For weeks, people dressed in costumes have held signs at the intersection of Linden Avenue and Woodman Drive announcing Dots’ going out of business sales to passing motorists.
The going out of business signs have caused confusion for customers of Dot’s Market, because one of its two stores is located less than two miles away on Patterson Road on the Dayton-Ketteringi border.
Bernhard told me has been fielding calls and queries from customers for weeks.
“We are not closing. We’re here to serve the community just as we have for 63 years,” said Bernhard, a third-generation owner of the grocery store.
Bernhard’s grandfather opened the first Dot’s Market across the street from its current Patterson Road location in 1951. The grocery store also has a location in Bellbrook.
Outlook on banking
In discussing First Financial Bancorp’s results for the January through March quarter last week, Chief Financial Officer Tony Stollings gave reporter Chelsey Levingston an outlook on key banking issues in the year ahead.
“I’d say the interest-rate environment continues to be very challenging. This prolonged low level of rates is making it difficult, even with strong loan volumes, to grow net interest income,” Stollings said.
“Competition is fierce. All banks are out there trying to grow their business, and you need to be careful around pricing and loan structures,” he said. “The regulatory environment continues to be challenging and ever-changing.”
First Financial also announced this past week its third Columbus-area acquisition as the Cincinnati-based bank looks to grow in the Central Ohio market. The acquisitions will benefit First Financial’s results after the deals close later in 2014, Stollings said. He described Columbus as a “very strong, vibrant economic area.”
Flourishing downtown business
A business that started out as an entrepreneurship class assignment in the 1990s continues to thrive in downtown Dayton.
Carli Dixon and her mother, Nancy Hames, started their floral preservation business 20 years ago, and now it’s flourishing at 902 E. Third St.
Freezeframe|Bloombeads’ reach has grown to a national level since the business partners bought their first freeze-dry machine in 1993.
Dixon and Hames chose to preserve flowers, not buy them, and present them as framed art. In 2009, the company expanded products to include Bloombeads, a flower petal jewelry line made from clients’ flowers. The line now includes bracelets, pendants and necklaces, earrings, rosaries, rings, men’s accessories and Pandora-style charm beads.
Our May edition of Dayton B2B magazine features the business with an in-depth article on how it has grown.
Leave a tip
Have a business tip or insider information? Give me a call at (937) 225-0623 or email me at rich.gillette@coxinc.com
Rich Gillette is the Dayton Daily News business editor. Follow him on Twitter at @richgillette
About the Author