Despite the economic challenges faced by many small towns, the folks in Tipp have managed to open a number of new retail establishments in recent years.
“Last year we had nine new retail spaces open,” says Liz Sonnanstine, executive director of the Tipp City Chamber of Commerce, who moved to town with her husband and two kids in 2009 to live on her husband’s family farm.
History
The small town, with a population of 10,000, dates back to 1840, when it was the hub of shipping and trading activity on the Erie Canal. You can still see the remaining canal lock in Canal Lock Park on Main Street.
Originally founded as Tippecanoe City, the town was named after presidential candidate William Henry Harrison, whose campaign nickname was Tippecanoe. His earned his nickname after the historic Battle of Tippecanoe on Nov. 7, 1811.
What to expect
What’s nice about spending the day in a small town is that folks are extremely friendly and always happy to spend time chatting. Many of the shops and restaurants are located in historic buildings and shopkeepers are delighted to share both history and anecdotes.
Though times and days vary from store to store, if you’re planning to head to Tipp, it’s best to visit between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturdays, when you’ll find most places open. Check out visittippcity.org to see a list of businesses in town. Parking is free everywhere and most establishments are located on or right off Main Street.
If you’re interested in local history, you may want to schedule your visit for a Wednesday afternoon when the Tippecanoe Historical Museum, corner of Third and Walnut Street, is open, from 1 to 4 p.m. You’ll see factory artifacts, a photos of the canal, the register book from the old hotel, and a room filled with school memorabilia.
Begin your shopping outing at The Hotel Gallery, 109 E. Main St. The old hotel, which dates back to 1850, has been turned into a series of 22 gift and art galleries filled with treasures.
You’ll find everything from jewelry and clothing of natural fibers to paintings and handcrafted functional and decorative pottery. Gallery owners Steve and Sally Watson are experts on Tipp City and also own Carriage House Florist, a small shop with some lovely terrariums.
Sally is a potter who has created an amazing amount of work that’s for sale. Steve, who grew up in Tipp City, is a well-known downtown historic property developer.
Their Tippecanoe Room at The Hotel Gallery is available for meetings and events and the Gallery offers live entertainment on Friday nights.
Shops worth a stop
• Living Simply Soap (112 E. Main St.) is the new “must-see” in town. The shop is beautifully designed and the soaps look and smell so yummy. Tanya Brown and her two sons — Jake and Clay — have been in business just one year, making and selling hundreds of varieties of soaps. The soaps are made in the upstairs soap kitchen and range from $3.95 to $5.25 a bar.
• Hapinstance Designs at 32 E. Main St. is located in a building that formerly housed Down A Country Lane. The complex, run by three friends, now features children’s gifts and clothing, home furnishings, women’s clothing and accessories.
• Cupcakes are all the rage, and Kristy Reese has capitalized on the trend by opening Sweet by Kristy just a year ago at 31 E. Main St. She makes a variety of cupcakes every day, including Brutus Buckeye and Rocky Road, and they sell for $3 each.
• Right next door is Cairns Toys, owned by Kristy’s mom, Melissa, who has been in business for 29 years. She started with antiques, then began making teddy bears, and the jam-packed little toy shop is filled with toys for every age group, including adults. Melissa stocks Corolle dolls, Schleich animals for imaginary play, and has a huge selection of Playmobil products. There are puppets, dress-up clothing, baby items, games and puzzles.
“I try to get things that aren’t battery-operated,” Melissa told us.
• At The Tin Peddler (113 E. Main St.), Jim DeCurtins and his son Zach create Early American reproductions of tin lighting using simple tools. The shop, which has been around since 1974, carries both authentic reproductions of 18th and 19th century lanterns, lamps, sconces and chandeliers, as well as original and custom designs. The shop has recently opened a room that sells decorative accessories for country colonial homes.
• The Golden Leaf sells everything from loose-leaf teas to custom herb blends. Enjoy a cup of tea while you’re shopping. M&J’s (between First and Second streets) sells all kinds of gifts — wreaths, paintings, table settings and clothing.
• Vera Bradley lovers won’t want to miss Urban Ava Boutique, a women’s clothing and accessories boutique with lots of the popular patterned Vera Bradley handbags. It’s at 27 E. Main St.
• Folks have traditionally come to Tipp in search of antiques. You’ll meet shoppers on the lookout for collectibles and old furnishings. Check out Benkin’s (14 E. Main St.), Midwest Memories, (24 W. Main St.), Patriot Antique Shoppe (15 N. Second St.) and Eunice’s Antiques on Main (114 E. Main St.). Upstairs at Benkin’s, you’ll find Gallery 14 featuring local art.
• If you like thrift shops, you’ll want to stop at The Clothesline, 22 N. Second St. It’s run by several area churches and is packed to the brim with vintage clothing of all kinds.
Where to grab a bite
When it’s time for lunch or a snack, there are some wonderful locally owned options in Tipp City.
Favorites are the French country Coldwater Cafe, housed in a former bank building at 19 E. Main St., and Harrison’s at 106 E. Main St., which serves American fare and also hosts the wonderful “What a Girl Wants Fashion Show and Concert for a Cure” for breast cancer survivors each May.
Those in the mood for barbecue can visit Hickory River Smoke House near I-75, and if you love diners, Sam & Ethel’s at 120 E. Main St., has been around since 1944. It most recently changed hands in 2009 and owner Keith Long has preserved some of the old favorites such as the big pancakes and the Tippecanoe breaded and deep-fried tenderloin sandwich.
Coffee shops for a mid-morning or afternoon break include Grounds For Pleasure (115 E. Main St.) and the Old Tippecanoe Coffee Company (22 N. Second St.).
COMING UP
Here’s what’s coming up in June:
• The popular Farmer’s Market is held at Fourth and Main streets from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays through September. It kicks off June 9.
• Canal Music Fest is a free community event slated for Saturday, June 9. The event features “Parrots of the Caribbean,” a Jimmy Buffett tribute band. Food and drinks start at 6:30 p.m., the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. It’s held at Tipp City Park on Park Avenue.
• Community Night Outdoor Concerts in Tipp are a Friday night hometown tradition featuring big bands. The series, at Second and Main streets, is held on the first Friday night of each month from June through September. The first concert is June 1.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2440 orMMoss@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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