Gem City Market adding new rewards program
Less than four months after opening, the Gem City Market is adding programs in the hopes of improving the health of its shoppers, serving new customers and boosting sales.
In keeping with its mission to expand access to healthy and affordable food, the Gem City Market has launched a new rewards program that provides a dollar-for-dollar match on produce purchases made with food stamp benefits.
The market is adding programs to help serve more community members and improve their health while boosting sales.
Foods stamps, officially called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), account for more than one-third of sales at the market, according to its estimates.
More than 81,000 adults and children in Montgomery County receive food stamp benefits — a number that has increased in recent months, state data show.
The Gem City Market has seen its sales slide after an initial shopping frenzy when the store opened in mid-May.
But market officials say this was not surprising and sales should rebound and grow and revenues are tracking at about 75% of first-year projections.
“We’re still growing and we’re still learning,” said Leah Bahan-Harris, Gem City Market General Manager. “We have plenty of programs we’re just jumping off.”
On Wednesday, the Gem City Market at 324 Salem Ave. became one of eight locations in Montgomery County to offer the Produce Perks program.
The statewide program incentivizes buying fruits and vegetables with food stamp benefits by providing a $1-to-$1 match on these items, up to $25 per day.
Kettering Health names new president
Kettering Health has named Wally Sackett as its new president of Kettering Health, moving up from his current role leading the network’s flagship hospital Kettering Medical Center.
In his role as president, Sackett will directly oversee the organization’s medical centers and service lines, mission and culture, as well as clinical and nursing operations, according to an announcement from the health network.
When leading Kettering Health, he will be leading one of the largest health networks and largest employers in the region. Kettering Health reported $1.7 billion in net patient revenue in 2019.
Kettering Health operates a network of hospitals, including Kettering Medical Center, Grandview, Sycamore, Southview, Troy, Greene Memorial, Soin, Fort Hamilton, and Kettering Behavioral Medicine.
The rapidly expanding company also operates outpatient medical centers, freestanding emergency departments, and other health services.
Before Sackett, Roy Chew had been the president of Kettering Health. He retired in 2019. Terry Burns had been covering the position in addition to his other responsibilities until Sackett’s promotion.
Sackett has been the president of Kettering Medical Center for the past three years.
He’s also held other executive roles at Kettering Health since joining the network in 2007, including president of Sycamore Medical Center for nearly seven years.
Sharlet Briggs is announced as the new president of Kettering Medical Center and is the first woman named in the role.
Briggs joined Kettering Health earlier this year as Kettering Medical Center’s chief operating officer.
DMAX continues work on engines
A General Motors spokeswoman told a web forum that production of one type of Duramax engine has been halted temporarily due to supply chain problems, but plants in Moraine and Brookville are not affected, another GM representative said Monday.
A post on PickupTruckTalk.com said Monday that production of the 3.0 liter Duramax engine was temporarily halted, which a GM spokesman confirmed to the Dayton Daily News.
“DMAX in Moraine is not being impacted at all,” GM spokesman Daniel Flores said. “They’re still running regular production.”
The DMAX plant in Moraine, owned by General Motors and Isuzu, produces the 6.6-liter Duramax engine.
The 3-liter engine, built in Michigan, instead is temporarily impacted. “We stopped production due to a parts shortage,” Flores said.
The recently built Brookville DMAX plant operates concurrently with the original DMAX plant in Moraine, sending the Moraine plant machined engine components.
From Moraine, finished diesel engines go to a GM plant in Flint, where the engines are built into the new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra HDs (heavy duty) trucks.
DMAX in Moraine has about 800 workers.
The site quotes Megan Soule, a spokeswoman for Chevrolet trucks and SUVs.
“The 3.0-liter Duramax diesel is not being discontinued,” Soule is quoted as saying there. “We have currently paused production of trucks with that engine due to a temporary part shortage. We will resume production with the 3.0-liter Duramax diesel as soon as possible.”
Patriot Eatery closes location
The Patriot Eatery & Pizzeria in Dayton has closed its location at 2627 S. Smithville Road.
“Good morning everyone on this our last day we will be closing at 1:00,” posted The Patriot Eatery on Facebook on Aug. 29. “Thank you for your support and your smiles and business. It’s been a pleasure serving you these past few years. Please stay safe and happy. Lots of love the Patriot family. One big hug going out to y’all.”
Patriot Eatery & Pizzeria replaced the Starlite Restaurant & Diner at the Smithville Road location in 2016.
Panera opens new area location
Days after the Centerville Panera Bread on Main Street closed shop, a new location has opened about five minutes down the road.
On Wednesday, Sept. 1, the newest Dayton-area Panera Bread opened at 821 Lyons Road in Washington Twp. The new restaurant and bakery features a drive-thru, curbside pickup and will be open Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“We are proud to be opening a third bakery-café in the wonderful community of Washington Township” said Sam Covelli, owner and operator. “Whether choosing to dine in, drive-thru, pick-up, or order delivery, we strive to serve delicious food and a great experience for our customers.”
“The new café will also be raising funds for the Dayton Children’s Hospital chapter of the On Our Sleeves mission, which helps to provide free resources necessary for breaking child mental health stigmas, and educating families and advocates,” according to a release. “Funds will be raised via the Round Up at the Register program.”
Kettering restaurant applies for liquor permit
An Asian restaurant proposed for a Wilmington Pike building that has been vacant for years is seeking a liquor permit.
An application has been filed with the Ohio Division of Liquor Control by Gold Million LLC of 2505 Wilmington Pike, the same address where Michael Cui’s Restaurant is planned, records show.
Gold Million’s agent is Yong Cui of Dayton, according to state records. The application is for a D2 license, which allows for wine and mixed beverages to be consumed on premises or in original sealed containers for carryout only until 1 a.m., documents show.
Michael Cui told the Dayton Daily News last fall that he had obtained a building permit and hired a general contractor to remodel the site. But he did not plan to open the restaurant for about a year, citing issues related to the economy and the coronavirus.
Remodeling is in its early stages, according to the city.
Kettering Health releases plans for Centerville building
Kettering Health’s plans for a $10 million physician office building at the former Kroger in Centerville Place have cleared a significant hurdle.
A major site plan has been approved for the project, a 66,000-squarefoot facility Centerville officials have said will add jobs, health care options and redevelopment to a site that has been vacant since 2011.
The city’s planning commission voted Tuesday night to approve the proposal — with several conditions — that’s part of 15.2 acres at 1023 S. Main St., Centerville Development Director Michael Norton-Smith said.
Construction documents for zoning and building inspection permits are still needed, but no more approvals are required from the commission or city council for the major site plan, Norton-Smith said.
Kettering Health said Wednesday it was not able to provide the number of jobs expected to be housed at the site. But the city’s approval is a welcome step, the applicant said.
“We’re excited to get going and turning in plans for building permits and we’ll get going as quick as we can get all of our different approvals, municipality-wise,” said John Kopilchack, development director for Synergy Building Systems, a Beavercreek firm representing the landowner.
The one-story facility is expected to open in fall 2022 and will operate under the Kettering Physician Network, according to Kettering Health.
The regional health care provider said the site will include primary care, specialty services, lab and imaging services, and educational, wellness and support programs.
The office building will feature a care team of medical providers, including physicians and advanced practice providers, Kettering Health has said.