Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

Dayton Entrepreneurs

Luminaries of Dayton: Harold K. Omer

By

L to R: Harold Omer, Ray Danner and Lee Cummings. Danner was the owner of Shoney’s, which at the time owned the Famous Recipe franchise.

The founding of Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken.

Lee Cummings, the nephew of Colonel Harland Sanders, spent his childhood in the kitchen of his Henryville, Indiana home. Lee hit the road with his Uncle Harland in 1952, selling their own special blend of spices along with their famous pressure cookers, which later became part of KFC’s “secret Recipe”. In three years, Lee and the Colonel opened over 800 KFC stores. In 1962, the Colonel sold KFC to John Y. Brown.

After the sale of KFC, Lee Cummings started developing his recipe later to be known as “Famous Recipe.” In 1966, Lee along with Harold Omer started “Harold’s Take-Home” in Lima, Ohio where Lee first introduced Famous Recipe Chicken.

By 1967, Lee and Bob Burick in Springfield, Ohio opened the fifth franchise store. Later that year, stores followed in Dayton and Cincinnati as well as in Michigan.

In 1972, Famous Recipe had 100 stores and by 1979 the number had doubled to 200. In 1981, Lee Cummings sold the chain to Shoney’s Restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee and in 1995, it was sold to RTM Restaurant Group in Atlanta, Georgia.

Locally, there are two major franchisees in the Miami Valley that keep the tradition of Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken in the community.

Harold Omer was also a manager of aerospace engineering at Lima’s Westinghouse plant. Sometimes he would leave the office and go straight to his second job of frying chicken.

Harold K. Omer died in 1999. He is located in Section 100 of the Woodland Mausoleum.

Luminaries of Dayton: Frederick and Otto Euchenhofer

By 1 Comment

Frederick H. Euchenhofer was born in Switzerland about 1812 and came to American when twenty years old. For a few years he lived in one of the eastern states and then moved to Miamisburg in 1836. Frederick opened a bakery and confectionery store there, running a successful business until 1848, when he came to Dayton. He purchased the old Columbus House and ran it as a hotel until 1863.

In 1861, Frederick opened the Third Street Lager Beer Brewery on 1513 East Third Street. The brewery was made of brick, two stories high and had a cellar. In addition, there were three individual cellars, separate from the main building that were capable of storing 1,200 barrels. The brewery was bought by Miller and Ritzler in 1867, but Euchenhofer rebought the brewery five years later.

Frederick later changed the name of the brewery to Third Street Brewery about 1887. In 1888, over 3,500 barrels were being produced each year, most of them being consumed in the home. The annual trade for that year was in excess of $25,000.

Frederick was a charter member of, and a director in, the Teutonia Insurance Company of Dayton, which was one of the most successful financial institutions in the city. Fraternally, Frederick was an Odd Fellow and a member of the Harugari. The German Order of Harugari, sometimes called the Ancient Order of Harugari or by its German name, Der Deutsche Orden der Harugari, was a mutual benefit and cultural association of German Americans founded in New York City in 1847 that was at one time the largest German secret society in the United States. The objectives were mutual protection in a time of high German immigration and anti-German sentiment in the U.S., and preservation of German language and culture. The order forbade discussion of religion, politics, or social issues. The name Harugari comes from the old German word Haruc. It may be roughly translated as “The Teutonic spirit (or priest) of the oak tree.”

Frederick was a Lutheran and in politics a Republican. He was married twice. His only child from the first marriage, Albert, died in February, 1892. His second marriage was to Caroline Disher. They were married in Dayton and had ten children.

Frederick H. Euchenhofer died on February 3, 1891. Caroline died on November 22, 1938. They are located in Section 103 Lot 1619.

Otto Frederick Euchenhofer was born about 1857 in Dayton, Ohio. He belonged to the St. Luke’s German Lutheran Church. He was the father of four children.

Otto Euchenhofer took over the Third Street Brewery on 1513 East Third Street in 1892 and changed the name to Third Street Ale Brewery. Unfortunately, records show that the brewery slipped in business under Otto’s management. By 1895, the brewery’s yield was only 1,000 barrels, down from 4,000 in 1890. He sold the business to Henry B. Pruden and Peter J. Altherr in 1896.

Otto Frederick Euchenhofer died on May 20, 1912. He is located in Section 103 Lot 1619.

Luminaries of Dayton: Nathan M. Stanley

By

Dayton Daily News, March 18, 1942
Funeral For N. M. Stanley To Be Friday

Funeral services for Nathan Myer Stanley, 76, of 1719 Radcliff rd., founder of the Stanley Manufacturing Co., whose death occurred late Tuesday night, will be held at the Boyer mortuary, 609 Riverview av., at 10 a.m. Friday. Officiating at the services will be Dr. Phil Porter, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, and Dr. C. Lee Scott, minister of First Unitarian church. Friends may call at the mortuary after 4 p.m. Thursday.

Mr. Stanley had been ill for more than a year but his death was immediately due to a heart attack. At the time of his death he was chairman of the board of the Univis Lens Co. Mr. Stanley was active in the Dayton Philharmonic association, was a member of the First Unitarian church and of the Dayton Bicycle club and Dayton City club. He is survived by his wife, Minnie J. Stanley; two sons, George F. Stanley, president of the Stanley Manufacturing Co., and Myer Hewson Stanley, secretary-treasurer of the Univis Lens Co.; five granddaughters; one grandson and one sister, Mrs. Eve Weiner.

Born in Exeter, England, Mr. Stanley as a youth became connected with the optical business, which his family followed in Exeter. When he was 18 years old, Mr. Stanley went to Canada with a cousin, Barnet Laurence, who was a wholesale optician in Montreal. During his early years, Mr. Stanley traveled the United States as a representative of the Laurence Company. On a visit to Dayton, Mr. Stanley was convinced by John Breen, then proprietor of the railroad station restaurant, that Dayton had fine prospects as a city.

Shortly thereafter, Mr. Stanley opened up an optical department in the H. D. Carnell drug store at Third and Main streets. He followed this venture by opening up more optical stores and eventually becoming engaged in the wholesale optical business. Experimenting with glues in order to paste metal letters on glass doors, Mr. Stanley discovered processes that resulted in the establishment of the Stanley Manufacturing Co.

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley visited England during World War I and there Mr. Stanley learned of a new type of bifocal lens. He purchased the American rights for the lens. In 1926, he started the Univis Lens Co., located in one room in the Third National bank building. The Univis Lens Co. had a plant on the old McCook Field site. The company was recognized as one of the nation’s principle manufacturers of high-grade bifocal lenses. This company and the Stanley Manufacturing Co., both monuments to the creative energies of Mr. Stanley, at one time employed 600 workers.

Nathan M. Stanley died on March 17, 1942. He is located in Section 121 Lot 262.

Woodland Cemetery, founded in 1841, is one of the nation’s oldest rural garden cemeteries and a unique cultural, botanical and educational resource in the heart of Dayton, Ohio. Visit the cemetery and arboretum and take one of the many tours Woodland offers free of charge. Most of Dayton’s aviation heroes, inventors and business barons are buried at Woodland.

Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street near the University of Dayton Campus. The Woodland Office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm. The Cemetery and Arboretum are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The Mausoleum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information, call 937-228-3221 or visit the Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum website.

Cardboard Crowns Sets an Opening Date!

By

Cardboard Crowns LogoFor a few months now, the buzz around a new gaming cafe in Dayton has been building. Cardboard Crowns (147 N. Springboro Pike Dayton OH United States 45449) will be offering food, craft beer, and hundreds of games to be played. And we finally have an opening date! This grand new space near the Dayton Mall will be opening on November 6th for the public.

Before that, they will be doing a series of soft opening events for local charities as the space continues to come to life. Tickets for each of the events are $25 per person, with $20 going to the charity being supported. These events begin this Sunday, and will benefit:

In addition to the above events, from 10 AM on Saturday, November 4th to 10 AM on Sunday, November 5th Cardboard Crowns will be hosting the Extra Life Tabletop Marathon, with all proceeds from library fees benefitting Dayton Children’s Hospital. You can show your support for the Cardboard Crowns team here, or build your own team to compete for a great cause!

The space is coming along for Ben and his team, and they look forward to seeing many of their fellow Daytonians over the next week, learning new games with friends, enjoying delightful beers, and supporting local causes.

Cardboard Crowns Ben Adams

The owner, Ben Adams, cutting the sound panel fabric.

Cardboard Crowns Space

The space is starting to look like it is ready for gamers!

Cardboard Crowns Booths

The sound panels rising…

Cardboard Crowns Bar

The front bar, ready for thirsty patrons.

Cardboard Crowns Shelves

What gaming space would be complete without Kallax shelves?

 

Today is Last Day for Early Bird Pricing for SummitUp

By

The eigth edition of SummitUp is a full day marketing communications, public relations, and digital information conference being presented by a team of Dayton organizations: AAF-Dayton, Better Business Bureau, NMD, WIBN, PRSA and ARC Ohio. The conference is dedicated to exploring the integration of creativity, communication, and technology. It takes place on May 24, 2017, and will be held at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. The event features exceptional speakers, and the opportunity to meet and make friends with some of the brightest, most influential minds in modern business.

 

This year’s keynote speakers are:

  • Kendra Ramirez: “What’s Working/Not Working in Digital Today?”, A panel discussion of companies fighting the good fight. Learn from their mistakes and their wins with actionable takeaways.
  • Aquiles La Grave of Brandzooka: “WTF is Programmatic?”, How the largest advertising channel ever built by mankind actually works.
  • Eileen Varnson, Director of Native and Content Advertising Studio at Cox Media Group

This year’s breakout sesssion are:

  • “Remembering the “Why” in a Brand Launch”, a case study on the Dayton Children’s brand identiy presented by Grace Jones of Dayton Children’s, Drew Cronenwett and Cindy Schell of Graphica.
  • “Humor in Advertising: Why? When? How?”, presented by Chuck Gulas, Ph.D. rofessor of Marketing, Raj Soin College of Business, Wright State University.
  • “Talking Cyber: Cyber Security’s No Joke”, presented by Joe Coyle of WRGT/WKEF, Travis Greenwood of The Greentree Group, and Shawn Waldeman of Secure Cyber Defense.
  • “Taking Shape: The Mixed Reality Future,Virtual Reality marketing and special design considerations for VR/3D”, presented by Patrice Hall of Marxent.
  • “Why Video?” An exploration into the importance of using video to enhance your brand, presented by Kelly and Brian Mercer of Boom Crate Studios.
  • “Attribution Modeling”, presented by Mike Blackney, Vice President of Digital Media for The Ohlmann Group.  How is the ROI credited to a specific marketing channel when the marketing investment is distributed across many different marketing channels? Short-sighted attribution models have resulted in good marketing being deemed unsuccessful and vice versa. Proper attribution is at the core of creating a good marketing strategy.

Buy Your Ticket To SummitUp

  • You’ll want to reserve now as the Early Bird rate closes TODAY, seating is limited.
    • Early Bird prices are $139 for members of affiliated organizations (Members of AAF-Dayton, Better Business Bureau/WIBN, NMD, PRSA) and $179 for non-members.  Deadline for early bird prices is April 28th.
    • Effective Saturday, the price will become $179 for memebrs and $219 for non-members.  There will be additional price increases May 12 when our count is due.
    • Table of 8 Sponsorships are also available.

 

 

 

Something Old Dayton – An Interview With Owners Kyle + Mari

By

If you have an Instagram account and live in Dayton, I am fairly certain you’ve seen the awesomeness of this city’s newest startup, Something Old Dayton. Haven’t yet? Go follow them now @somethingolddayton. Now let me share a little about this couple who I fell in love with over plush vintage furniture and fabulous antique finds.

image-1Originally from Springfield, Virginia and Virginia Beach, Mari + Kyle met while attending college in Richmond. From Virginia, the couple moved to D.C. before making their final stop here in Dayton just two years ago. Kyle continues to work for the government as a computer engineer contractor, but his entrepreneurial spirit, Mari’s artistic eye and both of their love of vintage treasures would inevitably fuse to create something magical.

 

 

A year and a half ago, Mari was reading an article online about a company that offered vintage furniture rentals. Having a degree in Craft and Material studies from Virginia Commonwealth University, experience as a Visual Display intern at Anthropologie, a life-time’s worth of experience crafting and art-making, a love of vintage furniture and assisting behind-the scenes at the weddings of friends, Mari always wanted to find a way to use her skills professionally. It was after reading that article that she realized that maybe, just maybe, she could finally evolve a long-time hobby into a business. image-2

The Fosters, like many, have always dreamed of a “family business.” Something unique to them that would grow along with their family. When Mari shared the idea with Kyle, his logistical mind went into high gear, planning and moving forward. Mari laughed as she told me she immediately had regrets, being pregnant with their second child and in no position to start a business. It wasn’t until a spontaneous request to style a vow renewal reception that these two, on a complete whim, were to plan essentially a whole wedding in a week. Well, they did it. It was amazing and as Mari adorably said, “I dug it!” You would never know there were doubts when you see what they have created, and the community they are building around what they do. I dig it too, Mari.

In the infancy of their business, Mari and Kyle ran the operation out of their basement but with wedding and photographer clients growing rapidly the small vintage rental business quickly out grew their home. They looked for a while at spaces for storage, and though toured several nothing seemed to work with their style / brand and few were in their budget. It wasn’t until a call to the Davis Linden building that the pieces fell into place. It was perfect, and just like that Something Old Dayton had a new home on Linden Ave. An opportunity for a full photography studio with vintage furniture, antique treasures and Mari’s styling expertise, Something Old Dayton has quickly become a destination for photographers, wedding planners and Dayton’s biggest brands for commercial shoots and events. image-3

Like many business owners in Dayton, Kyle and Mari definitely know and value the importance of community and working together in this city. Their marketing efforts consist of a mix of cold calls and emails, but social media and engaging online with photographers, wedding planners, florists and more is really driving their business. They work hard to add unique and hard to find items to their inventory for their clients, whether by hunting for or making them from scratch, like their collection of handmade wooden farm tables.

As members of the Rising Tide Society and the Dayton Tuesdays Together group, both said it is key to have a support system of like minded business owners supporting each other. Creating connections and building long term relationships is a major part of their growth strategy as they continue to evolve their business. The Fosters are Linden Heights residents and LOVE Dayton. When I asked if they were here to stay both smiled and said, “Yes, this is home.” We talked candidly about Dayton, “I see a city on the rise, driven by artistic endeavors” said Mari. She talked about how much Dayton reminded her of Richmond and how creatives reshaped that city and the same is happening here. From giving purpose to old structures, to food and art culture Dayton continue to grow breathing new life into the region. So, it’s Dayton to stay. Dayton to stay.

I enjoyed our conversation so much, and as a client I have to say they are amazing to work with as well and I look forward to many more collaborations this and next year. As a self proclaimed “junker” I also had to ask where they find all of their amazing rentals. Mari graciously offered up her secret. “Craigslist, flea markets, estate sales, personal connections, FB Buy Sell Trade groups, Goodwill, pretty much anywhere and I’m always looking!” she laughed. If you’re a photographer, wedding planner, or company that wants to host a unique event in a creative and stylized space, check out Something Old Dayton. Curious about them? Attend their open house on September 30th to meet these two and tour their space. Also, be prepared for their two little cuties to be crawling around. It’s kind of a perk of working with them. Welcome to Dayton Kyle + Mari, I personally am super excited to watch your business and family grow!

 

Pop-Up Program Expands To Offer Office Space

By

pop upActivated Spaces, an initiative to fill downtown storefronts, is launching a new phase of the program called Pop-Up Office. Applications are being accepted for office businesses to open downtown this summmer. The project is mirrored after the successful Pop-Up Project, which traditionally has focused on matching retail and restaurant focused business owners with downtown property owners who have first floor space available for occupancy.

The Activated Spaces team is launching this new initiative to attract start-ups and other small businesses that will add energy and vibrancy to downtown office buildings. The project launched Catapult Creative as a pilot office tenant in 2014 to test out the viability of a pop-up office space. After seeing the success of this business, the team is excited to expand into a selection round strictly geared towards office space seekers.

“This is something we’ve been looking at for a couple years,” said Pop-Up Project leader, Elise Huelskamp. “As the project continued to be a success, we wanted to see what we could tackle next in order to grow and develop the program, and we felt we could apply it to the concept of short-term office space leasing.”

Attracted to competitive lease rates and the combination of authenticity, activatedwalkability, connectivity, and community only available in the center city, more and more entrepreneurs and small business owners are choosing a downtown address. Since 2010, more than 90 start-ups have launched in the downtown core and the number of small businesses is steadily growing. The Pop-up Office Project seeks to build on this momentum.

Unique to this phase of the program, the spaces will not be located on the first floor but rather an upper floor of a downtown building. The spaces will be clustered near each other, giving the business owners an opportunity to collaborate. Lease lengths will range from three to six months. The spaces may have varying lease rates, but will be leased below market value. The Downtown Dayton Partnership will connect businesses with commercial property owners. The Activated Spaces volunteers help make the space move-in ready and help promote the business. Selected businesses will negotiate leasing terms directly with the selected property owner, but flexibility for the tenant is a priority.

Interested office space seekers should fill out an application, which can be downloaded at www.activatedspaces.org, and email it to Jen Cadieux. The application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, July 17. Tenants will be selected the week of July 31, and must be able to operate in their space no later than the end of August.

The project will also continue a retail program, and plans to launch another call for retail applicants in the coming months for a fall opening. Activated Spaces volunteers hope to build on the success of the Pop-Up Project, which has launched shops such as Sew Dayton, Confetti, and most recently Twist Cupcakery. Since it was started, the project has launched 18 shops (13 of which are still open), filled over 16,000 square feet of previously vacant space and created 31 jobs.

The Pop-Up Project is driven by volunteers from the young professional organizations UpDayton and Generation Dayton with support from the Downtown Dayton Partnership, the City of Dayton, the City of Dayton Neighborhood Mini-Grant program, and community volunteers. Activated Spaces is part of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan, a strategic blueprint for the future of downtown.

Welcome to The Collaboratory!

By

The Collaboratory Logo

Cities are amazing things. Their growth during the 17th and 18th centuries helped lay the foundation for some of the largest leaps in thought in that era, and have continued to be a source of innovation ever since. A conversation in one of the booming coffee houses in 17th century London lead to the writing of Newton’s Principia; another chat lead to the creation of Lloyd’s of London, the world’s first insurance agency. The Industrial Revolution grew slowly within cities, drawing people in with opportunities for economic growth. The density of people in urban centers helped to spread ideas by developing a fertile environment for it. The more seeds of ideas that are planted in one area, the better the chances those thoughts will bump into each other and spawn completely new, innovative thoughts. The internet may have us more connected to more resources than ever before, but there is still something special about meeting people face to face. Adding a personality and a voice to all those interesting Facebook posts and LinkedIn updates. That is where The Collaboratory, a new place for people to connect, share, and develop, comes in.

The Collaboratory is located at Courthouse Square, the hub of downtown Dayton, and provides a space for everyone to use. There is a wealth of talent in this area, and we are seeing it grow in leaps and bounds. It is being developed in homes and small offices through the city, people working long days on labors of love. The Collaboratory is a space for people who are looking for more tools, a change of scenery, and more access to expert advice on building a business. It is for entrepreneurs who are just starting out and looking for help and for established businesses needing a place to work on larger projects. Being downtown encourages a wider group of people to come and utilize the space, attracting politicians, students, non-profit experts, and civic leaders to interact and develop new ideas to enhance the Miami Valley. It is within walking distance to many resources, like the Metro Branch of the Dayton Public Library, Sinclair Community College, and Boston Stoker. Physically, it offers one of the largest white boards in the Miami Valley, as well as internet access, public and individual tables, and the ability to be reserved for morning and evening meetings. All of this access costs just $5 and a mention on social media!

The Collaboratory pricing

Connect and collaborate for the cost of a few beers. What could be better?

This venture has been spearheaded by Peter Benkendorf, someone who has believed strongly in this community since he moved here in 2008. He is head of Involvement Advocacy, a group dedicated to encouraging collaborative efforts and creating support systems for those seeking to build a better Dayton. By developing spaces and events that bring people together, better known as Collaborative Infrastructure, Involvement Advocacy is looking to put our city on the map with St. Louis, New York, and Oakland as leaders in innovation. Spaces like this foster interaction with thinkers in diverse industries, ones that may not otherwise have a chance to sit down at a table together. This is where new concepts are developed, ones that can add a fresh sparkle to the Gem City.

Cities are engines for developing new ideas, and Dayton has the talent and imagination to make its own future. The Collaboratory wants to collect that imagination and turn it into businesses, actions, and inspiration to go out and connect with members of your community. There are many places in Dayton you can go outside of your office to get some work done. There are few where you have all of the resources you need to assemble something new. This space will be open on Monday, January 18th from 10 AM to 4 PM. We look forward to seeing and reporting about all of the phenomenal new ideas to come out of The Collaboratory! What will you be heading downtown to build?

Map the Plan for Your Business Idea!

By Leave a Comment

969528_165891800246768_1535312209_nJoin us for 2 valuable hours focusing on making your business a viable dream come true: Dive in with Kimberly Collett, Olive, an urban dive: Creating your business and financial plan. This class is for folks that have done their homework, flushed out their ideas, and are ready to put it on paper. It’s time to get serious about your business idea! Real regional insight, valuable tools and templates, a chance to ask questions and an opportunity for follow-up on your progress 6-8 weeks later. Ready to take the plunge into your first venture? Find out what it really takes. Get started on a solid foundation with the help of Kimberly Collett, entrepreneur and restaurateur, who will show you how to create a business plan and a detailed three year financial plan. Bring your laptop (if possible) and current plan if you have one, or any figures you’ve pulled together so far. Kimberly will provide a 3-year financial plan excel template and show you how to tweak it for your own business -a priceless tool that will bring your business plans to a boil! Attendees will be invited to a follow-up class to check progress and get feedback.

Class takeaways:

Realize the truth about planning and what it means in the real world.
Understand why you need a business plan AND a detailed financial plan.
Discuss possible funding for your idea.
Legal name searches and how to claim your domain name.
Customize a catch-all business plan template to your style and your idea.

Create a 3 year financial plan. A deep-dive exercise that shows what you’re in for, including:

Facts about legal licensing and fees.
Laws and taxes you are expected to know (without being told) and will be held accountable for.
The true cost of payroll.
Class includes 30 minutes of question and answer time. Limited Enrollment: 20

About Kimberly Collett:

“All the things I picked up in life came together in one little restaurant.”

Kimberly has a passion for building businesses. In 2011 she opened Olive, an urban dive, then her own construction company, Dayton Tradesource, and most recently broke ground on a collaboration project, The Barrel House. Olive is a locally sourced, Mediterranean/American restaurant offering foods inspired by Kimberly’s back-packing travels around Europe after high school (20 some years ago). Collett currently mentors for the Entrepreneurial Capstone Class at The University of Dayton, is a voting member on the Downtown Priority Board, and an Aileron Course for Presidents Alum. Synergy Incubators gives Kimberly an avenue to reach a classroom of budding entrepreneurs interested in learning how to turn ideas into brick-and-mortar businesses.

Urban Mosaics: Being Natural = Being Empowered

By Leave a Comment

As I sit here in my new salmon-colored t-shirt, sporting the word “honey” across the front (a term of endearment used for fly girls) I realize this is exactly the feeling Stacy Edey was trying to achieve when she set out to start her own innovative t-shirt company: I feel beautiful; I feel comfortable; I feel like me. According to Edey, her clothing line, Urban Mosaics “promotes the indefinable beauty of natural textured hair signified by abstract works of wearable art, and instills a paradigm shift in the conscious mind.”

What does all of that mean? It means that Stacy figured out a way to encourage African-American women to be comfortable with who they are at their roots – literally.

“I would say that the majority of black women’s hair is not naturally straight. The process of relaxing hair involves a harsh chemical called lye, which changes the chemical compound in hair and straightens it,” says Edey. Stacy explained that the process of straightening dates back hundreds of years to when it was widely believed that it was more acceptable for black women to have straight hair rather than kinky hair because it made them look more like everyone else. But Edey references a favorite quote from Marcus Garvey that she believes says it all: “Take the kinks out of your mind instead of your hair.”

With a professional background in Human Resources and a graduate degree in Management, in 2011 Stacy felt it was time for a change. She went back to her roots by making the Big Chop- cutting off all chemically-straightened hair. “It was a very liberating experience; I had about “that much” hair,” Stacy says as she pinches her thumb and index finger together. “I had what’s called a TWA- a teeny weeny Afro.” In addition to feeling liberated, Stacy explained that it was a struggle not knowing how people would react to her new shorter haircut, and as it grew out, her natural, textured hair. “There were a lot of pressures compounded on me. I didn’t know how to care for my natural hair. I didn’t even remember what my real hair texture was like- I was probably about 8 years old when my hair was introduced to chemical relaxers. I had no idea what to expect.”

As Stacy’s journey continued, she found a t-shirt online that simply said, “Love your roots.” The artwork on the shirt depicted a tree trunk in the shape of a woman’s face and leaves and branches that symbolized her hair. Edey adds sentimentally, “I thought it was so profound, and I realized how it made me feel when I wore it out in public. When I wore that shirt I felt a sense of empowerment. This is my hair. This is who I am. I love my roots-my heritage.”

Edey began to have an affinity for t-shirts with statements such as “Same Girl, Different Hair.” Edey explained, “I liked the way the shirts changed my disposition,” and claimed she wants to be able to share her perspective of natural beauty with the world while offering shirts that portray a unique type of artistry as well. To this end, Edey has enlisted the help of Cleveland, Ohio sneaker artist Van Monroe to create most of the designs, has them printed on 100% organic cotton shirts, and sells them on her website: Urban-Mosaics.com. A portion of the proceeds is then donated to Stivers School for the Arts, as Edey encourages women of all ages to believe in themselves and believe that they can impact positive change in the world through their passions and views.

Through Urban Mosaics, Edey strives to be a catalyst for change; she endeavors to change the way people feel and think about their hair, their heritage and ultimately themselves. Edey believes that despite initially appealing primarily to African-American women, her shirts will transcend nationalities- that anyone will be able to wear them, regardless of ethnicity or heritage because believing in who you are- at your roots- is a universal concept.

Edey recalled an anonymous quote she once read, “Being natural is not a statement. It’s the closest to being who I am,” and added, “I found a way to create a business that surrounds my passions. I know it’s a cliche to believe in your dreams, but if you have passion and surround yourself with the right people, you can make your dreams come true.”

 

New Businesses Popping Up Downtown

By 1 Comment

Peace on Fifth in the Oregon Arts District is a success story from the pilot phase of Activated Spaces' Pop-Up Project.

Peace on Fifth in the Oregon Arts District is a success story from the pilot phase of Activated Spaces' Pop-Up Project.

Three businesses will be up and running by May 4, the next First Friday art hop downtown, as part of the second phase of the Pop-Up Project, part of an initiative to fill downtown Dayton storefronts called Activated Spaces. The businesses selected for the second phase of the project are:

• American π, 37 S. St. Clair St.: This gift and accessories boutique will carry items made in the United States, including handbags, greeting cards, candles and food items. The store will be open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Arin, 27 S. St. Clair St.: Shop owner and jewelry designer Brooke Medlin will collaborate with Dayton artists and other creatives to showcase beautifully designed goods for self and home, along with Medlin’s line of jewelry that includes rings, earrings, personalized necklaces and more. Visitors will be able to watch the creation process in action in Arin’s on-site studio. Rotating guest artists will set up mini-studios in the store and spend two weeks working on a collection of products to be launched at every month’s First Friday art hop. The store will be open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call 937-640-0117.

• Vintage Barbershop, 110 W. Fifth St.: This old-school, classic barbershop will offer haircuts, hot steam towel shaves, facials and more. Haircuts will be $12 and shaves and facials will be $16, with special pricing for seniors. “Our goal is open a classy, professional barbershop while doing our part to make downtown a better place and trying to influence other businesses to follow suit,” owner Ron West said. The barbershop will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 937-321-6165.

The women who participated in the pilot phase of the Pop-Up Project.

The entrepreneurs who participated in the pilot phase of the Pop-Up Project. Lisa Scott (far right) of Beaute Box extended her lease, as did London Coe (second from right) of Peace on Fifth.

These businesses have three- or six-month leases, although the hope is the business owners will extend those leases ― as happened in the pilot phase of the Pop-Up Project. Indeed, the second phase of the project builds on the success of its pilot, launched in November 2011 for the holiday shopping season. Two of the three business owners in the pilot extended their leases: Beaute Box, 116 W. Fifth St., and Peace on Fifth, 519 E. Fifth St. In addition, Amore! Designer Consignment Boutique, 16 Brown St., which opened at the same time as the Pop-Up pilots, plans to remain open on a long-term basis, and Basho Screen Printing and Apparel, 521-523 E. Fifth St., opened in a space occupied by a Pop-Up retailer after becoming interested in the location due to the buzz surrounding the project.

Activated Spaces’ Pop-Up Project, which helped fill 2,300 square feet of retail space during its pilot phase, is led by volunteers from the young professional organizations Generation Dayton and updayton. The project is a strategic effort to fill vacant street-level space and spur interest in opening a business downtown that’s part of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan, a strategic blueprint for the future of downtown.

“The Pop-Up Shops have helped enliven downtown while building on growing momentum for the center city,” said Tom Razauskas, who owns the building housing Beaute Box and the Vintage Barbershop. Razauskas and other participating downtown property owners have supported the project by providing reduced rental rates. “It has been refreshing to work with volunteers and business owners who really believe in downtown and are excited about its future.”

A kickoff event for the Pop-Up Shops will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 18. It will start at Beaute Box, 116 W. Fifth St., and end at Peace on Fifth, 519 E. Fifth St., with stops at all the Pop-Up Shops in between.  Raffle tickets will be sold that night $5 each, with all proceeds benefiting Activated Spaces, and prizes will be drawn at each stop. Additional details will be available soon at www.activatedspaces.org.

Basho Apparel

Basho Apparel was attracted to open a downtown location in part due to the buzz surrounding the Pop-Up Project. (Photo courtesy of Carly Short)

“The Pop-Up Project provides a low-risk, low-cost, flexible way to showcase local businesses while adding vibrancy to downtown,” said Shanon Potts, past chair of Generation Dayton and Activated Spaces volunteer. “The long-term goal of the project is to convert temporary leases into traditional leases, while establishing downtown as a regional destination for shopping for one-of-a-kind items and retail services.”

“This project also supports local, creative entrepreneurs as they take a risk and test out their business concepts while bringing renewed life to downtown storefronts,” said Scott Murphy, immediate past chair of updayton and Activated Spaces volunteer. “Visitors who support these pop-up shops will help to spur a more permanent retail environment in our downtown ― the next step in downtown revitalization.”

Visit www.activatedspaces.org or e-mail [email protected] for more information about Activated Spaces.

Mike-Sell’s: A Case For Success

By Leave a Comment

Countdown to the 2012 updayton Summit! updayton is committed to lighting the entrepreneurial fire of young talent. Over the next three months leading up to the 2012 Summit, updayton will present stories of emerging entrepreneurs and family legacies in business, and why they call Dayton the best place to do business.

Daniel W. Mikesell started a successful business selling dried beef and sausage but when he decided to expand and answered an ad to purchase a potato-cutting machine, he had no idea it would turn into a multi-million dollar enterprise that would span 100 years and counting. Today, Mike-Sell’s, a locally based, privately owned company, has maintained a strong local presence and national distribution in the snack industry. Despite the efforts of large snack companies to dominate the market through buyouts and price slashing, Mike-Sell’s has remained true to its commitment of producing the highest-quality products, allowing it to continue to be a competitive player in the industry.

In the true spirit of a Dayton original, Mikesell maintained his company’s headquarters in Dayton, Ohio as it grew. His legacy has continued with great grandson, Luke Mapp, grandson of Mikesell’s daughter, Mary Mikesell, and her husband Les Mapp, who ran the company until his death in 2005.

The family’s potato chip legacy is now in the hands of a team of industry professionals including President and CEO, David R. Ray and Mapp, who serves as the company’s Director of Marketing.

In a recent interview with Luke Mapp he shares his take on why the family business has survived the recession, the company’s plans for the future, and what today’s entrepreneurs should do to be successful—particularly those wishing to enter the snack industry.

Mapp has been part of the family business for more than a decade. He knows the entire operation from top to bottom. He is also acutely aware of the tremendous competition Mike-Sell’s is up against as one of the few regional potato chip companies that is independent from larger snack suppliers.

“The locals are very loyal to Mike-Sell’s and have been a big part of our success…”

“For many years, every little city across America had it’s own independently owned potato chip companies. Today, we remain with fewer than probably 50 others.” Mapp continued, “Giants like Frito Lay and Wal-Mart have affected how we do business. Frito Lay can offer lower prices that push margins to almost nothing, and Wal-Mart has changed how grocery chains buy product with its centralized buying method. The local retail manager used to have control over what his or her store carried, but now all of those decisions are made at the corporate level. Our relationships have changed tremendously and we’ve had to change our approach.”

The disconnect between local grocery stores and the supplier has made it difficult for Mike-Sell’s to expand at their desired level. On the flip side, it has moved Mike-Sell’s to alter the way it does business and distribute its products. Currently, the company sells two-dozen different chip and snack products. It has distribution centers in Dayton and Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana. The Dayton location is the company’s only manufacturing plant. Along with some cost-cutting measures, this is how Mike-Sell’s has survived through the current and past recessions.

“We have had to cut expenses like everyone else. Fortunately, we have a family-like atmosphere here. Everyone here is very supportive of decisions that have to be made.” As Mapp led a guided behind-the-scenes tour, he stopped along the way to chat with staff and to sample freshly made chips that had rolled off the line into the collection area to be seasoned and packaged.

At the end of the tour, Mapp talked about the company’s plans for the future. Over the years, the company has maintained its foothold in the industry by introducing new products like Honey Barbecue, its highest selling flavor and Groovy Chips, its highest selling non-flavored chip. They also added Kettle Chips to their line and are always considering new products to test with their loyal fans.

“The locals are very loyal to Mike-Sell’s and have been a big part of our success. Going forward the company will look to expand its distribution base nationally and increase its marketing efforts,” Mapp said, speaking optimistically about the future despite the sluggish economy. For example, Mike-Sell’s has begun implementing a new web-based strategy with a Super Bowl promotion offering 15% off online orders.

Luke Mapp

As the conversation came to an end, Mapp offered advice for entrepreneurs entering the snack foods market. “Do your homework. Know your audience. And think niche. Penetrating the snack market on a large scale will be nearly impossible. Instead, build a strong local following and let the retailers come to you. Be prepared to work hard. It takes dedication and perseverance to run any business. It’s not for the faint of heart.”

In a follow-up correspondence, this is what Mapp had to say about Dayton:  “Like, Mike-sell’s, Dayton has a rich history that has made it a successful and nurturing environment for businesses to grow. Dayton is full of reliable and talented people who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty and work hard—that’s important to any business. In addition, the Dayton area chamber of commerce and various other business friendly organizations work very hard to attract and retain local businesses and talented people to live, work and stay in Dayton, OH.”

Interesting facts about Mike-Sell’s:

A potato by another name is still a potato, sorta. It takes a lot of potatoes to make those tasty chips—but not just any potato. Mike-Sell’s uses chipping potatoes. These organically grown potatoes are purchased from Florida to Michigan. (Yes, Michigan! Not Idaho, which specializes in baking potatoes.) Most potato chip manufacturers use chipping potatoes because of their round shape and density, which withstands the cutting process.

Waste not; want not. “Recycle, reuse and repurpose” has been the standard at Mike-Sell’s for decades. They do everything from giving potato peels to pig farmers for feed to selling the potato starch to paper mills for paper coating. Mike-Sell’s uses every opportunity to be an environmentally friendly company.

Hands off. The potato’s journey from the truck to the bag is, for the most part, a hands-off venture. Modern technology and machinery allow potatoes to be cleaned, peeled, cut, fried, seasoned, bagged and boxed with little human intervention. This method decreases food contamination and safety issues with workers.

The Big Give Back. Mike-Sell’s has given millions of dollars to support women’s causes, education, and community arts. Mike-Sell’s giving program is overseen by Mikesell’s granddaughter,  Martha Mapp.  Some of those organizations include Clothes That Work, a clothing resource for job seekers, and the Linda Vista Project, a transitional housing program for homeless women and their children.

The Trick To Being Lucky

By 2 Comments

Photo Credit: Christina M. Dyer

(The following was submitted by Christina M. Dyer as part of the updayton Entrepreneurship Team)

Drew Trick had a vision: A comfortable place where people can enjoy a wide variety of draught beer and eat fresh food with their friends and family, as well as see couple-hundred model cars. On October 23, 2010, Trick made this dream a reality, purchasing what is now known as Lucky’s Taproom and Eatery, located in the Oregon Arts District.

When he walked in the building for the first time, Drew Trick knew he had to remodel a restaurant that had been established by many other owners before. Trick considered how he wanted people to describe his restaurant/bar. He did not want to have the typical loud bar filled with neon signs and cluttered space. It was not his intention to open a bar and grill or sports bar. He wanted to create a place for people to come casually and feel comfortable. Using his initial vision, he decided the floors, bar ceiling, display units, and draught systems had to be updated, or added, before completion.

While hunting for the name, Trick first started with “Lucky’s,” because it was his late father’s nickname. Trick then searched dictionaries and thesauruses looking for descriptive words that were generational in nature. Trick chose “taproom” because of the large supply of draught beers that would be rotating all year long. He chose “eatery” simply because people could come and enjoy a good meal.

Photo Credit: Christina M. Dyer

If you have been in Lucky’s Eatery and Taproom since it has opened, you may have noticed shadow boxes filled with over 226 model cars above the bar and on the walls. These cars belonged to Trick’s father who was a proud collector of hundreds of model cars. Trick explained, whether you were a family friend or the mailman, his father would take you to see his collection. “We’d always talked about me putting up the car collection in a bar,” Trick explained. Since the passing of Trick’s father a short time ago, the cars have been loaned to his nieces and nephews, as well as his five siblings. Some of the tools Trick’s father made as toolmaker for GM are also displayed.

A large mirror with the Lucky’s emblem is behind the bar. In front of that mirror is a multi-beer tap system with plastic lines full of draught beer running through the ceiling. These beers continuously change on a regular basis. Because there is a wide variety of beer to choose from, servers give patrons books describing what’s on tap. “Since we have to learn the beers, we put something together for the customers to learn with us,” said Trick. The bartenders also offer patrons small samples of beers before ordering the whole pint. The array of beers also allows customers to select the beer batter for their chicken tenders.

The thoughtfulness Trick has demonstrated transcends to the menu. He wanted to provide quality food for patrons while allowing for short check times, offering people the opportunity to stop in on their lunch break and enjoy a made-to-order meal with enough time to get back to the office. Lucky’s doesn’t serve your typical bar food. The restaurant receives a shipment of food and produce almost every day in order to serve fresh food to customers. “Our freezer is smaller than the one you have at your house,” Trick explained.

In the small kitchen, Trick and his employees cut the chicken tenders, create the fish patties, and make the vegan (gluten-free) and soy patties.

Trick emphasized the vegan and vegetarian items on the menu. On a trip to Kauai with his sister, who is a vegetarian, Trick adopted a meat-free lifestyle. He wanted to incorporate this idea in his bar, understanding that many other people have adopted this lifestyle too. Trick has several options for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free diets. He has purchased separate grills for meat and vegetarian cooking, and has several vegan/vegetarian items that are rarely offered in other eating establishments. “You can sit next to someone eating a chili dog, and you can eat one too but its vegetarian. You should see the people’s faces that haven’t had a chili dog since they were a kid!” Trick explains.

Lucky’s Taproom and Eatery, located at 520 Fifth Street, is now open for business seven days a week, serving vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free meal options, along with options for meat eaters. It appeals to a crowd of all ages and demographics. It also offers a laid-back place for young adults to patronize on Friday and Saturday nights. Lucky’s Taproom and Eatery is not just a bar. It’s also not just a job for Trick; it’s where you can find him living out his vision.

The Power of Once

By 1 Comment

Photo credit: Anna Skinner

(The following was submitted by Anna Ritchie from updayton)

Starting your own business can be a terrifying thought. In 2004, Christian Prince set aside those fears and went full speed ahead with his dream. He started Acclimate Technologies, a supply chain software design company that allows data transmission between businesses with no human interaction. The software Prince has created with his colleagues enables other corporations such as Walmart and Honda to move data efficiently and cheaply, using fewer resources with the lowest number of human errors. Since starting his company, Price has proven his software data and materials can get from one place to another more efficiently without human interaction. He wants to do data the right way, the first way—coining the phrase, “The Power of Once.”

Prince has developed two pieces of software since his beginning. A devoted and loyal Ohio State football fan, his Simplic IT Software Suite, which works as a translator, is code named “Brutus” after Ohio State’s mascot. Additionally, his shipping software is code named “Tressel” after the (former) Ohio State football coach, Jim Tressel. These two software systems are vital to the existence of his company and how well it functions on a daily basis.

Although Prince can build a software application with ease, the financial aspects of starting Acclimate were challenging to understand. Prince jokingly stated, “I am a geek, not a businessman.” Unfortunately, he was rejected from The Entrepreneur Center (TEC) five times before they allowed him to set up his company within the firm, which teaches entrepreneurs the values and skills they need to succeed. With continuous hard work, he learned what he needed to begin his business and turned his technology expertise into a revolution in software data systems.

A leader at heart, Prince believes he wouldn’t do well working for other people. Fortunately, he does have a board of advisors to keep him from running into the ground. Although he enjoys running his own business, with all of the responsibility on his shoulders, he doted that he’s married to Acclimate. Prince, who calls himself a “workaholic,” begins his typical workday at 8:30 a.m. and doesn’t quit until he picks up his children at 6:00 p.m. Once he is home, he takes time to be a husband and father, cooking dinner and assisting his wife, Shannon, with putting the children to sleep. After spending time with his wife, he works from home, troubleshooting systems, answering phone calls and developing new software. Some days end as late as midnight. Although his workday can be as long as 18 hours, he has a passion for what he does and truly enjoys his job. He feels privileged to do something he loves.

Continuing to explain, Prince said 70% of becoming a young entrepreneur was passion and having his values intact. Mr. Prince believes that skills will only get you so far, bringing the entrepreneur to a brick wall. He explained that passion gets you past that brick wall. He created his value system in the form of a pyramid, putting God first with wife and family coming in second and third. With this pyramid he is able to achieve his goals without losing his morals and obligations.

Along with his devotion to his family, Prince is passionate about what he can do for future entrepreneurs in Dayton. With the rich history of entrepreneurship in Dayton, such as the Wright Brothers, Patterson, and Paul L. Dunbar, Prince feels we have an obligation to keep the reputation of intense entrepreneurs afloat. He wants to inspire young individuals to start their businesses in Dayton. For potential young entrepreneurs who are striving to start their own business, he has several tips for taking the initial leap. First, he explained, digging deep into your contacts is crucial to starting up and being successful. Prince had several contacts from working as a consultant for other data systems before he began Acclimate. These contacts became his potential customers. This taught him that reflecting upon and relying on prior experience is vital to beginning a new business venture.

After looking to the past, he emphasized the importance of identifying a target market of potential customers in order to adapt your product or service to that person’s wants and needs. Prince used this principle, basing his concept on potential customers’ user stories, developing software that suited everyone. Lastly, he said, “Do something you love for now, don’t let other side pockets get in the way where you think you can make some extra money.” Princes shares that their were several times when colleagues would seek him to start other ventures but he learned to decline to continue his primary focus on Acclimate.

In addition to personal tips, Prince thinks local leaders should focus on supporting and promoting young entrepreneurs in the Dayton region. Dayton could be a city of confidence, encouraging young entrepreneurs to chase their dream, he explained. The city of Dayton is filled with simple people with great ideas, but he thinks we fail miserably in inspiring entrepreneurs to take that next step. Prince suggested a solution could be offering young individuals a place where entrepreneurial resources can be found, instead of sending them away with false hope. To do his part, he is creating a radio spot that provides young entrepreneurs the leads and contacts needed to start their dream. With Prince’s devotion to Dayton’s young, talented citizens, the groundwork is being laid for a community of youthful, bright entrepreneurs to bring our city back to the top.

Showdown Visual to Open Downtown Location

By 1 Comment

Showdown Visual will join a growing community of creative services firms when it opens a downtown office in April.

The Showdown Visual team is comprised of PJ Perretta, Kenny Mosher, Rachel Mosher and Chip James.

Visual media production company Showdown Visual, which recently won 11 prestigious Hermes Awards, will join a growing community of creative services firms located in downtown Dayton when it opens an office in a renovated space at 124 E. Third St. in mid-April.

“We are excited to move downtown to be around so many of our clients, as well as other design firms,” said Kenny Mosher, co-founder of Showdown Visual. “Also, our new space provides the exact creative environment we need.”

Indeed, the move will put Showdown Visual in the company of a dozen creative services firms located in the center city, including Jon Morton Photography, which also will open this spring in the same building. Showdown Visual’s new space will be approximately 2,000 square feet, and it will share a 500-square-foot video and photography studio with Jon Morton Photography.

“The concentration of creative services firms, such as Showdown Visual, in downtown Dayton creates an environment where these firms, located within a walkable distance of each other, can easily network and collaborate,” said Sandy Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership. “Downtown also continues to attract these firms because it offers a variety of nontraditional, architecturally interesting office space that’s well suited ― and even inspiring ― to creative services firms.”

Showdown Visual, founded in spring 2009 by Kenny and Rachel Mosher, won a coveted gold Hermes Award in cinematography as an element of advertising on Feb. 26. The company also won eight silver awards and two bronze. The Hermes Awards, conducted by the American Advertising Federation, recognizes and rewards creative excellence in the art of advertising. Showdown Visual now will advance to one of 14 district competitions and, if it wins at this level, will go on to compete in the national ADDY Awards.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVBTUeRmfqE’]

In addition, Showdown Visual created a video for the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan that has been widely distributed among the dozens of public and private sector partners involved in the Plan, a strategic blueprint for the future of downtown Dayton. Thousands of people have viewed the video, which continues to receive lots of glowing feedback.

“In an era when visual media is impacting every area of our lives, Showdown Visual produces videos that combine creativity, storytelling, cinematography and top-notch editing techniques to separate our clients from their competition,” Kenny Mosher said. “Visual media is the fastest growing and most effective form of marketing in the world today. We believe our locally owned company is changing the game for clients on the local and national levels.”

[yframe url=’http://vimeo.com/groups/beyondthestill/videos/9188506′]

Showdown Visual already has garnered national attention. The company created a music video shot entirely on an iPhone 3GS titled “Play” that has more than 200,000 online views to date. In addition, Showdown Visual and Real Art Design Group, a Dayton-based firm with a client list that includes Fortune 500 companies, have partnered on several projects. They were a national Top 5 finalist in The Story Beyond the Still for a webisode chapter titled Alderwood, a mystery-thriller short film for a national Lexis Nexis marketing campaign. The two companies also partnered on a documentary for Mead introducing its new Builder Research Paper Software.

Showdown Visual already has compiled an impressive client list. Clients include Lexis Nexis, the University of Dayton, Wright State University, Sinclair Community College, Antioch Midwest, Five Rivers MetroParks, Mead, CIN Legal Data, Atomic Interactive, Health Partners Clinic, Miami Valley Research Park, Productive Parenting, Children’s Medical Center Dayton, the Dayton Development Coalition and more.

Also making up Showdown Visual’s creative team are Rachel Mosher, creative director; PJ Perretta, who records audio, writes and produces music, and works with post-production sound design and web programming; and Chip James, who manages project production and client relations.

Aaron Kim and the Xenia China Inn

By Leave a Comment

Xenia China Inn

The following was submitted by Juliette Rocheleau of the updayton Entrepreneurship Team, and is the second in a series of  articles about Dayton-area entrepreneurs.

Xenia China Inn was a Chinese restaurant found on Main Street in Xenia, Ohio for twenty years. In early 2008, the family business shut its doors and left many with sad hearts and growling stomachs. At the end of 2010, Aaron Kim re-opened Xenia China Inn at a new location (417 W. Second Street, Xenia, OH 45385). The surrounding parts of Dayton perked up at the prospect of once again enjoying the Inn’s cuisine.

Kim committed several months of hard work in order to re-open his business. He used a variety of different sources for the start-up cash, including funds saved in the bank and profit from selling personal items. “Whatever it takes,” said Kim. “I scraped as much as I could to get it open.” Working over a year on the project, the citizens of Xenia anticipated the restaurant opening eagerly. Kim explained, “I didn’t really have to advertise it. People missed my old restaurant, so they kept their eyes open.”

Kim was born in South Korea and in 1981 moved to Los Angeles. It wasn’t until Kim was seventeen that he moved to Dayton. Kim attended school and helped his parents with their business. When Kim’s mother, Buk Sil Park, bought Xenia China Inn, she asked her son to join the business venture. Kim explained, “I told her, ‘Sure, family business sounds good.’ So, we opened up the restaurant in Xenia.”

Kim currently works alongside his wife, Mary. With the restaurant opening the fall of 2010, Kim’s average workweek is sixty hours or more. Kim said, “That’s what it takes—a lot of dedication.” He has learned that owning your own business has its hardships, but an entrepreneur has no choice. “You’ve got to have the drive to get it done. We spend a lot of hours, but we do what it takes,” said Kim. Together, Aaron and Mary have two young girls. He admits how difficult it is, spending so much time away from his daughters. He explained, “It’s tough, because I have my two little girls who I spent a lot of time with when I was off. But somebody’s got to make the egg rolls.”

Even though he spends much of his time working, Kim explain that the restaurant business is a group effort. According to Kim, “It’s more like teamwork. Everybody has to do their own part. Otherwise, it doesn’t work.” Kim strives to keep up a happy, “paradise” atmosphere for his employees. Kim re-hired a handful of employees when Xenia China re-opened and brought new faces into the mix as well. “If you get the right crew, the atmosphere is right and everybody gets along. Then it should be a fun job,” said Kim. He stressed it was important to have a welcoming environment, especially in the winter. He explained, “You arrive and food’s around and the place is warm—you can’t get anything to go wrong.”

With this attitude, it isn’t surprising that Kim’s favorite part of the job is his customers. He explained their gratitude for his perseverance in re-opening the restaurant is what makes the job worth it. He said, “That gives me strength. It gives me energy.”

The Kim family is looking to expand Xenia China Inn’s menu this summer. Having friends who are farmers, Kim hopes to use fresh, local food in the dishes he serves. He said, “I’d like to do more fruits and such, maybe some salads, some other fresh food.” Japanese ginger dressings and Asian style salads might appear in the kitchen soon. He said, “It depends on how it goes. I can’t predict it all—day by day, you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

A resident of the Dayton area for thirty years, Kim admits that Dayton has qualities that may be both negative and positive. “Life goes at a slower pace here than in any other big city. I like that,” said Kim. He also views the people of Dayton as one of the area’s positive aspects, explaining, “The people here are nice. I grew up in the big city, and I think that living here has made me more laid-back.”

Kim likes the measured rhythm of the city, which makes him appreciate life more. “It seems like the big cities rush, rush, rush—and then your life goes by in the blink of an eye,” said Kim. “Dayton is not really in the fast-paced track, but that’s the advantage that we have.”

Working as a small business owner in the Dayton area, Kim’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple and straightforward: “Don’t do it unless you’re willing to deal with all the obstacles.” According to Kim, in the dog-eat-dog world of business, an aspiring business owner needs to know the venture is a roller coaster. “It always goes up and then it’ll come right back down. You have to stay in there.”

Along with courage to experience the ride, Kim believes a future entrepreneur needs to be happy.  He said, “Just think of it as another day in paradise.” Once you’ve mastered those two necessary traits, Kim stresses the importance of focusing on what you can control. Simply, he says, “Go with your heart, and that’s it.”

Owning and running your own business is a tough, full-time job. Along with hard work and constant drive, Kim says it’s necessary to be thankful, too. “I’m happy that I’m here.” He said, “Thank God that we are healthy, because that’s really all that matters.” In the end, Kim stresses the importance of “hanging in there.” He said, “Just when you think you’ve done it all, think again.” According to Kim, entrepreneurship is a constant learning experience, stating, “You’ve got your goal and your dream, and you can’t give up. Even when you finally get there—keep going.”