Sharing some food for thought
If you didn’t know this about me, I like food and some of the best business tips and advice I’ve received have come when I was eating.
Today’s column is dedicated to people who enjoy food.
First, don’t panic but Bill’s Donut Shop in Centerville is going to close — albeit for just a week. The fine folks at the popular doughnut shop are taking off the week from July 1 to July 8 as the store undergoes renovations during the hectic Americana Festival in Centerville.
Co-owner Jim Elam told reporter Max Filby new air-conditioning units will be installed as will new doughnut display cases. The store’s parking lot will also be repaved.
If you did not know, Bill’s has some of the best doughnuts in the Dayton area. Bill’s was the only doughnut shop in Ohio included in Saveur magazine’s March 2013 story entitled “The World’s Best Donuts: The 50 Finest Donut Shops in America.” A month later, USA Today named Bill’s one of the “10 Great Places to Get Doughnuts” in the United States.
In April 2015, Bill’s Donut Shop was named one of the “33 Best Donut Shops in America” by the web site Thrillist.com. It was the only doughnut shop in Ohio on the list.
Mexican chain building its own restaurant
La Pinata Mexican Grill & Bar has plans to build a standalone restaurant in Centerville.
The restaurant has submitted plans to build at the intersection of Sheehan Road and Ohio 48 at the site of a former Coldwell Banker location.
La Pinata has a location just a block away at 1069 S Main St. in the same shopping center as the Kroger Marketplace. City officials said that restaurant will be closed when the new building is built. The chain also has locations in Northern Cincinnati.
Plans show the new restaurant will have an outside patio that will seat 36 and the inside will seat 127.
Lily’s celebrates five years
Congratulations to Lily’s Bistro on its five-year anniversary in the Oregon District in downtown Dayton.
The popular bistro celebrated with a whole hog feast last week. Since opening in April 2013, the restaurant has grown, putting its own interesting twists on seasonal menus, specials, creative dinners and events.
Lily’s serves eclectic American food with heavy southern and street food influence. If you have not tried their fried chicken, you’re missing out.
Lily’s was started by the family who owns Blind Bob’s, also in the Oregon District.
Elsa’s branches out
Reporter Mark Fisher wrote recently about Elsa’s new restaurant in the Sugarcreek Plaza off Wilmington Pike that will open next month.
My favorite line from the story was, “This doesn’t look like your parents’ Elsa’s.”
The new place is called Elsa’s Corner Cantina.
The space at 6204 Wilmington Pike previously housed Caramella’s Italian Kitchen, and, before that, Murphy’s Irish Pub and Barleycorn’s, Fisher reported.
Despite the changes, the owners tell us they will still be selling their famous Bad Juan margarita.