Shopping in Dayton

Like a pep rally full of mannequins, Flyer Spirit sports an everlasting display of school pride, drenched in University of Dayton red and blue. The school’s colors, insignia, and name bedeck apparel that ranges from Under Armour workout wear and hoodies by Gear to ties for alumni get-togethers and especially fancy football games. In addition to wearable UD spirit, visitors find their fill of accessories, such as oven mitts and ceramic dog dishes, as well as Greek merchandise and progenitor-pleasing parent-oriented items.

The staffers at Special Occasions Party Supply weave art out of air. Their balloon decorations spiral into multicolored columns, bend into archways, and form hanging hearts to garnish events ranging from birthday celebrations to bridal and baby showers. The family-owned business also outfits reception areas with tulle and matching tableware, sprucing up the setting to befit any celebration.

Decorating services are only one facet of their job, however. When they aren't prepping dance halls, they guide independent party planners through the shelves of their two supply stores. Batman- and Disney-princess-themed favors are on hand to charm children, Halloween costumes can conceal identities, and more than 38 solid colors of plates and napkins set attractive schemes. The bouquets of high-grade helium balloons are guaranteed to hover for at least five days. Patrons can also rent helium tanks with do-it-yourself balloon kits, which come with ribbons for each balloon and instructions for knitting sky-size safety nets.

As a third-generation jeweler, it only made sense that Jeff Rich would someday give a wedding ring to a woman who could appreciate the finer details of the ring itself. Along with fellow experts Lisa—his wife—and Ricky, Jeff continues his family’s legacy at Jewelry & Gem Exchange. Kramer and Lola, meanwhile, keep watch over the store with canine enthusiasm.

In addition to its repair and appraisal services, the shop—an exclusive dealer of merchandise from GelinAbaci—offers display cases lined with stackable rings, gemstone bracelets, a leather-and-pearl collection, classic silver charms, and preowned pieces. Jeff can even create custom jewelry with 3-D CAD imaging, allowing customers to wear a replica of the Super Bowl ring they never quite won.

Since 1976, Keith and Betty Ketring have been combining their interests in woodworking and fine-art prints by preserving their clientele’s artworks and heirlooms with custom frames. Their inventory of framing materials includes a spectrum of moulding styles—from stark black to ornately carved and gilded—as well as conservation glass and a multitude of colorful mats.

Dayton Discount Furniture Warehouse's low-overhead business model of stocking truckloads of name-brand mattresses and furniture directly from manufacturers unites homes with top-quality sleeping surfaces without muss or fuss. Like mint-condition sets of Supreme Court action figures, each fully warranted item in the spacious 4,000-square-foot warehouse arrives fresh in its original packaging, proudly boasting labels from well-known furnishers such as Serta, Lane, and Simmons. Friendly mattress wranglers and chair curators tend to a menagerie of household wares, filling chambers with sturdy, comfortable furnishings and suitable surfaces for putting in eight-hour sleeping shifts.

Tennis Zone's staff of tennis players, coaches, and experts equips customers for slam-filled showdowns with tennis apparel and equipment from brands such as Adidas, Babolat, and Nike. The staff helps competitors of all ages speed up their stroke with lightweight Tecnifibre racquets and increase court cred with polos from Adidas and feather skorts by adizero. They can also point customers toward specialized gear, such as Wilson backpacks designed with dedicated compartments for racquets, balls, and thank-you notes for ball boys.