August 31, 2026 · Community Guides
Local Favorites: Artisan Coffee, Historic Square Dining, a State Park Beach, a 1920s Theatre & Homemade Pasta
Some weeks we chase the newest coffee shop in town. Other weeks we want a perfectly cooked steak on a historic town square, a long lunch beside a big sparkling lake, an evening under a glowing 1920s theatre marquee, or a huge plate of homemade pasta made by hands that have fed their neighbors for decades.
This week we are traveling across five distinct communities in our network: a beloved family-owned artisan coffee shop in Kettering, an upscale restaurant tucked inside an 1860s building on the Public Square in Troy, a sweeping state park with a sandy beach and a 2,120-acre lake at the edge of Springfield, a beautifully restored 1921 theatre in downtown Sidney, and a longtime family-run Italian kitchen on Main Street in Wilmington. Each one is a locally loved gem that makes this region the wonderful place it is.
EPIC Coffee Shoppe
Kettering · East Stroop Road
There is something special about a coffee shop that is run by the people who own it. EPIC Coffee Shoppe in the Castle Hills Shopping Plaza on East Stroop Road in Kettering is exactly that: a husband-and-wife family business pouring handcrafted artisan coffee and baking fresh desserts for the neighborhood that has quickly come to love it.
The menu goes well beyond the ordinary. Along with well-made espresso drinks like lattes and cappuccinos, regulars rave about house signatures like the warm, spiced Kashmir Campfire chai latte and the indulgent Cookie Monster latte, plus affogato, a scoop of ice cream or gelato crowned with a shot of hot espresso. Handcrafted pastries and desserts round out the case. It is the kind of friendly, locally owned spot where the barista remembers your order and you feel at home from the first visit. EPIC Coffee Shoppe is open Monday through Saturday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It makes mornings in Kettering feel a little more like a treat.
Visit Website
The Caroline
Troy · Public Square
Downtown Troy is one of the most charming small-town squares in Ohio, and right on its southeast corner, in the historic Dye Building built around 1865, you will find The Caroline. It is a family-run American restaurant with real character: classic wood wainscoting, an ornate bronze ceiling, and warm lighting that make every dinner feel like an occasion.
The kitchen specializes in certified Angus beef steaks cooked with care, fresh seafood, hearty salads, and gourmet burgers and appetizers, all paired with craft beers, wine, and specialty drinks. There is even a covered outdoor patio for warm evenings on the square. With a strong 4.3-star reputation and hundreds of reviews, The Caroline has become a go-to for dinner and special occasions across the greater Troy area. For anyone who loves great food in a building full of history, it is a true highlight of Southwest Ohio.
Visit Website
Buck Creek State Park
Springfield · Buck Creek Lane
Just outside downtown Springfield, Buck Creek State Park wraps around the 2,120-acre C.J. Brown Reservoir, and it is one of the finest outdoor escapes in Southwest Ohio. It is centered on a great warm-water lake with a sweeping 2,400-foot sandy beach, a marina, boat launches, and a concession stand, all framed by wooded hills.
There is something for everyone in the family. Swimmers and sunbathers head for the beach, boaters and water skiers enjoy a lake with plenty of room, and anglers fish for walleye, white bass, and crappie. Hikers can wander the Buck Creek Nature Trail for lake views, and the paved Buck Creek multi-use trail connects the park all the way to Springfield's parks. Camping, picnicking, disc golf, and bird watching round out a place that asks only for a day of your time and gives back a full day of sunshine. It is a wonderful, free-to-enter weekend destination for anyone living in or thinking about moving to the Springfield area.
Visit Website
The Historic Sidney Theatre
Sidney · West Poplar Street
Standing in the heart of downtown Sidney is a piece of living history: the Historic Sidney Theatre, which opened in 1921 as the Majestic Theatre and has been a Shelby County landmark ever since. Its bright marquee has been a fixture for generations, and its beautifully restored Classical Revival interior makes every visit feel special.
After sitting vacant for years, the building was lovingly revived around 2009 by the nonprofit Raise the Roof for the Arts and a dedicated community, and today it hosts concerts, live theater, community performances, and first-run film screenings. It is the kind of place that anchors a downtown and draws neighbors out on a Friday night. For anyone who loves small-town charm, great local arts, and architecture worth admiring, the Historic Sidney Theatre is a genuine treasure. There is no better way to see the spirit of Sidney than a night under that glowing marquee.
Visit Website
The Mediterranean Restaurant & Cafe
Wilmington · Main Street
Some of the best meals in Ohio are the ones no one has to advertise, because the whole town already knows. That is exactly the story of The Mediterranean Restaurant & Cafe on East Main Street in Wilmington, known to locals simply as "The Med." It is a family-run kitchen that has been feeding its neighbors for more than twenty years.
The menu celebrates homemade Italian food: generous bowls of baked ziti, fettuccine Alfredo, chicken dishes, bruschetta, white pizza, and a lovely Mediterranean salad, all served in portions that never leave you hungry. With a strong 4.3-star rating and a loyal following built on friendly service and good honest cooking, The Med is a perfect example of the family-owned places that give a small town its soul. For anyone exploring Wilmington, or for locals who already call it home, a meal here is a warm welcome you will not forget.
Visit WebsiteWhat These Five Places Tell Us About This Region
A family-owned coffee shop in Kettering where the barista remembers your order and pours a spiced chai worth getting up for. An upscale steak dinner inside an 1860s building on the Public Square in Troy. A huge sandy beach and a 2,120-acre lake at the edge of Springfield. A restored 1921 theatre whose marquee lights up downtown Sidney on a Friday night. And a family-run Italian kitchen on Main Street in Wilmington that has been feeding its neighbors for over twenty years.
Five places, five communities, each one offering something completely different, and every single one rooted in the same things: a commitment to quality, a pride in place, and a love for what makes this region home.
EPIC Coffee Shoppe chose Kettering because it is a community that values the personal touch of a locally owned business. The Caroline stands in a building that has watched over Troy's square since the Civil War era, a reminder that the best places often have the longest stories. Buck Creek State Park gives Springfield and its neighbors a free, beautiful getaway right in their backyard. The Historic Sidney Theatre is living proof of what a community can do when it rallies around a cherished landmark. And The Med in Wilmington shows that the best food is almost always made by the people who live down the street.
That is the kind of community fabric we value at Glasshouse Realty. Every town in our network has its own character, its own stories, and its own reasons people choose to call it home. Knowing those details is not just part of what we do, it is the reason we love this work.
The Bottom Line
The greater Dayton area is full of places that make it more than just a great housing market, it is a genuinely wonderful place to live. From a handcrafted latte at EPIC Coffee Shoppe in Kettering to a steak dinner at The Caroline in Troy, from a sandy afternoon at Buck Creek State Park near Springfield to a night under the marquee at the Historic Sidney Theatre, from a plate of homemade pasta at The Med in Wilmington, this region offers a quality of life that surprises people every day. If you are thinking about making one of these communities your home, Glasshouse Realty knows every neighborhood, every trail, and every reason why people love living here. The difference is clear.
Ready to Make Greater Dayton Your Home?
Whether you are relocating from across the state or looking for your next home right here in Southwest Ohio, Glasshouse Realty is here to help. Our offices serve communities across the region including Dayton, Kettering, Centerville, Beavercreek, Troy, Sidney, Springfield, Wilmington, Waynesville, and beyond. We know these neighborhoods inside and out, from the best coffee shops to the best state parks to the best theatre marquees and family kitchens. Let us show you what makes this region so special.
Get in TouchPublished August 31, 2026 · Updated August 31, 2026
Love these communities? Let us find your place in one of them.
From Kettering to Troy, from Springfield to Sidney to Wilmington, Southwest Ohio is full of wonderful places worth calling home. Glasshouse Realty knows every one of them.
Get in TouchThinking about a move to Greater Dayton? We can help.
Whether you are relocating from across town or across the state, Glasshouse Realty knows every corner of this market.
Tell us what you are looking for and we will reach out with honest, local insight, no pressure, no scripts.
Schedule a Consultation