It Was Never Just About Bourbon and Chocolate

Tasha Weaver | Categories News | February 7, 2026

In the middle of Friday night’s Bourbon and Chocolate Experience, I overheard something that reminded me of why it all matters.

A local student was asking professionals in his field about upcoming internship opportunities. They leaned in. They offered advice. They talked about funding, leadership pathways, and next steps.

And I thought, this is why we do this.

Yes, there was bourbon.
Yes, there was chocolate.
Yes, there were speakeasies, sundaes, hidden rooms, and even puppies.

But what really happened that night was connection.

Downtown is still shoveling out from the recent snowstorm that blanketed our community. Even so, Zach McCarroll of Miami Valley Hauling and Charlie Waughtel of Waughtel Land Cleaning and Excavating cleared major pedestrian walkways and crosswalks to make sure guests could safely move throughout downtown. It was not about recognition. It was about community.

Behind the scenes, volunteers worked for months gathering supplies, assembled check-in materials, secured sponsorships, created graphics, promoted the event, and worked the welcome table. Merchants stayed open late and created unique experiences inside their storefronts. Sponsors invested in making the evening possible.

None of this happens without partnership. Presenting sponsor Koverman Staley Dickerson Insurance, along with check-in sponsor Mauk Cabinets by Design, our bourbon sponsors Tony’s Bada Bings, Tipp City Eagles Aerie 2201, and Edward D. Martino Memorial VFW Post 4615, and our chocolate stop sponsors RD Holder Oil, Coldwell Banker Heritage Brian Bensman, Bodega Market, RE/MAX Reed Spencer, Hawk Homes, and Eat Sweets and Treats chose to invest in this experience. Their support allows events like this to activate downtown during slower seasons and create meaningful economic impact for our community.

And people showed up.

Only 20 percent of attendees were from Tipp City. Eighty percent traveled here from outside our community. That means outside dollars were spent in our restaurants and shops during a traditionally slower winter month. It means new visitors discovered businesses they had never stepped inside before. It means downtown Tipp City continues to strengthen its reputation as a regional destination.

But numbers alone do not tell the full story.

We welcomed four new Friends of Downtown that evening. Ryan Liddy, Rob Brown, Carli Amlin, and Scott Honnold chose to invest in the long-term vitality of our downtown. That kind of support matters more than most people realize.

Events like this are not accidental. They are thoughtfully planned and intentionally designed to support small business sustainability, build regional visibility, and create opportunities for collaboration and mentorship.

This is what downtown work looks like.

It is volunteers giving their time.
It is business owners opening their doors.
It is professionals mentoring students.
It is sponsors investing in their hometown.
It is guests choosing to spend their evening in a walkable historic district instead of somewhere else.

It is strategic growth.
It is community vitality.
It is neighbors supporting neighbors.

And it is happening right here in downtown Tipp City.