NEW CHILI RESTAURANT IN MIAMISBURG HAS BIG PLANS

A family-run restaurant that is operating only on Mondays in downtown Miamisburg has big plans.

Clashmore Mike’s Chili operates out of 105 S. 2nd St. in Miamisburg, and is seeking to make that a permanent home this summer, according to Brian Walusis, co-founder of the restaurant along with his father John, wife Diana, sons Adam and Mark, and business partner Tim Upton.

The space houses Nibbles, a full-service restaurant scheduled to move to larger quarters in Miamisburg and rebrand as Watermark in June or July.

“Whether or not we pull the trigger (on this space) depends on if we can negotiate favorable lease terms that make business sense for us,” Walusis said. “If this space does not work out we are exploring a multitude of options.” The restaurant seats 36. Walusis said Clashmore Mike’s is offering “a great interpretation of some iconic chili recipes, using fresh local ingredients to the greatest extent possible.” Local suppliers include East Dayton Meats and Smales Pretzels.

“Our vision is to become the ‘Zombie Dogz’ of chili,” Walusis said, referring to the region’s most celebrated food truck that last year opened a bricks-and-mortar restaurant near the University of Dayton.

The idea began in the late 1980s, when John Walusis won first place in a handful of local chili cook-offs with a home-style recipe.

The restaurant also will offer seasonal dishes, including “a cold Lithuanian Red Beet soup for the summer which uses my great-grandmother’s recipe that she brought from Lithuania over 100 years ago,” Walusis said.

Upton, a majority partner, has studied sausage-making. “Once we find a permanent home, he will be doing a custom grind for us using locally raised meat,” Walusis said.

“We are in this for the long haul, and we are passionate about our concept, which is creating a place for chili in the local culinary lexicon that it deserves as a truly ‘American’ food, right up there with barbecue or bourbon,” Walusis said.

For more information, check out the Miami Valley Chili Company Facebook page.