Antiques, Boutiques and Yummy Eats in Tipp City

This week, I decided to pay my favorite small town a visit and see Tipp City. Just about 30 minutes away from campus, the sleepy little downtown has been one of my favorite places to visit since my freshman year; my parents and I almost always make a stop when they’re in town.
The darling downtown is lined with antiques shops, cute boutiques and Sam and Ethel’s, a mom and pop diner. Although I haven’t eaten there for lunch, their breakfast is cheap and tasty. I usually order a veggie omelet with a cinnamon roll on the side. I’ve also tried their pancakes, and they’re just as tasty. The restaurant is somewhat small, even with a side room, and, depending on when you go, there may be a bit of a wait.
If breakfast isn’t your thing, or you’re looking for a fancier meal, another good choice is the Greenfire Bistro, located about a block off of the expressway exit. Since it is tucked into a strip mall, I didn’t know about this restaurant until a shop owner recommended it to me. While their specials change, I’ve always enjoyed their fish and seafood dishes. They also have delicious appetizers like their Thai chili fries and potstickers. Their dishes are a bit pricier, so plan to spend $20 to $30 if you get a main dish and an appetizer.
After you’ve had your fill of food, take a stroll downtown for some window shopping. Downtown Tipp City has many cute shops, including an old antique mall that features three floors of small artisan shops. It’s got it all from jewelry and clothes to oriental rugs and clay pottery. Even if you don’t find anything you love, it’s a very cool shop to walk through and browse the wares.
Urban Ava and Hapinstance are two of my favorite boutiques in the downtown stretch. Urban Ava is a clothing and accessory store that has a free people vibe. If you dig the hippie-chic style, you might just find some new pieces at this shop. Hapinstance is more of a home goods store with cute decorations and stationary. When I visited, they had just stocked hand-painted globes that the owner’s daughter made; although there were six brought in, three sold in just one day. If your apartment or room is looking drab, definitely look here for some cute décor that will brighten it up.
Fun for a day, or even a weekend get-a-way, Tipp City is a small but cute town that should definitely be on your to-do list if you haven’t stopped by yet. To get there, hop on I-70, then take that to I-75. Get off at exit 68 to Tipp City and head down Main Street to drive right into the downtown. Happy adventuring!