The region’s first liquor store of its kind has come to Warren County

The opening is part of OHLQ’s larger agency expansion across Ohio, according to Lindsey LeBerth, the department’s brand manager.

“We’ve awarded 27 new contracts since the beginning of 2018 to private businesses that sell our product on our behalf for a commission,” she told this news outlet. “Not all are open as of today, but are scheduled to open in the coming months.”

The brand is meant to enhance the experience for consumers, both by making the stores more sophisticated and by creating consistency across the state at stores that sell high-proof spirits, she said.

“Think about it. You’re driving down the road: where can you find high proof spirits? Once you get to that store, what will you see? It’s all over the board.”

The store is the second in Ohio to implement all of the new Ohio Liquor brand elements.

That includes flooring, wallpaper, shelving, wayfinding signs, outdoor signs and more aimed at enhancing the shopping experience for the consumer, she said.

“We want it to be a clean, simple look that is easy to navigate, but also add some education in to help guide consumers with their decision,” she said. “Think cocktail suggestions, education on region the scotch was produced and more.”

The Donut Hole by Milton’s Donuts

A doughnut shop with two area locations is opening a third.

The Donut Hole by Milton’s Donuts is aiming to debut in July at 8268 Princeton Glendale Road, according to owners Jay and Amy Byrne, a Springboro couple with Middletown ties.

The couple purchased Milton’s Donuts in July 2014 and opened a location Carlisle in October 2017.

The new location previously was home to the Donut House, which abruptly closed this spring.

Milton’s Donuts offers 80 different kinds of doughtnuts and dessert items such as large gourmet cookies, cream horns, buckeyes and cheese cups.

The business, which continues to use recipes used by former owner Dan Milton, was named best doughnut store in Ohio by TravelPulse on its 2018 list of the Best Donuts in Every State.

The couple’s son, John, who recently graduated from the University of Cincinnati, will be running the new location with help from two staffers who will be moving over from the Middletown location, Jay Byrne said.

The business will be hiring two or three new employees, he said.