3 abrupt closings near the Dayton Mall that shocked us

Three local businesses caught the Dayton community off guard when they shut their doors for good at the end of May.

One local retailer, Winans Chocolates + Coffees, had operated in its space in front of the Dayton Mall for more than a decade.

>>MORE: Dayton restaurant closes after less than 2 years

The other two establishments each had shorter runs in the Dayton-area.

All three closings were within 3 miles of the Dayton Mall:

1. Zoup!

Both Dayton-area Zoup! restaurants have shut down permanently, including the one located just 2.2 miles away from the Dayton Mall on Ohio 725.

Zoup franchise owners opened their first Dayton-area restaurant adjacent to Whole Foods on Ohio 725 in Washington Twp., and opened its second location at 5235 Cornerstone North Boulevard in the Cornerstone of Centerville development in Centerville just four months ago. Initial plans called for the franchise owners, Kevin Forrer and Brian Wood, to open two more Dayton-area locations.

But Forrer said Tuesday that poor sales at both locations were the primary factor in the decision to close.

“Unfortunately, it just didn’t work out,” he said.

>>FULL STORY: Both Dayton-area Zoup! restaurants shut down abruptly

2. Winans Chocolates + Coffees

A retail store that has served customers chocolates, coffee and wine for more than a decade in front of the Dayton Mall shut down permanently.

The final day for Winans Chocolates + Coffees — which sold chocolates, coffee and wine — was Monday, May 21, according to Ben Czajka, the franchisee who oversees the Dayton-area stores for the Piqua-based Winans.

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“The lease at the Dayton Mall location — it was a 10 year lease — has been up for over a year now, and we recently, about a year ago, opened (a shop) on Feedwire Road, so that gave us three locations in the Centerville area,” Czajka said. The third location is on Far Hills Avenue in Washington Twp. just north of Centerville.

Laurie Winans Reiser, co-owner of Winans, said the closure was “based on the changing retail climate around the 725/741 corridor.”

>>FULL STORY: Coffee and chocolate shop closes at the Dayton Mall after more than a decade

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3. Cardboard Crowns

Gamer bar and cafe Cardboard Crowns, which opened last October near the Dayton Mall, shut its doors after the close of business on Sunday, May 27.

The lack of foot traffic and revenue for Cardboard Crowns’ business model led to the decision to close,

founder Ben T. Adams said.

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Adams said he is seeking a buyer for the business “or an interested party looking for a turn-key space to open a Bar/cafe-type business in our location with a liquor license that would convey with the space.” The 3,500-square-foot bar/cafe is located at 147 N. Springboro Pike (Ohio 741) in the Corners at the Mall retail center in Miamisburg.

“We are very grateful to the Dayton board-game community for all of their support, and we look forward to continuing to do what we can to support the Dayton area's board gaming community.”

>>FULL STORY: Local gamer bar Cardboard Crowns to shut down after 7 months

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