Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

Dayton Dining

$7.99 Lunch Specials at Centerville Eatery

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Here’s what’s on the menu:
Monday – Lunch BLT
Bacon, lettuce, tomato & mayo. 390-550 calories

Tuesday – Classic Turkey
Roasted Turkey, lettuce, tomato & mayo. 420-580 calories
 Wednesday – Mediterranean Veg Out
Hummus or cream cheese, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, green pepper & red onion. 370-620 calories
Thursday – Grilled Chicken
Grilled chicken breast, mayo, lettuce & tomato.   450-610 caloreis

Friday – Ham & Cheddar
Ham, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato & mayo. 490-650 calories

Stop by and enjoy a fresh, satisfying lunch—because great food should come at a great price!

My Favorite Muffin

175 E Alex Bell Road
Centerville, OH 45459

937-434-2535

Free Smoothie for National Flip Flop Day

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On Wednesday, May 28, Tropical Smoothie Cafe invites smoothie lovers nationwide to kick off summer and celebrate its annual National Flip Flop Day. Guests that come into a participating Tropical Smoothie Cafe location from 2 to 7 p.m. wearing flip flops will receive a refreshing 12 oz. Sunrise Sunset Smoothie for free*. No purchase is required – just flip flops and summer vibes.

National Flip Flop Day has become a beloved summer tradition and the unofficial start to smoothie season. The holiday sets the tone for the summer months ahead, inviting guests to sit back, relax and sip a while.

This year’s featured beverage is a fan favorite smoothie – the Sunrise Sunset Smoothie – a bold, tropical blend of orange juice, mango, pineapple and strawberries, crafted to deliver the feeling of a mini beachside getaway no matter where you’re based.

“We love giving our guests a reason to pause and enjoy a refreshing taste of the tropics to kick off their summer season,” said Deborah von Kutzleben, Chief Marketing Officer of Tropical Smoothie Café, LLC. “National Flip Flop Day is all about creating experiences that celebrate the joy, fun, and flavor our current guests have come to know and love at Tropical Smoothie Cafe and introduce new guests to Tropic Time.”

 

*One free 12 oz. Sunrise Sunset Smoothie per guest on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, from 2 to 7 p.m. in-cafe at participating locations only. Free smoothie will be applied to lowest priced 12 oz. Sunrise Sunset Smoothie ordered. No modifications. While supplies last.

Burger King® Introduces New Menu Inspired By The How to Train Your Dragon Film

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Calling all Dragon Trainers! Burger King® – in co-promotion with the new live-action How to Train Your Dragon film from Universal Pictures – invites Guests to take a trip to the Isle of Berk with four dragon-inspired takes on fan-favorite menu items. Available starting Tuesday, May 27, the new lineup was developed to help BK and How to Train Your Dragon fans alike celebrate the release of the new film, which soars into theaters on Friday, June 13.

As home of the flame-grilled Whopper®, Burger King is no stranger to fire and reimagining America’s most iconic burger. That’s why BK is inviting Guests to take their tastebuds on a bold and flavorful journey with adventurous new menu offerings, including:

  • Dragon Flame-Grilled Whopper – The star of the show features a 1/4 lb* of flame-grilled beef served on a red-and-orange-marbled bun colored with natural spices and vegetables, topped with American cheese, crispy bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickles, ketchup and mayo.
  • Fiery Dragon Mozzarella Fries – In addition to bringing the flame, BK is bringing the heat with Fiery Dragon Mozzarella Fries, featuring melty mozzarella cheese, peppers and Fiery Calabrian chili pepper-breading for the perfect fiery snack served in a one-of-a-kind Toothless-inspired carton.
  • Soaring Strawberry Lemonade – Soar to new heights and quench your thirst for adventure with the all-new Soaring Strawberry Lemonade, made with real fruit juice**.
  • Viking’s Chocolate Sundae – Finish the adventure with Viking’s Chocolate Sundae, a delicious sweet treat featuring a vanilla soft-serve with HERSHEY’S® chocolate syrup and black & green cookie crumbles.

“At BK, we love to bring partnerships to life that create an awesome experience for families. Our new collaboration with How to Train Your Dragon is going to be fun for both kids and kids at heart,” says Joel Yashinsky, Chief Marketing Officer, Burger King US&C. “Our team has created a delicious menu inspired by the beloved characters and themes of this exciting new movie that brings that experience to Burger King restaurants.”

Additionally, Burger King will launch “Night Fury Flight” – a game inspired by the new film and available exclusively in the BK app and web. From May 27 through July 15, Royal Perks members can play daily to receive exclusive offers and be entered for a chance to win sweepstake prizes, including digital AMC Theatres® gift cards and a grand prize trip for four to Universal Orlando Resort to experience the all-new How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk attraction.

Mudlick Tap House Is Asking For Support of Downtown Businesses

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As a local independent restaurant in downtown Dayton, we’ve always taken pride in being part of this community. But this past week—due to the NATO Summit—has been incredibly difficult. Road closures, parking restrictions, and limited access to downtown meant foot traffic disappeared, and like many small businesses around us, we felt the hit.

What made it even harder was the lack of communication and disregard from the City of Dayton. There was little effort to meaningfully include small businesses in the planning or to mitigate the disruption we would face. Decisions were made without us, even though we’ve been showing up for this city every day—paying taxes, employing local workers, and contributing to the culture, economy and vibrancy of the downtown landscape.
Independent restaurants and shops like ours are part of what makes Dayton special. If you’ve ever shared a meal with us, made memories here, or supported any small downtown businesses—this is the time to show your love. Come downtown. Dine, shop, and help lift up the places that give this city its heartbeat.
Thank you for being part of our story.
Jen & Forrest Williams

Mamacitas Cantina Summer Menu Now Out

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Mamacitas Cantina, a modern Latin fusion restaurant and bar recently celebrated their first anniversay and now they’ve released an updated menu. They say they’ve poured their r hearts into crafting these new dishes, bringing you bold flavors, rich traditions, and a taste of something truly special.

 


 

 

 

Mamacitas Cantina
1060 Patterson Rd,
Dayton, OH 45420
937-640-3180

Sun – Thurs noon – midnight
Fri & Sat noon – 2:30am

Graeter’s Unleashes the Beast Feast!

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Graeter’s Ice Cream has unleashed its latest creation: Beast Feast: Cookie Dough Unleashed.

The limited-time flavor, inspired by Kings Island’s iconic wooden roller coaster, The Beast, debuts today as part of Graeter’s summer Bonus Flavors, the Bake Shop 2025 collection.

The Beast Feast is a thrill ride for your taste buds, featuring monster chunks of sugar cookie dough with colorful rainbow sprinkles swirled into a creamy cookie butter ice cream base.

The flavor is a tribute to the adrenaline-pumping fun of The Beast, which has been thrilling riders since 1979 with its record-breaking 7,361-foot track—more than 1.4 miles long—and a ride time of over four minutes. Kings Island crews recently replaced over 1,600 feet of the coaster’s track, ensuring it remains a legendary experience for years to come.

“This collaboration captures the joy of two Cincinnati icons,” Chip Graeter, fourth-generation owner of Graeter’s Ice Cream said. “It’s cookie dough unleashed, just like the roller coaster itself. You won’t want to miss this one!”

Beast Feast is available for a limited time at Graeter’s scoop shops, by the pint at Graeters.com for nationwide shipping, and by the scoop at Graeter’s location on International Street at Kings Island.

The summer Bonus Flavors lineup also includes Cinnamon Sticky Bun, Blueberry Lemon Crumble, Pineapple Passion Sorbet, Minty Brownie, and Caramel Pecan Cheesecake.

Roadtrip: Taste of Cincinnati

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Kicking off the summer season, Taste of Cincinnati takes to the streets of downtown Cincy on May 24-26 in 2025, serving up Italian, creole, vegetarian/vegan, Hawaiian, and Greek dishes and of course Cincy Region favorite – goetta!–and just about everything you can imagine in between.  So bring your appetites and prepare to dig into some of the tastiest treats from the Cincinnati Region. There will be 80 restaurants, food trucks, and Findlay Market vendors, plus an additional 12 beverage vendors including local breweries and wine.

Taste of Cincinnati  is the nation’s longest running food festival, and one of the largest street festivals in the country. There are 3 stages programed with live entertainment all weekend. Check out the lineup here.

Several downtown streets are closed for this event from 6 p.m. on Friday, May 23, and will reopen at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27. Taste of Cincinnati parking is available in several nearby parking garages and parking lots on Third, Fourth, and Sixth Streets are available. Street closures and parking info will be updated throughout the weekend.

The downtown streetcar, Cincinnati Connector, makes a 3.6-mile loop through the city. It can easily connect you to Taste of Cincinnati and it’s free! Cincy Red Bikes has 52 stations between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky with more than 400 bikes available.  Ride sharing with Uber or Lyft is always available–although prices can rise during peak hours of this event. Parking in Northern Kentucky is another option. The Southbank Shuttle, AKA the trolley, serves Bellevue, Covington, Newport, and Cincinnati and runs every 15 minutes. To walk over The Taylor Southgate Bridge from Newport, or the Roebling Bridge from Covington is no more than 1.5 miles to the event.

Check out Taste of Cincinnati’s website, Facebook, or Instagram for the latest updates on parking, road closures, restaurants, entertainment, and other info. Event guides and maps are also available.

Taste of Cincinnati 2025 Hours & Schedule

Saturday, May 24, 2025 –11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Sunday, May 25, 2025 – 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Monday, May 26, 2025 – 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

There is no admission for Taste of Cincinnati. Menu items range from $4 – $8.

Ramen Comes to Kettering

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Owner Victor Wang and Jonathan Gearheart who owns the tatto shop next door.

Bushido Ramen opens this week in the space he formerly ran as Blossom Juicy Bar (they still serve the Boba Tea)  on Wilmington Pike. Owner Victor Wang told me that he has spent two years studying and practicing the art of creating Ramen. The work is evident. The menu is chocked full of tastes and flavors that span Japanese, Thai, and Chinese flavors. The ramen is more than enough, but the menu is deep with delicious appetizers, rice dishes and a delicious bun sandwich (similar to Vietnamese Bahn Mi).

I was fortunate to join a group from DaytonDining  to spend time with Victor earlier this week and taste the menu.

He has changed the game on the classic edamame appetizer. For the cautious eater stick with the Truffle Edamame. Steamed perfectly, salty with that earthy undertone of truffle oil giving an added punch of flavor the steamed beans. Those of us who like it a bit spicier he tossed the edamame with the signature Bushido Inferno, a delightful pepper oil that we saw again and again later in the menu.

The pepper chicken shouldn’t be skipped and a real surprise was the Fried Tofu. I am not normally a tofu guy, but this firm tofu is fried and drizzled with a sweet soy and spicy mayo. The accompanied cabbage makes this a great light appetizer with sweet, salty, soft, crunchy and deep savory flavors.

Pepper Chicken

Fried Tofu

The Bushido bun stole my heart. A seasoned and breaded pork cutlet, spicy mayo, cabbage on a soft Bao Bun emblazoned with Bushido’s logo for an extra touch. This was one of the best single bites of food I’ve had in Dayton in a long time. Everything clicked with this and I can’t wait to return to have another.
At every course I found myself enjoying new tastes and textures that are not part of my weekly or monthly rotation in Dayton and the south suburbs. I thought I had tasted it all when he brought out a small rice and seaweed hand held. I hate saying hand held, but this rice ball, shaped in a triangle had spicy mayo and tuna layered in between two layers of rice. I can’t describe it and I didn’t get a pic. It’s Victor’s take on a spicy tuna Musabi. Ask for one when you order.
Finally the ramen. Victor has put together a team with an eye for the details. The ramen looked as beautiful as it tasted. I had the spicy pork ramen, on the menu it was labeled Bushido Red. It’s got some spice, but the creamy broth soothed my palate between long slurps on firm noodles that still had a bit of chew. Topped with shredded mushrooms, sprouts and surprisingly a very sweet corn. The soft boiled egg is the cherry on top. The bowl was so full I couldn’t finish, and I tried.

This is a unique addition to Dayton and Kettering’s food scene. The fusion of Asian flavors offers something for everyone. Bobo Tea and Thai Tea’s are both available along with a large assortment of novelty bottled beverages that are sure to be popular with younger eaters.

When you stop in, tell Victor that the team from Dayton937 sent you!

 Bushido Ramen Shop

2607 Wilmington Pike
Dayton, Ohio, 45419

 

Updated Hours :
Wed, Thurs & Sun 4pm – 9pm
Fri & Sat  4pm – 10pm

*will add lunch back when they get their flow down.

Follow them on Instagram

 

Follow The Strawberry Spirits Trail!

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Strawberry Season has arrived in Troy! As the Community is gearing up for the Troy Strawberry Festival (June 7th & 8th) you can take part in the Strawberry Spirits Trial that will be taking place throughout the City.
At a dozen participating locations you will find Strawberry Drinks that are available May 12th thru June 8th. Check out the Virtual Map – HERE

Screenshot

Esther Price’s New Candy Passport Trail

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Esther Price Candies is inviting chocolate lovers to embark on a sweet summer adventure with its new Candy Passport Trail. The three-month event, running from May through July, encourages customers to visit Esther Price retail locations in Cincinnati and Dayton to collect stickers and earn discounts.

Shoppers can pick up a Candy Passport booklet at any Esther Price store now. By visiting all participating stores in either Dayton or Cincinnati, customers can earn a 15% discount on their next purchase. Those who complete both trails will receive a 40% discount.

Doug Dressman, CEO of Esther Price, said, “At Esther Price, summer is the perfect time to slow down, share something sweet, and make memories that stick. For generations, our chocolates have marked life’s quiet celebrations. This season, we’re simply inviting fans to keep writing that story with us.”

Participants have until July 31, 2025, to complete the trail and claim their rewards by bringing their completed passports to any Esther Price retail location. Fans are also encouraged to share their journey on social media using the hashtag #EPCandyPassport for a chance to win additional prizes. A special Father’s Day giveaway is available on the Esther Price website until June 9, 2025.

Collect & Save

Complete the Dayton Trail: Visit all participating stores in the Dayton area to receive 15% off your next purchase.

Complete the Cincinnati Trail: Visit all participating stores in the Cincinnati area to receive 15% off your next purchase.

Conquer Both Trails: Visit all participating stores in both Dayton and Cincinnati areas to receive 40% off your next purchase.

Bring in your completed passport by July 31st, 2025, at any Esther Price retail location to claim your reward.

Locations: Dayton

  1. wayne
    1709 wayne ave., dayton
  2. centerville
    269 n. main st., centerville
  3. airway plaza
    194 woodman dr., dayton
  4. clayton
    4810 bolzano blvd., clayton

    Cincinnati Locations:

  5. west chester
    8621 n. pavilion dr., west chester
  6. kenwood
    7501 montgomery rd., cincinnati
  7. bridgetown
    5500 harrison ave., cincinnati

Applebee’s All You Can Eat is back: Here’s what is included for $15.99

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Applebee’s All You Can Eat is back – and better than ever! Now for a limited time, guests can enjoy an unlimited feast of Applebee’s savory Riblets, Double Crunch Shrimp, and Chicken Tenders with NEW dipping sauces for only $15.99, when dining in.* Plus, all orders are served with endless fries!

Mix, match, and get saucy with Applebee’s All You Can Eat menu featuring a wide variety of flavors, sauces, and proteins including:

    • All You Can Eat Chicken Tenders: Crispy breaded chicken tenders, now dipped in guests’ choice of two savory sauces: Classic Buffalo, Honey BBQ, Sweet Asian Chile, Honey Dijon Mustard, Hot Honey Glaze, NEW Spicy Honey Mustard, House-made Buttermilk Ranch and Bleu Cheese. Dip, dunk, and devour! Served with signature coleslaw and endless classic fries.
    • All You Can Eat Riblets: Expertly cut from the most tender pork for delicious bone-in flavor, our riblets are slow cooked and come dripping in either Honey BBQ or Sweet Asian Chile sauce. Served with signature coleslaw and endless classic fries.
    • All You Can Eat Double Crunch Shrimp: Crispy battered Double Crunch Shrimp are fried golden brown. Served with cocktail sauce, signature coleslaw and endless classic fries.

“Every combination is a win when it comes to our All You Can Eat Riblets, Double Crunch Shrimp, and Chicken Tenders,” said Reid Leslie, Vice President of Marketing, Applebee’s. “Whether starting with Riblets or Chicken Tenders paired with your favorite two sauces, followed by Double Crunch Shrimp, or sticking with your favorite – the combinations are endless!

But the abundance and variety doesn’t stop there. Guests can sip back and relax with Applebee’s Bacardi Buckets in three tasty tropical flavors including the NEW Strawberry Daq-A-Rita, Rum Breeze Bucket, and Party on the Beach Bucket or Applebee’s Cerveza & Sips, featuring the $6 Watermelon Mana Margarita featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s ultra-premium Teremana Tequila Blanco, triple sec, watermelon, and lime.**

Plus, guests of all ages can enjoy Applebee’s NEW Dirty Fountain Sodas! Guests can “dirty up” their favorite soda with a swirl of cream, whipped cream, and a cherry for $1 more.

To find your local restaurant to dine in, visit Applebees.com/restaurants

Sprite Drops Refreshing Take on Tea

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Sprite + Tea hits the market on the heels of last summer’s hit Sprite Chill, which became the No. 1 selling sparkling soft drink innovation at Coca‑Cola in 2024, earning a sustaining spot in the Sprite portfolio lineup. Schaufelberger said the team hopes Sprite + Tea will become a year-over-year seasonal offering like the holiday fan-favorite Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry.

“The Sprite + Tea concept started out as an intern research project, which is really fun and interesting,” adds A.P. Chaney, Senior Creative Director, Sparkling Flavors North America. “When it blew up on TikTok with millions of views, it was a gut check that we were on the right track. Because you never go wrong when you listen to consumers and tap into what they’re doing by becoming part of their everyday.”

Flavor innovations are a growth driver for Sprite, which is now the No. 3 sparkling soft drink brand in North America. LTOs present a fun creative challenge for the Sprite team due to limited time in market and the need to communicate multiple messages. “I love innovations, because we can take bigger swings with our marketing,” Chaney added. “Sprite has never rested on our laurels, so we’ll always continue to push ourselves to do what’s right for our consumers and the business with innovations like Sprite + Tea.”

 

 

Starbucks’ Summer Menu Just Dropped

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Starbucks announces the return of Summer Berry Refreshers, a line of berry-forward Refreshers with flavored popping pearls at the bottom of each drink, a brand-new Strawberries and Cream Cake Pop and the Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso all available as of today at your favorite Starbucks location


-Returning Summer-Berry Refresher:: A sweet summer blend of raspberry, blueberry and blackberry flavors mixed with water, lemonade or coconutmilk and shaken with ice. These beverages are poured over Raspberry Flavored Pearls.

-NEW Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso::Starbucks Blonde Espresso combined with new Horchata syrup that delivers a fusion of cinnamon, vanilla and rice flavors shaken together with ice and topped oatmilk.

-NEW Strawberries & Cream Cake Pop:: Strawberry Cream mixed with buttercream, dipped in chocolaty icing and finished with a strawberry design.

Director’s Cut Wine Dinner

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Immerse yourself in this sensory experience of authentic Italian cuisine

paired with the cinema-inspired wines from Francis Ford Coppola.

Much like a classic film, this four-course dinner unfolds with

anticipation, revealing layers of chef-cra‑ed flavors and thoughtful

wine pairings sure to leave you captivated.

Gulzar’s Indian Cuisine – Now Bigger and Better

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Deepika & Jay

After just 3 years in business Gulzer’s Indian Cuisine has moved.  The new space more than doubles the seating going from 73 seats to 168, which includes private space to reserve for meetings or events.  But don’t panic, they are literally moving just next door to the former Flyboy Deli spot at 219 N. Patterson Blvd, across from the Day Air Ballparkb downtown.

Deepika Singh, who owns the restaurant with her husband Jay, was kind enough to give me a tour, but was quick to point out that all the finishing touches were still in progress as I was taking pictures. She says they really weren’t looking for a new place, but when the space became available, it just seemed like the right thing to do.  She also hinted that they’ll hold on the space next door and that may become an American restaurant in the future.

The transformation of the space is impressive, bringing in the bright colors, wall accents and more to create an Indian flare in the eatery.   The Singh’s are proud to offer a sanctuary wher people can escape the stresses of daily and simply enjoy moments of good food and good company.

A bigger space means a bigger buffet and an addition of an ice cream cooler as well. The buffet is available for lunch, seven days a week and offers many vegetarian options.

You can now sit at the bar and enjoy a mango lassi, cocktail or a bottle of wine with your meal.

Or grab a table across from the bar.

One of two area’s that be reserved for private events:

Also with the new space, a new menu, with Owner Jay and his father, Paramjeet, are the  chefs. Tbey are best known for  recipes from the northern region of India, especially their Karai dishes – which blend three sauces cooked with ginger, garlic, onions, and pepper as a base. In Indian food its all about the curry and gravy’s are the foundation for each dish and then flavors are built from there. Here’s just a peek of the menu:

Monday – Friday, (Lunch Hours) 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM

Gulzer’s Indian Cuisine

219 North Patterson Blvd
Dayton, OH 45402

937-985-9420


Mon Thurs 11am  – 2:30pm and 5-9pm
Fri 11am  – 2:30pm and 5-10pm 
Sat 11am – 3:30pm and 5-10pm
Sun 12 – 3:30 and 5-9pm

Wasabi To Open in Springboro

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After much anticipation Wasabi Japanese Cuisine is ready to open it’s doors in Springboro. Owner Leona Li took a few minutes to talk with us while she was waiting on the health inspector to give them their final occupancy permit.  If all goes well, they will open Friday May 16th at 11am. Located in the former China Cottage space, the 130 seat eatery been remodeled into a serene space with lots of greenery and booth seating, though the kitchen lay out  remains the same with some new equipment.

contributed photo

Leona says she’s worked in restaurants since she was 17 and after 20 years decided it was time to open her own place.  She choose Springboro because she feels it will allow her to create a small town community feel, where she’ll get to know her customers and enjoy a slower pace than big city life.
From expertly crafted sushi and sashimi to sizzling teppanyaki and comforting ramen, the menu is a celebration of traditional Japanese dishes with a modern twist. The menu is vast, offering raw and hibachi options some  fried food and a few signature Chinese dishes as well. Here’s a peek at some of the menu:
Leona explained that all sauces and salad dressing are made in house with fresh ingredients.
Asian Dishes:
While mostly staffed up, they are still currently hiring for servers and hosts.
Wasabi Japanese Cuisine
784 N. Main Street
Springboro, OH 45066
937-907-5010
Mon – Thurs 11am -3pm, 4-9:30pm
Fri 11am -3pm, 4-10:30pm
Sat noon – 10:30pm
Sun noon – 9:30pm

Springboro, OH 45066

937-907-5010

Mon – Thurs 11am -3pm, 4-9:30pm
Fri 11am -3pm, 4-10:30pm
Sat noon – 10:30pm
Sun noon – 9:30pm