Posted on by Jenny

My Patronage, the Kiss of Death

Bobby reminded me on Friday (which was April 17th), that it was the tenth anniversary of the day we got engaged. I knew the date, but it hadn’t dawned on me yet until he said something. We just celebrated our ninth wedding anniversary in March (all you mathmeticians will figure out that this means we were engaged for eleven months), and the date of our engagement (which is now also my nephew’s eighth birthday) just snuck up on me.

The day we got engaged was really fun. Bobby told me we were going to go out that night and he took me shopping and bought me a fancy dress. Then, that evening he took me to our favorite restaurant, the Peasant Stock, which was right downtown on the river. After that we went to one of our other favorite downtown spots, Samuel Johnson’s coffee house, at First & Main. After we ordered our coffee and sat down, Bobby got down on one knee and proposed. I proceeded to bawl for about 45 minutes (saying “yes” somewhere in there), and then we went home and told my parents (who already knew it would be happening.)

The following March, we had a wonderful wedding, preceded by a wonderful rehearsal dinner at the Happy Palace – a Chinese restaurant that had long been a favorite of the Rapson family. They had a huge buffet for us and even made steaks for my dad and my brother, who don’t like Chinese. It was the YUM! A really great night.

A couple of weeks after our honeymoon, Bobby and I returned to Samuel Johnson’s coffee house to celebrate the one year anniversary of the day we got engaged. We were a little late getting in the door – it was close to closing, and the guy working let us stay late when we told him why we were there.

It was the last time we ever went there. Shortly thereafter, the coffee house closed.

For our first wedding anniversary, we got all dressed up and went to the Peasant Stock, the restaurant we’d eaten at the night we got engaged, to celebrate. We both noticed that things there seemed a little different.

It was the last time we ever went there. The Peasant Stock, which had been in Dayton for years, closed about a month later.

A couple of years after our wedding, the Happy Palace Chinese restaurant changed ownership, was repainted about a thousand times, and finally, closed down. The building isn’t even there anymore. It was demolished a couple of years ago.

Needless to say, Bobby and I had to find some new favorite places to eat and hang out. For our fifth wedding anniversary, we went for the first time to Dominic’s, an Italian restaurant that had been in Dayton for 30 years. I had been there before, but Bobby never had, and I knew he’d love it. And he did! We also went there for our sixth anniversary, and several times when Bobby’s mom was visiting, and with friends to celebrate their pregnancy. When Sophie was 4 months old, we went there for our seventh wedding anniversary.

That’s the last time we went there. A few months later, Dominic’s, which had been in our fair city for THREE DECADES, closed down.

I’m sure you’re getting the picture.

In order to do as little damage to our city’s economy as possible, Bobby and I try not to have any “favorite places” to frequent anymore. It’s just too dangerous!

For some reason, places of business associated with our marriage don’t seem to do so well. Rapp Jewelers, I’d be a little nervous if I were you!

What can I say? The marriage is good. If a little commerce is all that had to be sacrificed, well then, I think it’s been worth it!

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17 Replies to “My Patronage, the Kiss of Death”

  2. GREAT! Dominic’s was there when I was in High School – that’s 39 years ago! Please stay away from Marion’s and The Grub Steak!

  4. I loved the Peasant Stock too! I only got to go one time when my husband and I were dating. We do still love to go to Barnsider and Grub Steak. Nothing like a good steak (and Grub Steak used to send out coupons on my birthday so I had to use them, of course).

  8. Believe it or not, you were in my dream last night. (I know that sounds super-stalker-y, but you are my favorite mommy blog so that’s probably why you were there) Anyway- you were caught shoplifting in my dream.

    I think we have the answer to our puzzle. Obviously, these places are shutting down because you are stealing from them. 😉

  9. LOL

    My husband teases me because I manage to get items removed from menus. Every time I find a favorite item (usually something that he liked and tried first), they take it off the menu. It has happened no fewer than 10 times in the past 5 years. He actually tries to keep me from sampling his food if it is good for fear I will start to order it and declare it my favorite and they will stop making it.

    Places also run out of things a lot when I visit. Taco Bell was once out of taco meat. A pizza place was out of pepperoni. Sonic’s slush machine was broken last week. Pizza Hut was out of their new pasta dishes. I’m a jinx. LOL

  11. I miss Sammy J’s! I would tell you my new coffee hang outs, but I’m worried. Just kidding. Expressly Expresso just opening up near Woodman/Airway. And Danny J’s in in Beavercreek near Kroger.

  13. May-be you should eat at all of the yummy fast-food restaurants like BK and Mickey D’s… see if you can work your magic on them.

    And, while you’re at it, come on down to southern Oklahoma. I have a few places that need to be shut down… I mean eaten ate 😉

  15. If you are ever in eastern Kentucky, I’ve got a list of places that I would like you to visit. Maybe if they go we’ll get some real food!! LOL!!

    Great story!!

  16. Yep… Dayton is ever changing… I think so everytime I get back in town. I also personally blame the two of you for getting rid of my clock off the reynolds and reynolds building… and the building itself as well.

    It’s a good thing Bobby doesn’t frequent CVS with you often… then you’d really be up a creek and in my boat having to drive WAY TOO FAR for a great deal.

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