Best of Oxford: Local businesses excel in Journal-News’ Best of Butler County contest

More than a dozen Oxford businesses placed in the 2025 edition of the Best of Butler County contest.

Best of Butler County is an annual contest by the Journal-News, a content partner of the Oxford Free Press, to recognize businesses across the county for their goods and services. This year, the contest handed out first place and finalist awards in more than 150 categories ranging from shopping to home improvement and recreation.

The contest is now in its third year, and Oxford has increased its winnings each time. This year, 13 businesses were recognized in 15 categories, up from the nine businesses which took home 13 awards last year.

First place winners

Oxford’s success in the Best of Butler County contest has steadily grown in the three years since the Journal-News launched the program. The city’s first place wins swelled from three businesses recognized across four categories last year to seven businesses taking the top spot in their respective categories in 2025.

Oxford Community Yoga

Oxford Community Yoga took first place in best yoga/pilates. The studio, located on College Avenue, offers a range of classes like “Power Yoga” to “Open Air Flow,” taught by a team of certified instructors. Classes are held throughout the week, and a schedule can be found at oxfordcommunityyoga.com. 

Jessica Lohrey, owner of the studio and teacher at the India School of Yoga, says that her students have the ability to build friendships in class. To her, the sense of community that the studio brings sets Oxford Community Yoga apart from other studios in the county.

“You don't have to try to fit in, because everyone fits in,” Lohrey said. “... The studio is based on the concept of being a community. We are a supportive community of practitioners who practice yoga not just for the physical benefits, but for the benefits in our everyday lives.”

Oxford Community Yoga offers nearly a dozen different courses of varying lengths throughout the week. Courses vary in intensity, as well, with gentle yoga meeting the most frequently.

Oxford Physical Therapy Centers

This year’s winner for best physical therapist went to Oxford Physical Therapy Centers. The network maintains a dozen centers in and around Butler County, including one center in Oxford itself.

According to the organization’s website, Oxford Physical Therapy’s “commitment is demonstrated by engaging in education, advancing our profession, and acting as a resource to our community.”

The centers offer a variety of services, from aquatic physical therapy to dry needling, manual therapy and even golf fitness. The Oxford location is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays.

Appointments and more information can be found online at oxfordphysicaltherapy.com. Staff were unable to comment in time for print publication.

Hueston Woods State Park

The only state park in Butler County, Hueston Woods, took home first place in the best campgrounds category.

Hueston Woods straddles the county line between Butler and Preble Counties and surrounds Acton Lake. The park offers opportunities for boating, fishing, hiking and fossil hunting, plus a nature center focused on raptor rehabilitation.

Park manager Kathryn Conner said the camping season has gotten off to an early start this year with April’s good weather. The park’s campgrounds feature 200 campsites with electrical outlets and more than 100 with no outlets. While the main loop road at the park is closed this spring for construction, the park and campgrounds are still accessible via detours, Conner said.

“It’s been really great to see our campground kind of come back to life with everybody coming in,” Conner said. “It’s nice to have that campground be appreciated. I know our staff works really hard to maintain it.”

Some campers stay in the park during their full weekend visits, Conner said, while others go out to Oxford and the surrounding area to enjoy other amenities. The Hueston Woods Lodge serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the park runs free educational programs, Saturday night movies on the campgrounds and other activities throughout the summer.

Oxford Farmers Market

Every Saturday of the year, you’ll find vendors Uptown selling their goods at the Oxford Farmers Market in rain, snow or sun. The 52-week-a-year market took home the top spot as best farmers market in the county this year, moving up from its third place finish last year.

Madison Wetzel became the market manager in 2024. Her experience with the farmers market goes back to her own childhood growing up in town, and now she gets to share that with her own kids.

“A couple years ago, when my daughter was 2, every Saturday we would come up here and Jennifer [Boehme] would give her a flower,” Wetzel remembers. “I have so many pictures of her sitting along the curb, holding her little flower from Jennifer. It’s just a bright spot in everybody’s week.”

For Wetzel, the sense of community that the Oxford Farmers Market has cultivated is part of its success. Many of the vendors have been coming every Saturday for years, and to Wetzel it feels like one big family.

The Oxford Farmers Market is also unique in its “make it, bake it, grow it” requirements. Vendors have to verify that the goods they sell were grown or produced by them, not purchased from other suppliers to be resold.

The farmers market operates Uptown in Lot 52 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. each Saturday. Businesses interested in becoming vendors can apply at www.oxfordfarmersmarket.com.

Three businesses earn top honors for second year in a row

Oxford’s seven first place wins this year are up from three top prizes in 2024. The three businesses that took home first place awards in at least one category all landed top prizes again this year.

MOON Co-op won first place in the best health food store category. The cooperative grocery store is run by roughly 1,000 member-owners. While it has a much smaller footprint than larger chain grocery stores like Kroger or Walmart, MOON distinguishes itself with a focus on locally produced health products and organic foods.

MOON has been recognized in all three years of the Best of Butler County contest so far. In 2023, the store won second place in best natural foods, and last year it won first place in both the natural food and health food categories as well as a second place win for groceries and a third place win for best place to buy meat.

BikeWise Oxford took home first place for best bike shop for the second year in a row. The shop sells and repairs bicycles for customers, some of whom travel from hours away for the service, owner Doug Hamilton told the Oxford Free Press last year. The shop also offers free bike storage to customers, an especially popular feature for Miami University students who leave town for the summer.

The city’s third repeat winner, Oxford Veterinary Hospital, was once again recognized as the best animal clinic/veterinarian in the county. Beyond serving local pet owners, the veterinary staff also does community outreach like helping in trap, neuter, release programs to manage the city’s stray cat population. Dr. Chris Reagh serves as medical director for the office.

Finalists

Beyond its first place winners, Oxford had several organizations — and one work of art — recognized as finalists in their respective categories. One business was a repeat winner, taking home multiple finalist placements in addition to a first place win.

Bagel & Deli

Bagel & Deli, one of Oxford’s most popular local restaurants among Miami University students, was named as a finalist in the best deli/sandwich shop category this year.

Co-owner Gary Franks said the shop’s local feel and history is part of what makes it unique. Bagel & Deli is approaching its 50th anniversary this year, and the menu has continued to grow over time, now boasting nearly 100 unique sandwiches for customers to choose from.

“We kick back and forth with that all the time, whether or not we should keep [the menu] as complicated as it is, because sometimes it gets overwhelming,” Franks said. “But we get a lot of people coming back through town who graduated 20, 30, 40 years ago, and they like to see the same stuff they got back in the day on the menu, still.”

Bagel & Deli merchandise is also popular with students, including sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats and even onesies. The shop on High Street is open 8 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Tuesday and 8 a.m. to roughly 2:30 a.m. when the bar rush dies down Wednesday through Saturday during the school year. In the summer, Bagel & Deli is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Miami University Speech and Hearing Clinic

The Miami University Speech and Hearing Clinic was recognized as a finalist for best hearing services for the first time this year.

The clinic has operated for more than 75 years and offers services for voice, hearing, cognitive, feeding and swallowing disorders, as well as speech and language services to address concerns like stutters and delayed language development.

Sarah Heimkreiter, clinic director and director of clinical education and operations for Miami, said the clinic serves a dual purpose in offering both services to the community and an educational opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students.

“Our clients know that it’s a learning clinic,” Heimkreiter said. “I think that they really appreciate that our students are getting this hands-on experience, but they’re also being supervised by a speech language pathologist or audiologist at all times.”

The clinic moved from Bachelor Hall to Miami’s Clinical Health Sciences and Wellness building when it opened in 2023. Heimkreiter said the new facility gives them more space and resources to work with. Being recognized as a finalist in the Best of Butler County contest reaffirms the quality of care the clinic is providing to patients ranging in age from 18 months to 105 years old, she said.

The clinic is open 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday with no appointments on Fridays. People looking for more information can reach out to 513-529-2500 or spaclinic@miamioh.edu.

Oxford Lanes

Oxford Lanes was a finalist for best bowling alley and has been a nighttime staple in Oxford since 1963. The bowling alley offers a place to hold parties or events, coaching, and food and drinks.

Oxford Lanes offers both open bowling hours and leagues for people to participate in. Leagues include a summer youth bowling club, a generation gap league and a handicap league open to both new and skilled players.

Beyond bowling, the venue offers a mix of food and drinks, including alcoholic beverages.

Open bowling hours vary by day and are kept up-to-date on the alley’s website, oxfordlanes.net.

Oxford Hive Mural

Last year, local artist Joe Prescher led the creation of the Oxford Hive Mural, a work that spans two walls in an Uptown alley. That effort earned Prescher recognition as Oxford Citizen of the Year, and the mural was chosen as a finalist for the best mural in the county.

The mural painting process brought out dozens of volunteers to help last August and September. Since then, the project has continued to bring people together as a popular photo spot in town, and it was highlighted prominently in the Oxford Bee Festival this month. Oxford has a place in beekeeping history as the home to Lorenzo Langstroth, inventor of the Langstroth hive.

“The joy and pride it’s brought to our community, the inclusiveness of this arts project, and the attention and excitement it’s generated around the area speak strongly about what art brings to the lives of a community,” Prescher said. “I’m very, very proud of us and all the support and participation and appreciation our people have brought to bear on the arts and to Oxford.”

Prescher was excited to place in the Best of Butler County contest, particularly since Joe Nuxhall, one of the other winners, is a personal friend. The Oxford Hive is just a first offering in what Prescher hopes will be a boom in public art and creative expression in town.

Repeat success for other Oxford businesses

MOON Co-op placed as a finalist in two categories this year for best grocery store and best health food store. Two other businesses — The Knolls of Oxford and Shademakers Garden Center — also gained recognition for the second year in a row.

The Knolls, a retirement community with independent and assisted living options, was once again named as a finalist for best independent living this year. The community has more than 100 townhome units for independent living, and the website advertises dining options, maintenance and housekeeping, walking trails and health services for residents.

Shademakers Garden Center was a finalist in the best nursery/garden center category. Over the past several years, Shademakers has transformed the corner of West Spring Street and South Elm Street with its colorful floral displays. The center offers a variety of trees, shrubs, flowers, garden decor and other resources for gardeners.