Rum Runners | Dayton937

Dear friends,

Please support local small businesses. Times are tough and we could all use your help! Restaurant sales have been down across the board and small restaurants feel it more than the big chains. We want to ask that you support these local small locally owned restaurant and small businesses that you enjoy.

Personally, Rum Runners Cafe—our small, family-run labor of love—is struggling to stay afloat.

We’ve poured our hearts into every plate, every smile, and every moment spent serving this community, especially with our Dine to Donate events. Rum Runners has been more than a restaurant—it’s been a place where memories are made.

But times have been tough. Rising costs, fewer customers, and the weight of keeping our doors open, as well as family hospitalizations have taken a toll. We’re not ready to give up—but we can’t do it alone.

If you’ve ever enjoyed a meal with us, shared a laugh, or simply believe in supporting local businesses, we ask for your help, as well as for help for the other locally owned businesses in our area.

– Stop by for a meal, even just a coffee or dessert.

– Share this message with friends and neighbors.

– Leave a review online to help others discover us.

– If you’re able, consider purchasing a gift card for future visits.

Every gesture, no matter how small, makes a difference. We’re not just fighting

for a business—we’re fighting for a dream, a legacy, and the place we hope you’ll always feel at home.

With gratitude and hope,

Jamie & the Rum Runners Cafe Family

2318 E Dorothy Lane Kettering OH 45420

937-723-6833 Mon-Sat 1030am-9pm

Order online @ Rumrunnerscafe.com

Rum Runners Cafe is now doing a soft opening- for online orders with a LIMITED menu. Carry out is available or you can order through Doordash! The available menu offers burgers, chicken sandwiches and loaded baked potatoes. When the restaurant opens they’ll add pastas, salads and salmon dishes. View the available menu here, items will be added throughout the month as they feel their kitchen can handle it.

Located in the former Christopher’s space on E Dorothy Lane, the owners signed a 5 year lease this past December and have done a lot of remodeling themselves in the 3,500 square foot restaurant.

Inspiration photo – their booths are being built now

It will have seating for 75 guests, with a decor that’s described as prohibition-era art deco, with black and gold colors and geometric patterns reminiscent of the glam associated with the Jazz Age. There is a separate bar area that will have eight taps for draft beer and the cocktail program will feature rum based drinks, as well as gin, since it was a popular spirit in the 1920s. Furthering the 1920s theme will be some of the menu items, which will be named after gangsters, flappers, Irish mafia members and female rum runners of the period.

Burgers on the menu

While the restaurant has rum in its name, guests won’t be able to order a cocktail with their meal, at least not at first. The eatery plans to get its alcohol licensing in the fall, at which time it will serve alcohol in addition to food.

Owner Jamie Campbell said it’s been she and her partners dream to open a restaurant for about a decade and they’re excited to make it a reality. They share a love of rum and have a rum-based BBQ sauce line that is currently sold locally at Dorothy Lane Market and Dots Market. The sauce offerings include honey rum, sweet rum and spicy rum as well as a forthcoming rum and Coke sauce as well as a glaze in the same flavor. All the sauces will be available to add as side for any order as well as a sauce option for the restaurant’s chicken wings.