Federal stimulus package to help restaurants
A year after the first restaurants were ordered to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new fund is expected to throw a lifeline to restaurants still staggering from losses sustained in 2020.
The American Rescue Plan Act, which was signed into law late last week by President Joe Biden, means the creation of the $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund and a new federal program for restaurant owners with 20 or fewer locations.
Operators can apply for tax-free grants of up to $5 million per location, or up to $10 million for multi-location operations, according to the National Restaurant Association. The grant amount is determined by subtracting 2020 sales from 2019 revenues.
Tacoyia Redmon, co-owner of downtown Dayton’s Olive Mediterranean Grill, said the fund is “a brilliant idea.”
“It’s a good way to give back to the community, and try to give people that extra push that they need so we can move forward,” Redmon said. “I know a lot of small businesses struggle, in general, and with the simple fact that COVID came around, it made a huge impact on a lot of business owners. Some of them even lost their businesses.”
Since restaurants shut down in March 2020, foodservice sales have fallen $255 billion and 110,000 restaurants have closed, according to the National Restaurant Association.
Arcade to continue at Mike’s Bike Park
In the same space where the New Challenger throwback-games arcade in downtown Dayton is closing shop, the tradition of gaming will continue digitally.
Mike Bisig, owner of Mike’s Bike Park at 1300 E. First St., is set to open a brand new gaming area inside the bike park. The Arcade at Mike’s Bike Park will have about six different gaming consoles, including the classics like Nintendo, with about 50 games on each of them, according to Brian Johnson, Mike’s Bike Park marketing and developing coordinator.
Bike park goers will get free access to the gaming arcade with the purchase of a day pass to the bike park. If guests are specifically there for the gaming arcade, it will cost $5 for an unlimited gaming day pass.
Opening of the new gaming arcade should be seamless with the closing of New Challenger, Johnson said, with an opening date anticipated to be April 1.
Twist Cupcakery named best in Ohio
The national media outlet and foodie web site, Eat This, Not That!, has given high praise to one of downtown Dayton’s rising bakeries.
Twist Cupcakery, located at 25 S. St. Clair St., was named “the best cupcake in Ohio” in a post earlier this week on Eat This, Not That!
“You would be hardpressed to find anything less than a five-star review on Twist Cupcakery’s Yelp page, and for good reason.
Located in downtown Dayton, this unassuming joint churns out unique flavors like peanut butter Oreo and the popular apple pie cupcake,” the Eat This, Not That! web site said.
This is the second shoutout from a national foodie web site that Twist Cupcakery has received. In 2018, it was named the best cupcake shop in Ohio in a Delish.com story entitled “The Best Cupcake Shop in Every State.”
Rare bourbons part of lottery
The Ohio Division of Liquor Control has gotten its hands on some rather prestigious Kentucky bourbons and will sell them via bottle lottery and will also offer a special home-grown bottling from an Ohio-based distillery.
“We’re kicking off the 2021 bottle lotteries with some exciting single-barrel selections” of Blanton’s, Eagle Rare and E.H. Taylor, OHLQ officials said in a release.
Entries for a bottle lottery for the right to purchase the exclusive single-barrel OHLQ selections at regular retail prices runs through 11:59 p.m. on March 22. Those entries are accepted here.
The OHLQ single-barrel selections include Blanton’s, $54.99; Eagle Rare, $31.99; and E.H. Taylor, $57.16.
The Ohio Bottle Lottery is limited to one entry per person. There is no cost to enter. Winners have the right to purchase one bottle at retail. The division of liquor control says that bottles are for personal use, not for resale. Winners will be notified in early April and must purchase their bottle by April 26, 2021 or risk forfeiting the ability to purchase.
In addition to the bottle lottery, OHLQ will release first-ever OHLQ single-barrel selections from an Ohio producer on Monday, March 22. The bourbon comes from Watershed Distillery in Columbus. Bottles of the three private barrel selections will be allocated to 25 OHLQ liquor agencies across the state starting Monday. Each will cost $60 a bottle.
Wexners to retiring from L Brands
Leslie H. Wexner and his wife, Abigail, are retiring from the board of L Brands, the giant retailer that Wexner founded in 1963.
L Brands said Thursday the Wexners will not stand for re-election to the board at the annual shareholders’ meeting in May.
The move follows Leslie Wexner’s decision last year to retire as chairman and CEO of the company that operates Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works.
Wexner turned a single Limited store into a global retail powerhouse that once included such brands as Abercrombie & Fitch, Lane Bryant and Express.
“L Brands is at a terrific place in its history,” Wexner said in a statement.
2 Dayton-area companies to add jobs
Two Dayton Region small businesses are recent recipients of JobsOhio Inclusion Grants totaling $60,000 that will allow them to add jobs at their locations.
ElectriPack in Miamisburg was awarded a $25,000 grant for a $91,000 capital investment that will create four jobs and retain 24.
The woman-owned small business is a build-to-print manufacturer and distributor of electrical components and wire harnesses. It specializes in wire harness manufacturing for a variety of industries including truck and bus engines, construction, robotics, marine, military-specific, and mining.
The funding support will allow ElectriPack to expand product offerings to reach new customers by helping it establish an inventory system for on-demand orders of stock components and small assemblies.
ElectriPack Comptroller Micah Messer said the company is looking to improve its technology infrastructure with respects to inventory management and online presence so it can ramp up distribution activities to reach more customers.
Earning a $35,000 grant was Riverside-based APS Materials, which provides plasma-sprayed thermal coatings for the biomedical, aerospace, automotive, and semiconductor sectors.
Based in Riverside since 1975, APS Materials is experiencing “exponential growth,” DDC said. In order to accommodate this growth, a metallurgical lab is required for the Leo Street production site, which will focus on the biomedical and semiconductor industries. That new location will be able to provide full-service production and quality capabilities for biomedical and electronics customers.
“The project is a necessity for our company to expand production capacity in order to meet customer demands,” Johaun Cheng, APS Materials business development director, said in a release. “Receiving this grant would enable us to expedite the setup process and meet ambitious schedule.”
The JobsOhio Inclusion Grant provides financial support for eligible projects in designated distressed communities and for businesses owned by underrepresented populations across the state.