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July 27, 2005
Sara Benjamin's hosting hot sale
If taking a stroll around The Strand, you may do a double take and rub your eyes with balled-up fists when the words “50% to 70% off” present themselves.
The advertisement for the sale is like a small mural spread across the front windows of Sara Benjamin’s, who is currently hosting the sale to liquidate their summer attire selection.
Although it is still mid-summer, it is time to start concentrating on a cooler Autumn, and this fall’s clothing selection is starting to make its way onto the specialty boutique’s shelves and hangers.
“Yes, it still feels like summer to us, but we like to keep things very fresh around here, in terms of our merchandise,” owner Lori Tanzer said.
The sale is 50 to 70 percent off the original price of all spring and summer selections.
Sara Benjamin’s is also selling Chip & Pepper and Paige Premium Denim styles of jeans, which are widely popular amongst buyers today.
“These two styles are very hot on the market right now,” Tanzer said.
Sara Benjamin’s is located at 6810 Wooster Pike, between Starbucks and The Dilly Deli in The Strand. For more information on the sale or other items, call 272-2280.
Posted by johnston at 11:32 AM
July 23, 2005
A change in Name for the Travel Authority
The Travel Authority has a reputation for offering exceptional service to Mariemont villagers in the area of vacation packages.
Now they are official agents for American Express.
"We will be offering American Express Traveler Cheques, Gift Cards, and other services offered by the largest travel company in the World," Gail Carpenter, manager of the newly named The Travel Authority/American Express, said.
Customers will receive upgraded amenities on luxury worldwide cruise lines like Crystal, Radisson, Silverseas and Seabourn.
Check on value priced escapes to the newest luxury "all inclusive" resorts in the Mayan Riviera via one of the nonstop charter flights from Cincinnati or take advantage of the new non-stop Delta Flights to Jamaica.
Experience "old world caribbean elegance at the Luxury Half Moon Bay, the New Ritz Carlton in Montego Bay or a laid back small casual resort on seven mile beach in Negril. Enjoy a 5 to 7 night getaway starting at $989 per person including flight, hotel accommodations, all meals, and beverages including alcohol.
For 2006 there will be available specially priced group departures to popular destinations with Globus Vacations to Italy, Prague and Budapest or experience the grandeur of river cruising through Europe.
"Let the agents at The Travel Authority/American Express plan your fall or winter vacation. Now is the time to take advantage of special pricing for the fall value season in the Caribbean, or secure your desired date for escaping the Cincinnati winter," Carpenter said.
For more information, visit the The Travel Authority/American Express office at 6800 Wooster Pike or call 272-2887, fax 272-4355 or toll free (1-888)853-7448.
You may also visit http
Posted by johnston at 10:52 AM
July 18, 2005
A fresh new look at Eastern Hills Dry Cleaners
Joe Witschger, Jr. and I walk into Demetrio’s on Plainville Road and he directs me to sit in the booth in the far front corner near the neon sign.
I order a cup of coffee and he a cold drink after he chums it up with the waitress.
“You know where we are seated,” Witschger said, “is exactly where my father and grandfather opened the business.”
I look around, taking in all the dining tables, and the only thing I can mutter is, “really?”
Before Demetrio’s, the restaurant was called the Camargo Inn; and it was in the back room of that establishment (the present front left corner of the restaurant) that Eastern Hill Dry Cleaners opened for business in 1950.
Witschger, the owner of Eastern Hills Dry Cleaners, nods his head affirmatively.
“Yep, we are seated in the exact spot where my business started,” he said.
Due to the success of the dry cleaning business, operations moved to the vacant building next to the restaurant, at 4020 Plainville Road.
Witschger’s philosophy is simple but aptly applied: “We are dealing with people and families and we clean their clothes. So, I am responsible for making them look good.”
There is a drop off and pick up spot located in the Strand on Wooster Pike, next to the Dilly Deli and Sara Benjamin’s. If a customer brings in an article of clothing at 9 a.m. they can expect to have it cleaned and ready for pick-up by 5 p.m.
The dry cleaning business is no different than any other well-run business - the objective is quality and great customer service.
And many of his customers he has seen since they were children.
“I came here to work for my dad for my high school co-op job. I ended up staying at my co-op job and ultimately buying the business from my dad,” Witschger said..
“And I know a lot of people by their faces and first names. I have seen people grow up, get married, and then bring their kids in,” he said.
Albert Witschger, Joe’s grandfather who helped open the business, had a motto that said: “If we please you, tell others; if not, tell us.”
And it is pleasing his customers in which Joe takes the most pride.
“I really like taking the time ensuring a woman’s wedding dress is clean for her wedding or doing whatever necessary that will make that important time in her life less stressful,” Witschger said. “If that means taking the dress to the church and dropping it off for her, just so that things run more smooth, then that is what I will do.
“I want to make that particular day in a woman’s life as enjoyable as it should be.”
Eastern Hills Dry Cleaners also accepts the Kroger Plus Card, which allows 10 percent off regular priced dry cleaned items.
During the course of the year, Witschger will off all sorts of specials on sweaters, coats, wedding dresses, and a slew of other articles of clothing.
Presently, a customer can have six shirts laundered for $10.99 and plain sweaters for $2.50 each with the Kroger Card.
The hours of operation for the main store are 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday and closed on Sunday. Hours of operation at the Mariemont store are 6:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday and closed on Sunday.
For more information, call 271-6488 (main store) or 272-6488 (Mariemont store), and people may e-mail comments to Witschger at EHCleaners@fuse.net
Posted by johnston at 03:43 PM
July 15, 2005
Dilly Deli: Updated tastes on tap
The Dilly Deli is not considered one of the top 50 beer and wine sellers in the country because they sell the same run-of-the-mill products as everyone else.
Owners Chuck and Robbie Warinner are incessantly researching for the newest international tastes and flavors with the intention of providing the latest top sellers to the Tri-State area.
“The beers are changin’,” Chuck and Robbie said, updating their beer list.
New to the Dilly Deli are the Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale, the Victory Brewing Prima Pils, the LaRulles Tripel (which will be on tap) and the Stone Imperial Russian Stout (also on tap). The new beers are replacing the erstwhile Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Smithwicks, and the LaChouffe and the Stone IPA for a temporary period of time.
The Dilly Deli also has an updated wine list, offering the newest Australian wines on the market.
“We have collected a cabal of Aussie reds - deep, complex wines that are exceptional for their price point ... all terrific wine,” ownership said. “And, tragically, all five are limited production wines.”
The new wines include:
Brothers in Arms No. 6 Langhorne Creek for $17.99, a blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon
Cimicky Trumps Barossa for $17.99, a Grenache/Shiraz aged in American Oak. It is considered by experts as “one of the finest buys in the red wine marketplace.”
Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Ridge Barossa Cuvee Barossa for $18.99
Woop Woop The Black Chook South Australian for $18.99, a Stelvin screw-cap finished blend of 95 percent Shiraz and five percent Viognier.
And...
the Yering Station Pinor Noir Yarra Valley for $17.99
The Dilly Deli is located at 6818 Wooster Pike in Mariemont. For more information, call 561-5233.
Posted by johnston at 12:34 AM
July 06, 2005
Mariemont Mio's an original, fresh experience
Mariemont Mio’s owner Jim Shaner bought the pizzeria in 1998 because, well, he liked the pizza.
“The appeal was that Mio’s pizza was the only pizza in town (Cincinnati) I liked. I liked it so much I bought the store,” Shaner said.
He said one of the aspects that make Mio’s pizza so appealing is the crust, which is made of fresh dough prepared daily.
“Most pizza places use frozen dough. Fresh dough is obviously better. It doesn’t last as long, as most good bread doesn’t last long after being made,” Shaner said.
Mio’s employees roll just enough dough everyday to get though the day.
The company was started in 1975 by Ray Spurlock, who dedicated much of his time traveling across the country, predominately Chicago and New York City, researching and studying the craft of making great pizzas. He researched the best methods of rolling dough, making sauces and what ingredients resulted in the best pizza tastes.
“Our original crust recipe cannot be beat,” Shaner boasts.
The Mariemont Mio’s is located in the village square, beside The Villager and across the street from Mariemont Inn and Best Western National Exemplar. The restaurant is known for its pizzas, calzones, soups, pastas, salads, hoagies and cheesecakes.
And the pizzeria is constantly offering new items. For example, right now Mio’s os offering a seafood pizza, topped with crab, shrimp, onions, sauteed mushrooms and white wine.
There are monthly specials, too.
Each Monday and Tuesday Mio’s caters to the kids.
“We let kids come in and make their own pizza,” manager Mark McDuffie said. “They put it together and we will bake it.”
As can be imagined, many of the pizzas aren’t the normal run-of-the-mill concoctions.
“We have done pizzas that the child just wanted sauce. We just baked one for a child that made a pizza topped with pickles,” McDuffie said.
Each month, Shaner awards six free pizzas to the six best works of art made by children that come to Mio’s.
Along with the regular condiments, each table has Trivia cards and crayons. With the crayons, the children can make their own pictures. At the end of each month, the Mio’s employees will select what they believe are the best or most funny pictures, hang them on the pizzeria’s walls and the winners receive a free pizza.
And each Monday is “All You Can Eat” spaghetti for $6.95.
Mio’s also delivers, ranging from Mariemont, Fairfax, Madisonville, Newtown, Terrace Park, Madeira and parts of Indian Hill. Hours of operation are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday thru Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Presently, anyone who attends a Wednesday night movie at the Mariemont Theatre will also receive 20 percent off their meal if they visit Mio’s on a Wednesday as long as they have their ticket stub and coupon available at the theatre’s counter.
Posted by johnston at 11:12 PM