Where to Eat, Drink, Shop & Be Merry
Ironton & Wheelersburg, Ohio
If you haven’t been to Ironton lately, you may not even recognize it as the city has become revitalized with new stores, new restaurants, and a new look to many of the city’s older buildings. Organizations like Ironton in Bloom, Ironton aLive and Friends of Ironton have worked to beautify the downtown and give it that special holiday touch.
The Vault Market has brought a new energy to Ironton with its unique products and hometown owners with an unfailing love for their community. Familiar names like Merle Norman have moved to remodeled spaces in the heart of the city to become part of the movement.
The Iron Town Coffee Lab brings Ironton the feel of a bigger city with offerings you can’t find anywhere else. And Ironton has become a true foodie destination with distinctive offerings at The Armory Smokehouse, Troyer’s Bakery and The Depot, and the traditional offerings at local mainstays like The Shake Shoppe.
Just drop by any of these places and chat with the people who work there, and you’ll feel the excitement for what Ironton has to offer. You won’t find any national chain department or clothing stores in Ironton, and only one non-fast food national chain restaurant. But what you will find is a good variety of locally-owned stores and restaurants with customer service and hospitality that are unmatched.
EAT
Ironton’s newest culinary offering is The Armory Smokehouse. Located in the former Ohio National Guard Armory building, the restaurant serves a variety of steak, chicken, and ribs dishes. The Captain Mac, mac ‘n cheese with pulled pork, is a popular item on the menu.
Next door is Troyer’s Bakery, which features homemade Amish-baked goods, including generously-sized fruit pies and their famous wagon wheel donuts.
- The Armory Smokehouse And Troyer’s Dawdi Haus Bakery, 920 Vernon Street, Ironton, 740.237.4402, www.thearmorysmokehouse.com, Sunday - Wednesday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Thursday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Friday - Saturday: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Bakery Hours: Monday-Saturday: 6:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Closed Sunday
If you’re craving more traditional fare, a stop by the Shake Shoppe will satisfy you. Under new ownership, the Ironton mainstay serves up foot-long hot dogs, burgers, and ice cream treats year-round. During the winter months, homemade soups and chili help hit the spot.
- Shake Shoppe, 1625 Liberty Ave., Ironton, 740.532.8013, Facebook.com/Shakeshoppeironton, Monday - Saturday: 10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m., Closed Sunday
DRINK
If you’re looking for a place to hang out for some good conversation and a great cup of coffee, Iron Town Coffee Lab provides the best of both. Featuring several different types of freshly roasted coffee, including Sumatra and Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, there’s a blend for everyone’s taste. Inside the lab is Black Bear Bakery and Candy, serving up delicious sweet treats.
- Iron Town Coffee Lab, 225 S. 2nd Street, Ironton, 740.532.0448, Facebook.com/Irontowncoffeelab. Monday - Saturday: 8 am. - 3 p.m., Closed Sunday
- Black Bear Bakery and Candy, 225 S. 2nd Street, Ironton, 740.646.6804, Facebook.com/Bbbakeryandcandy. Monday - Saturday: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Closed Sunday
If you prefer cocktails for your hangout drink of choice, The Depot, with its historic train depot setting, is the perfect place. The Depot also offers a broad menu ranging from a club sandwich to hibachi noodles, but it’s the sushi dishes for which the restaurant is best known.
- The Depot, 124 Bobby Bare Blvd, Ironton, 740.533.3999. Monday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m., Friday - Saturday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Closed Sunday
SHOP
If you’re looking for a unique gift, you’ve got a great chance of finding it at The Vault Market, which offers a blend of locally handcrafted items, like jewelry, soaps and home décor, and made-in-the-USA goods, such as bath bombs and T-shirts. Serving as a collaborative space for local and regional artisans, The Vault also carries pet items, paper goods, and hoodies and T-shirts celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Ironton Tanks football team.
- The Vault Market, 211 Center Street, Ironton, 740.302.4131, Facebook.com/Shopthevaultmarket. Tuesday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday: Noon - 5 p.m., Closed Monday
A new addition to downtown, though not new to Ironton, is Merle Norman. Known for its excellent customer service in providing makeup options, the store is much more than just makeup, offering charm bracelets and other jewelry by Brighton, leather handbags and shoes, and Simply Southern T-shirts.
- Merle Norman, 221 S. 3rd Street, Ironton, 740.533.1183, www.merlenormanstudio.com/Oh/Ironton/Mn-7913. Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Closed Sunday
BE MERRY
As part of the #IrontonOntheMove effort to revitalize Downtown Ironton, a new Christmas event has been born, Christmas on Vernon. Organized by two downtown businesses, Treasures From the Valley and Cardinal Wishes Antiques, the free outdoor event will be Saturday, December 14, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Vernon Street between S. 3rd and S. 4th streets.
A follow-up to the highly successful fall festival, Pumpkins on Vernon, the event will feature more than 60 vendors from the region selling a wide variety of items, including antiques, homemade crafts, jewelry, and collectibles, with gift wrapping available.
Activities include free ornament making, story time with elves and princesses, a live Nativity, and trolley and wagon rides. Local choirs and ensembles will perform Christmas music throughout the day. Several varieties of food will be available for purchase including beans and cornbread, chicken and noodles, and kettle corn. Attendees will want to bring their phones or cameras to take pictures at the photo stations scattered throughout the event. Downtown businesses will be open for shopping with the wagons and trolley available to take people from store to store.
In conjunction with the event will be the annual Breakfast with Santa at the historic Ro-Na Theater from 9 a.m. - noon. The cost is $6 per person. More information about the event is available at Facebook.com/cardinalwishesantiques.
