Chef Aimee Saling

Springboro’s got a new dining option, since the  Soooo Good Gourmet Cafe has finally opened at 75 N. Main Street.   I’ve been driving by this place for over a year, wondering when it would open.  Owner Shawnette Hixon laughed when I asked her what took so long to get it open.  She and her husband signed the lease about 2 years ago and undertook some major construction to put in plumbing and hvac appropriate for a restaurant.

Their business, Clear Sky Enterprises, keeps them on the road as concessionaires for Nascar, PGA Tournaments, and many other sporting events, so in between travel they’d work on the construction.  Shawnette explains that her vision  “was for a place that looked hip and trendy that would be fun to hang out in with free wifi” and the cities permitting process took some time and fighting for approvals.  She also proudly shared that they took out no loans to open, but that the reality of expenses were about 3-4 times what her original budget where, so they had to go back on the road to earn more money to finish Sooo Good.  Some of the expenses were their high tech menu system, displayed from large computer screens posted over the line, so the menu be changed often.  You’ll never go to place your order, because the inventory will be tied to the register system and when an item is out, it will be automatically removed from the menu screen.

Sooo Good is excited about being supportive of the community where the Hixon’s live and will allow guests to register and designate 2% of their sales to be donated to their favorite local nonprofit organization like the Springboro band or  the field hockey team. Jars of free fresh fruit flavored waters sit on the counter, with a donation bucket that will help support  an orphanage in Africa, founded by a Springboro family.  They encourage their guests to make the eatery a place they feel a part of and guests are encouraged to post their favorite quote on the giant dry erase board on the wall and the very best will be painted onto the walls.

Sooo Good will open up as early as 6am Monday through Saturday and 8am on Sunday’s.  Breakfast will include bagels, fresh fruit, crepes and breakfast sandwiches. The Captain Crunch French Toast looked especially tasty today.  You’ll also be able to grab coffee, latte’s and cappuccino’s all day, for just $3-4.

Chef Aimee Saling, who grew up in Middletown, shared she’s so excited to be on board.  She said she was practically stalking the owners, because she just knew this was the place she was meant to be.   She met Shawnette and their philosophy of business and philanthropy just clicked.   Having previously volunteered as a Chef at One Bistro in Miamisburg with a side  business (Mcakes)  that’s produced over 9000 cupcakes since last March, she donated 10% of her sales to No Child Left Behind.

Asked to describer her cooking style Chef Aimee says she’s “basically classic with a twist.  My mom calls it taking normal to fancy.  I like to add that one special ingredient that makes a meal memorable.”  When asked to suggest what she thinks will be some of her bestsellers at the new place she quickly pointed out that she makes “Killer Mac ‘n Cheese” and her turkey florentine crepe, reuben and bananas foster went well at the friends and family night. Salads and sandwiches are also on the menu and seemed very reasonably priced with most between $5-$8.

Painted on the wall above the yogurt machines were instructions that invited you to ” Grab a cup, fil it up, weigh it and pay it for 49 cents per ounce.”  I got to sample some red velvet yogurt, and other flavors offered included NY cheesecake, original tart and vanilla.  Chef shared with me that the flavors will constantly be changing and they’ve got some really cool flavors on tap.  Because its self serve it’s easy to just have a little bit, but the fresh fruit toppings will make it easy to dress it up.  I can see this being a big hit when in the spring and summer when the patio will be open.  A great after dinner destination, the restaurant is still trying to determine exactly how late it will stay open, but Ms. Hixon says they even have some live music plans.  Also still to come will be a grab and go case of meals and catering and delivery are also in the future plans.