For such a small town, New Carlisle sure has had a lot of great businesses over the years. Join us for a trip down memory lane as we bring you the 36 New Carlisle businesses that need to come back to town now.

36. Windows On The Green

Tucked away beneath the Sugar Isle Golf Country pro shop was one of New Carlisle’s finest restaurants at the time. Windows offered everything from steak to chicken. While its time as a New Carlisle eatery was very short and most residents have no idea it even existed, Windows is more than good enough for our top 36 but less than good enough to land at 35.

 

35. Creative Designs

Creative Designs took floral art to the next level with their breathtaking flowers and gifts. If you had a funeral or prom to go to around the turn of the century, you probably visited Creative Designs. Today, the corner building that once housed the greatest floral selection in town is a vacant eyesore. Creative Designs MUST come back.

34. Revco

Revco was a pharmacy that once stood on the corner of Main and Lake. The location, which is now Family Video and was previously Advance Auto Parts, is set to be demolished by Speedway within the next year as part of their new “4-Corners” plan for New Carlisle. Revco offered fair pricing and solid medications. With today’s prescription prices, a little drug store competition could go a long way in New Carlisle as many residents are feeling the squeeze at the register.

33. Players

Players’ fine ales were partially responsible for no fewer than 200 New Carlisle children, and 3000 DUIs in its oh-so-brief history. It gave teens with fake IDs and middle aged divorcees a reason to live. Aside from the occasional stabbing, Players was a great place to drink cheap beer and talk to cheap women or even cheaper men. It breaks our hearts here at M&L that we can’t still hang out at Players.

32. Café Café

This is the first business on our list that once occupied the building currently home to Penny Lane Art Gallery. Café Café was unique to New Carlisle in that its name was the same word repeated, as well as in the hope it gave to a Main St. block that, at the time, was devoid of eateries. We mostly need Café Café back because why not?

31. Fox’s Pizza

Fox’s was a pizza chain out of Pennsylvania that just didn’t quite work in a small town that already had 5 pizza joints. Their pizza was okay, I guess. It was good enough that we really need them back. I mean, I wouldn’t be hurt if they filled one of the vacant storefronts in the Howard’s shopping center. Then again… I don’t know. When Speedway Cafe opens they’ll have pizza. Whatever. Just bring back Fox’s to be on the safe side.

30. Bradfield’s

Most feel Bradfield’s was just located at the old York Steak House spot in the Upper Valley Mall. Those people couldn’t be more wrong. Bradfield’s once opened a restaurant at Sugar Isle and unfortunately it did not do well enough to remain open. At the time however, competition was stiff. Country Connection was approximately the same distance from town and had the luxury of being near 40 and Scotty’s Party Dock drive-thru. I think that if Bradfield’s gave our town another shot they’d find we might treat them with more respect.

29. Wot-A-Dog

Wot-A-Dog’s position on this list was debated for days at M&L. While some of the staff felt it deserved a place in the top 10, others felt it shouldn’t be included at all. It was very difficult to justify having Wot-A-Dog in the top 10 when half the town wanted a Taco Bell to take its place in lieu of it being purchased for reopening. We settled on putting it on the list, but buried deep in the 20’s. We accept the backlash, but chances are you would really prefer to be stuffing your face with gorditas and chalupas instead of foot longs and floats.

28. Bobo’s

Bobo’s was a restaurant that occupied the building that is now Studebaker’s. It offered standard diner meals at fair prices. When the paper ran an unflattering article about health and safety violations at Bobo’s, its fate was sealed. Some believe the photos to have been doctored while others feel that was impossible with the technology of the time. I believe in second chances and while Bobo’s was given several by the suits at the New Carlisle Health Dept, I think they deserve another.  Oh how I long for the days of old when I sat at the bar and ate a burger and fries after work.

27. Main Auto Parts

They should have named this Bad Ass Auto Parts because that’s what it was. If you needed a spark plug or belt then Main had you covered. Main Auto sat in the building that was most recently a used appliance store but was recently torn down. CVS paved this auto enthusiast’s paradise and put up a parking lot.

26. Stull Implement

Stull wasn’t just big. They were huge. If you are a farmer in the Miami Valley and you haven’t heard of Stull then it must suck that your crops failed year after year. While my daughter now understands that it isn’t where deer are made, she still calls it the “Deer Store.” This place was around before Farmers Only, so it was also a good place to pick up a date with a handsome fella or a pretty gal.

 25. Candle House

Generally when someone asks what New Carlisle smells like I tell them it’s a mix between Lee’s Famous Recipe and skunks. There was however a time when New Carlisle was rated “35th Most Fragrant City” in the Miami Valley area. This award truly belonged to the Candle House and maybe Lee’s because without them New Carlisle would have most likely smelled like skunk spray and roadkill. Not only did they make their own candles but they also made scents not found anywhere else. When I got married I chose the Candle House as the first place to visit afterwards to pick up a birthday gift for my grandmother. We need the Candle House so we can breathe without masks again.

Enjoying your trip down memory lane? Click here to view part 2 of New Carlisle businesses that need to come back NOW!