SEMCORP chooses Sidney for giant new plant to offer nearly 1,200 jobs
SEMCORP Advanced Materials Group will build a battery materials manufacturing plant in Sidney, creating nearly 1,200 jobs, the company announced Thursday.
The Dayton News reported in March that the plant will make separator film, a key component in batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). SEMCORP’s products will be used by EV battery makers across North America.
James Shih, SEMCORP’s group vice president of global projects, told the Dayton Daily News Thursday that Intel’s plans to build two large semi-conductor production complexes west of Columbus did not influence his company’s decision to come to Ohio.
Instead, proximity to customers, current and prospective, pulled the company to Sidney, as did the experience of another global Chinese company, Moraine’s Fuyao Glass America.
One of SEMCORP’s biggest customers “plans to build multiple plants within one day’s driving distancing of Sidney,” Shih said, adding that he could not identify that company Thursday.
Labor was also a big consideration, he said. He believes the company is already hiring and large-scale recruiting of rank-and-file workers will likely begin next year.
Ohio competed with Texas for the jobs, according to the Dayton Development Coalition.
The facility, expected to create $73 million in annual payroll and $916 million in capital investment, will be located at the Sidney Industrial Park at Millcreek and Kuther roads.
The 850,000-square-foot facility represents the largest foreign direct investment in Ohio, according to JobsOhio, the state’s economic development arm.
Market, sandwich shop to open this month
A new neighborhood market and sandwich shop is expected to open by the end of the month in downtown Dayton’s Fire Blocks District.
Justin Simmons and Kathleen Roll, a husband and wife team, are opening Tony & Pete’s Groceries and Coldcuts at 129 E. Third St.
Roll was born and raised in the Dayton area. Simmons moved here in 2007 to attend Wright State University — that’s where the couple met. The couple said they previously lived and worked in downtown Dayton for a decade before moving to Chicago several years ago. Now, they are back in the Dayton area.
“This concept specifically was born out of the pandemic. When we were kind of pulled away in our apartment in Chicago, we were relying on small markets like this to feed ourselves,” Roll said.
Tony & Pete’s will have a small, curated selection of staple grocery items including fresh produce, milk, eggs, beer and wine. The couple said they are hoping to work with local vendors to stock their shelves.
The 2,100 square-foot business will also have multiple old-school sandwich counters. The couple explained the menu will include mostly coldcut sandwiches, a few warm sandwiches, salads and sides.
Tony & Pete’s is expected to open at the end of May, the couple said.
The name of the business is a nod to Simmons’ dad, Tony, and Roll’s dad, Pete.
Coldwater Cafe recognized
A Tipp City cafe is the only Dayton-area restaurant to make the top 10 list for Best Overall Restaurants in the Cincinnati/Dayton area, according to the OpenTable Diner’s Choice Awards.
Coldwater Cafe, located at 19 E. Main St. in Tipp City, was spotlighted alongside nine Cincinnati-area restaurants including Nolia Kitchen, Sotto, Pepp & Dolores, BOCA, Oriental Wok - Cincinnati, Salazar, Alfio’s buon cibo, Carlo & Johnny and Wodka Bar.
Each month OpenTable looks at more than 400,000 new diner reviews.
Coldwater Cafe, housed in a former bank building, features a European-styled dining room and a bank vault dining room. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner with a seasonal rotating menu Tuesday through Saturday.
OpenTable also chooses winners in the Best Food, Best Service, Best Ambiance and Best Value categories:
Fleming’s Steakhouse in Beavercreek was included in the top 10 list for Best Service.
Tavolo Modern Italian in Sidney and the Submarine House in Kettering was included in the top 10 list for Best Ambiance.
The Submarine House in Kettering and the Rusty Bucket in Dayton was included in the top 10 list for Best Value.
Culver’s opens Miller Lane location
A fast-food restaurant chain specializing in Butter Burgers and Fresh Frozen Custard has opened its closest location to Dayton.
Culver’s, a Wisconsin-based restaurant chain, is now open at 6425 Miller Lane in Vandalia. The restaurant held its grand opening on Monday, May 2.
Mark Myers, who owns the restaurant with his wife, Jeanette, in partnership with the Potts Family said, “The welcome from the community has been phenomenal.”
He explained that prior to opening the new location, he couldn’t go anywhere with his name tag on in the Dayton area without someone mentioning the Vandalia location.
The Potts Family launched the Culver’s restaurant chain in Troy in 2004 and added the Sidney location in 2007. Myers said his family is long-time friends with the Potts Family.
Culver’s offers more than made-to-order ButterBurgers and Fresh Frozen Custard, which Myers describes as “silk on a spoon.” He said they have several “hidden gems” including the pot roast, pork loin or veggie burger.
If you aren’t familiar with Culver’s, Myers described it as a fast-food restaurant that is almost like a diner. Their location has a double drive-thru with runners taking the food to cars and an inside dining area where you order your food at the counter and it is brought to you.
Hamburger Wagon recognized by CNN
A popular food cart right here in the Miami Valley is getting national attention as one of five burger joints still serving fresh, original, American hamburgers in the United States.
CNN Travel featured the Hamburger Wagon, usually parked at 12 E. Central Ave. in Miamisburg, in its latest article, “How the hamburger became an American staple -and where to get classic burgers today.”
The Hamburger Wagon has been serving up crispy sliders topped with giant pickle slices since 1913.
Over a century later, the ingredients, condiments or preparation of the burgers has not changed.
Other burger joints featured in the article include:
- Louis’ Lunch in New Haven, Connecticut
- White Manna in Hackensack, New Jersey
- Powers Hamburgers in Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Cozy Inn in Salina, Kansas The Hamburger Wagon is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.
Ha Ha Pizza owner look to sell business
A well-known pizza shop that has been in Yellow Springs for 50 years is seeking new ownership.
“I’m not looking just to get out, I’m trying to pass a torch,” B.J. Walters, the owner of Ha Ha Pizza said.
The pizza shop has been for sale for four to five years, but many people did not know.
Walters explained that he wanted somebody local to take over, but after he felt feeling like he had burned through that option, he opened it up to everyone.
In recent months, he added a sign to the building that says the business is for sale and who people should call if interested. Walters is working with Brandon Owens, the owner and broker at First Choice Business Brokers, to sell the pizza shop.
Walters took over ownership of the pizza shop in 2005 after working for the previous owner, Larry Lookabaugh, for about eight years. He explained that he is ready to retire and do the things that he hasn’t been able to do over the last 17 years. This includes fishing, traveling and spending more time with his wife and two sons.
Legend has it Ha Ha Pizza was started around 1971 by Antioch College students or at least by people who lived at Antioch. Walters said the story that he has passed down is the students didn’t want to be serious about it, so they would say “ha ha we’re closed” and hang up on people when they made enough money for the day.
Third Eye Brewing considering Hamilton location
A popular brewery in the region has chosen Hamilton to locate a second business.
Third Eye Brewing, on Chester Road in Sharonville, will open a more than 10,000-square-foot production facility, Hamilton officials said. This will increase the brewery’s production from 2,000 to 10,000 barrels and allow for it to grow if necessary.
The new facility will be on Ohio 4 in a former Pepsi plant and will have lower-level space for large-scale barrel aging. It will feature a covered outdoor patio and full kitchen. It also will have space for private events.
“Their increase in barrel production, along with a location to enjoy their craft beer and food, adds another chapter to Hamilton’s rich brewing and entertainment history,” said Hamilton Mayor Pat Moeller. “Making great beer is part of the history of Hamilton.”
The city’s news release said the $3.1 million expansion project is set to open in early 2023.
Jubie’s Creamery opening second location
A Fairborn ice cream shop, owned and operated by a Miami Valley native, is opening a second location in Moraine next week.
Jubie’s Creamery will open at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 12 at 2749 W. Alex Bell Road, in the former Heartland Pharmacy location.
Julie Domicone owns the ice cream shop with her father, Fred, and mother, Stacey. Her father has owned and operated Domicone Printing on Kauffman Avenue in Fairborn for 50 years. Her mother purchased the Fairborn Jubie’s location, 471 W. Dayton Yellow Springs Road, in 2011 and the family opened the ice cream shop in 2018.
Jubie’s Creamery is a “onestop ice cream shop” with 32 flavors of home-made ice cream. This includes, Choc-ALot, its nationally acclaimed flavor. The ice cream shop also has a soft-serve custard that Julie described as denser and richer than a typical softserve. Guest can order traditional scoops, sundaes, shakes, blasts, parfaits and much more!