Boston Stoker Coffee Co.
Credit: Submitted Photo
Credit: Submitted Photo
Background: Boston Stoker, a family-owned company, was founded by Don and Sally Dean as a pipe and tobacco shop in Englewood in 1973. The Deans started offering free, freshly brewed specialty coffee to their customers as a way to build their customer base.
From that point on, the company focused on the freshness and quality of coffee being produced. Today, Boston Stoker is owned and operated by the second generation of the Dean family.
Gift idea: Give the gift of coffee this holiday season. Best sellers include Reserva del 1973, Legendary Espresso, Original Grogg, Heart to Honduras Original Grogg, Hacienda La Minita and Hazelnut.
A 12 oz. bag of Original Grogg is $16. For more information, visit bostonstoker.com.
Cassano’s Pizza King
Credit: Facebook Photo
Credit: Facebook Photo
Background: Dayton’s first bite of pizza came from the back of a Kettering party supply and grocery store.
Vic Cassano Sr., the son of Italian immigrants, and his mother-in-law, Caroline “Mom” Donisi, started Dayton’s first pizza shop. Cassano’s Pizza King opened in a 20-by-15 foot room at West Schantz Avenue and Patterson Boulevard on June 4, 1953.
Cassano Sr. retired in 1986 and his son Vic Cassano Jr. bought the company. Today, the third generation runs the company.
Gift idea: Customers can share the taste of Cassano’s by buying three-packs or six-packs of pizzas. You can choose from classic cheese, deluxe, pepperoni or a variety pack.
A three-pack of classic deluxe pizzas are $98. For more information, visit cassanos.com/shop.
Dorothy Lane Market
Background: Dorothy Lane Market is the official online store for Killer Brownie. The Killer Brownie Company is owned and operated by the same family as Dorothy Lane Market.
The Original Killer Brownie has been sold in the bakery since 1988
Gift idea: From the Original Killer Brownie with multiple layers of chocolate brownie, caramel and chopped pecans to the Cookie Dough Killer Brownie that combines the Triple Chocolate Brownie with the taste of homemade cookies, customers have several brownies to choose from.
A four count, create-your-own gift tin is $35. For more information, visit dorothylane.com/category/killer-brownie.
Esther Price
Background: In 1926, Esther Price, a downtown Dayton department store employee, took advice from her co-workers and started a chocolate-making business out of her home. Price continued baking and selling chocolates out of her home until 1952, when she opened her first store on Wayne Avenue.
In 1976, four friends- Jim Day, Ralph Schmidt, Jim Bates and Joe Haarmeyer - bought the chocolate company from Price. Schmidt and Day later bought out the other partners just a few years later, and Esther Price Candies has been owned by the Day family since Schmidt’s passing in 2006.
The same chocolate recipe that Price used in 1926 is the one Day still uses today.
Gift idea: From an assorted box of milk or dark chocolates to chocolate covered potato chips, caramel pecans or chocolate covered cherries, customers can find a little bit of everything at Esther Price.
An 8 oz. box of assorted chocolates is $10.95 and a 12 oz. box of chocolate covered potato chips is $16.75. For more information, visit estherprice.com.
Pine Club
Background: Since 1947, The Pine Club has been serving mouth-watering filets garnished with onion rings and a classic side of stewed tomatoes.
Jim Sullivan purchased Lonnie’s Bar on Brown Street in 1947 and after installing pine paneling on the walls, he changed the name to The Pine Club. Less than 10 years later, Lloyd Meinzer purchased the restaurant and added the south part of the dining room and increased the size of the bar. The third owner, David Hulme, purchased The Pine Club in 1979 and sold the restaurant in 2018. Current ownership remains anonymous and had bought the restaurant for its love of The Pine Club.
Gift idea: The Pine Club sells its steaks, steak sauce, lobster tail, house dressing and stewed tomatoes for retail. Customers can buy a four strip sirloin steak box with a pint of house dressing and a pint of stewed tomatoes for $155.
The restaurant recently partnered with Esther Price Candies to create the “After Dinner Sweet” — a limited edition box of chocolates.
The “After Dinner Sweet” is available in standalone boxes or as an add-on to a Pine Club steaks order, while supplies last during the holiday season. Four boxes of chocolates are $99.95 or an add-on box is $19.95. For more information, visit thepineclub.com.
Smales Pretzel Bakery
Credit: Photo: Amelia Robinson
Credit: Photo: Amelia Robinson
Background: Smales, located at 210 Xenia Ave., has a long history in the Gem City.
The bakery began with German-born Rudie Schaaf opening Gem City Pretzel on Warren Street in 1906, not long after he arrived in Dayton. The shop’s current location dates back to 1926, when his daughter, Emma, moved it there and renamed it.
Today, Emma Smales is the fifth generation in her family to own the bakery famous for its hand-twisted soft pretzels and hard pretzels.
Gift idea: Smales’ famous traditional Dutch-style hard pretzels and Bavarian-style hard pretzels are available for purchase online.
A 25 count of hard pretzels is $9.25. For more information, visit smalespretzels.com.
Submarine House
Credit: Submitted Photo
Credit: Submitted Photo
Background: The very first Submarine House was opened in 1973 on Brown Street near the University of Dayton by Doug Kidd. It was the first in the area to introduce the east coast style cheesesteak sub. Today, the Submarine House has nine locations in the Dayton region, in addition to a restaurant in Hilliard.
Gift idea: Customers who purchase a $50 gift card through Dec. 31 will receive a gift bag filled with an 8 oz. jar of the restaurant’s famous hot pepper relish, a shaker of its signature steak spice and a $5 gift card for a future visit.
The gift bag can be purchased separately for $13.99. For more information, visit submarinehouse.com.
Warped Wing
Background: Business partners Nick Bowman and John Haggerty may seem an unlikely pair on paper. While a decade apart in age and with differing professional expertise, the Warped Wing Brewing Company duo have used each other’s unique brand of skills to build a company that is thriving over 10 years later.
The original taproom and full-scale production brewery opened in January 2014 at 26 Wyandot St. in Dayton. Warped Wing has three other locations in Huber Heights, Mason and Springboro.
Gift idea: The brewery has over 20 beer styles to choose from with several favorites available to be shipped in Ohio. A 12-pack of Trotwood Lager is $16.99.
Warped Wing recently collaborated with Esther Price Candies for a “Sweetheart Peppermint Porter.” For more information, visit warpedwing.com.
If you would like your business added to this list, email natalie.jones@coxinc.com.
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