and experimentation helping him gain a vast knowledge of the beer making process. Joeys 10 years of brewing experience and knowledge is definitely what makes this business great!
What do you love about Dayton? Joey was born and raised in the Dayton area. We chose to open our store here because of the diversity Dayton has to offer. The area is full of things to do, places to see and interesting people to meet. The camaraderie of craft beer industry in the Dayton area is astonishing. Everyone in the industry is always eager to help their fellow Daytonian’s. Whether it’s assisting at a tasting, doing a fund raiser for a charity, or just conversing about life, they are always willing to lend a hand or an ear.
What do you do? We are a “Bistro” type of restaurant specializing in California type cuisine (Flaky bakes, Quesadillas, burrito wraps, subs and salads, etc…)
What makes your business great? We are great because we serve up unique and GREAT food! And besides, we are are privately owned, and an icon here in Centerville.
What do you like most about Dayton? #1 The seasons here are great with mostly a mild climate. #2 Don’t have to worry about alligators, fire ants, scorpions, rattle snakes, sharks or killer bees. #3 I’ve lived here all my life!
Who are you?
Monarch Market, Shoppes to Inspire
What do you do?
Monarch Market, Shoppes to Inspire, is a boutique marketplace that inspires your lifestyle. We carry everything from boutique fashion, up-cycled and re-purposed home decor, handcrafted jewelry, artisan soaps and skin care, unique gifts and accessories, plus the ability to customize countless items. This is the most unique shopping experience in our area, located right inside the Dayton Mall. Shop with us Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10am-7pm and Sundays 12pm-6pm.
What makes your business great?
Over 80 merchants in one location — it’s unique, it’s fun, and there is truly something for every occasion and every budget.
What do you love about Dayton?
Like our shop full of shoppes, Dayton offers a little something for everyone. We love the variety of historical site and museums, restaurants for every palette, countless outdoor and family activities, and, closest to our heart, the incredible support of our military families (like us).
Who are you?
Centerville Florists & David Curtis School of Floral Design.
What do you do?
Full Service Florist and State certified school of floral design.
What makes your business great? Amazing floral creations, top quality flowers, fun “design with wine” classes, licensed floral design school. Locally owned and operated in the heart of Centerville for 47 years.
What do you like most about Dayton?
The community relationship we have with all of our customers.
WHO ARE YOU? Sweeney’s Seafood Bar & Grill (SSB&G), located in the heart of Centerville, offers the best and freshest fish and seafood in the Greater Dayton and Miami Valley area. We are open for dinner nightly starting at 4 PM.
WHAT DO YOU DO? Daily we are proud to offer fresh, sustainable fish and seafood, expertly prepared entrée meats, chicken and pasta dishes, delicious appetizers, soups, salads and sides along with amazing house-made desserts. We have 12 rotating craft beers on tap along with a full bar, including world-class bourbon, scotch and whiskey options.
We offer a unique combination of amenities to our guests: a great menu with freshest ingredients prepared as requested; exceptional service; reservations accepted for parties of all sizes; competitive pricing; and a country club environment in a comfortable atmosphere – we only answer to our guests, not to stockholders. We continue to receive accolades and awards, most notably being recognized as Best Fresh Catch and Best Chef (Michael Kruse) by the Dayton Magazine for the past several years. We not only embrace the ‘farm to table’ concept, but extend that to ‘sea, lake and river to table’.
WHAT MAKES YOUR BUSINESS GREAT? SSB&G has that special ocean-side ambiance and this sense is reflected in our menu. There are daily and seasonal specials which feature fresh fish and seafood, traditional seafood favorites as well as many specialty pastas and salads, chicken, steaks and Creola, Cajun, Italian, Latin and Asian-inspired dishes. The four, hundred-and-fifty gallon saltwater aquariums, overhead sails and special children’s menu give Sweeney’s a family-friendly atmosphere. Reservations are accepted for parties of any size and take-out orders are welcome. We offer space for private parties and meetings for groups up to 45.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT DAYTON? The people, particularly their enthusiasm and willingness to try Chef Michael’s latest creations. We have regular guests who drive 5 minutes while others drive over 90 minutes to dine with us because they enjoy the options and friendly atmosphere SSB&G offers. We’re grateful that in today’s fast-paced world, having an opportunity to enjoy a leisurely dining experience is still appreciated. Our guests take to heart our motto ‘Sweeney’s Seafood Bar & Grill Where You Can Have It Your Way’ and we’re thrilled they do.
WHO ARE YOU? Fifth Street Brewpub
WHAT DO YOU DO? Ohio’s first cooperatively owned brewpub, located in Historic St. Anne’s Hill. We take pride in crafting a range of beers and scratch food with care—all served in a comfortable setting that fosters conversation and connection with the community.
WHAT MAKES YOUR BUSINESS GREAT? Our co-op is owned by our members and open to the public. All are welcome to pull up a chair, drink a pint, and feel at home here. We value the community we are in and are committed to supporting it through regular charitable events and contributions.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT DAYTON? We love the complex stories Daytonians bring through their ingenuity, pride, and compassion for each other.