Love for the Locals

David Uy, a passionate muralist and graphic designer, founded David Jonathan Creative in 2014 when he realized he could turn his grafitti-style art into a career. Growing up, he was always very artistic and loved to draw, but it was skateboarding that led him to discover a love for graffiti and abstract art. David now creates what he calls "funky fresh street-art" for commercial, residential, and public spaces. 

Drawing inspiration from elements like fire or water, his designs are vibrant and filled with organic line work. He enjoys working with small businesses to bring new life to their space and creating pieces that can brighten someone's day. You can find his work at a variety of local businesses around Butler County, like The Fringe Coffee House in Hamilton, Cassano's Pizza King in Fairfield, or Birdbrain Apparel in Liberty Township, but one of his favorites is at Third Eye Brewing Company in Hamilton (pictured). 

"As an artist you dream of things you want to do," says David, "and to have a canvas that large to express my art with little constraints was amazing."

Outside of his art, David loves spending time with his wife and three sons, playing pickleball at The Pickle Lodge and dining at Jag's Steak & Seafood in West Chester to celebrate special events. 

Retired air traffic controller Christopher Hayth had always dreamed about opening a comic book shop. So when the stars aligned and a space became available in downtown Middletown, Christopher and his wife, Jessica, wasted no time in bringing this dream to fruition.

Crooked Dog Comics, a name that pays tribute to their boxer pup, opened on Free Comic Book Day in 2024. Since then, Christopher and Jessica have enjoyed meeting every customer that has visited their shop. 

With the help of Jessica’s mom, an electrician by trade, part of Crooked Dog Comics has been transformed into a medieval tavern for Dungeons & Dragons adventurers. The immersive experience makes gamers feel like they're playing in a classic pub in Scotland. The shop even hosts online gamers from across the country who want to meet face-to-face and play DnD together. 

Another unique feature of Crooked Dog Comics is their Silver Surfer statue— a rare score given there are fewer than 25 in the world. The surfer sits front and center at the shop for all to see. 

Jessica and Christopher pride themselves on fostering community, often partnering with other Middletown businesses for trivia and game nights. As patrons, they frequent Gravel Road Brewing, N.E.W Ales Brewing, The Slice, and many other local businesses. Both are grateful for the support they’ve received and all the friendships they’ve made since opening Crooked Dog Comics. 

Pakeeza Asghar, and her two daughters, Emaan and Zara, created Feast Grazing Platters to build something together— a passion project showcasing Emaan’s beautiful artistry and Pakeeza’s love for food and entertaining. In short, “Feast Grazing Platters is the fruition of our dreams,” says Pakeeza. 

While they started as a catering business in 2019, by 2024, they were ready to take the next steps in their business venture by opening their storefront at Liberty Center. The eclectic café menu features a variety of frothy lattes and chais, picturesque toasts and flatbreads, decadent desserts, and their specialty— charcuterie. 

The mother-daughter trio enjoys collaborating with the other businesses at Liberty Center, and spending time there for play too, be it watching a movie, walking through The Park, or going for a Graeter’s Ice Cream run. As major foodies, they also find joy at Jungle Jim’s International Market in Fairfield, where they can happily spend hours roaming the 6.5-acre foodie wonderland. 

“Food has a way of uniting people,” says Pakeeza. Feast Grazing Platter’s slogan is “Feast, Graze, Love,” which perfectly encapsulates their business philosophy. “We take pride in bringing people together through our food.”

Liz Glover always had her sights set on opening a business within the food industry, particularly involving hot dogs. Her mother, a skilled cook, imparted all her culinary wisdom to Liz, recognizing her daughter's early passion for food and encouraging her: "One day, you’re going to open your own restaurant," she'd say. 

In 2021, Liz's dream became reality with the opening of Tiny Bistro in Fairfield. The cozy restaurant exudes a true bistro atmosphere, complete with charming black and white accents and the custom chef hat that Liz proudly wears.

Tiny Bistro offers unexpected surprises, for visitors. Each hot dog is named after one of Liz’s grandchildren, reflecting their unique personalities. The six flavors range from classic to spicy. "If you order a Lauren and it's plain Jane, that means she doesn't like anything on her hot dog," Liz explains.

Liz loves exploring the variety of attractions throughout Butler County, such as Voice of America MetroPark, where she can bring her grandkids and watching them play. She also frequents Liberty Center for the vibrant dining scene.

Since the beginning, Liz's favorite part of running Tiny Bistro has been connecting with customers and hearing their stories. Known for her warm personality, Liz ensures every visitor feels welcome and receives top-notch service. 

Mitch Dunn’s journey into the world of pickleball began in 2018, when a friend introduced him to the sport, igniting a passion that would lead to the creation of The Pickle Lodge in West Chester. "I was intrigued immediately by the social nature of the sport and the desire to learn something new," says Mitch. He attributes pickleball’s growing popularity to its inclusive and welcoming community, where new players are embraced regardless of their skill level. "The sport has an addictive quality that is unparalleled," he adds. 

In 2020, Mitch met his business partner, and their shared vision quickly attracted like-minded teammates. Today, The Pickle Lodge is the second-largest indoor pickleball facility in the country with 17 indoor courts, Two Cities Pizza, a full bar with Third Eye Brewing Company, and meeting/event spaces. The facility also has six outdoor courts and a seating plaza for gatherings. 

"The most unique feature of the lodge is the pickleball community itself," says Mitch. "We have been embraced warmly by both experienced players and newbies alike." The Pickle Lodge is open to all, and you don't even have to be a member to play. Anybody can give this popular sport a try for as little as $10.

Beyond the game, Mitch loves the lodge's offerings from Two Cities Pizza and Third Eye Brewing Company— he recommends the Thyme Square pizza with a pint of Nirvana or Bust. He also enjoys spending time around the region, noting he is a big fan of the popular Butler County Donut Trail! 

Find these profiles + more in the 2025 Insider Guide!