I’m a big fan of shopping local and these amazing boutiques made it so fun. I would love the chance to revisit all of these.

2000s & 2010s

Preen an Apothecary

Preen an Apothecary was a beauty and skincare store unlike anything we had before (or since) in Dayton. It was glamorous and cool – the kind of place where you walked through the door right into the pages of a magazine.

Preen an Apothecary – Far Hills

When it first opened, Preen an Apothecary was located in the Shops of Oakwood on Far Hills Avenue in a bright, city street location. After a few years, it became Preen by Appointment and moved and expanded on South Dixie Drive in what looked and felt like a magical, mid-century tree house.

I discovered so many amazing brands here because they specifically carried brands you couldn’t find at Sephora. Smith & Cult, Oribe, Bijabody, Elle Landon – I absolutely fell in love with a new product or a new shade every single visit.

Preen was ahead of its time and such a joy for me. I have little reminders of this amazing shop all around my home and I think about this visionary boutique all the time.

I was so sad to learn of Preen owner Nicole Gianuglou O’Connor’s passing in 2025. I so loved chatting with her about all things beauty and Dayton on my many visits to Preen. She was so kind and supportive of my blog and it made me so proud that someone as cool as her found value in my work. Read a triumphant dedication to her life and legacy here.

Confetti Card & Party

I absolutely LOVED Confetti. It was a bright pastel light when downtown Dayton was reemerging.

My favorite experience there was that you could build your own confetti popper at their confetti bar. I still have it!

Confetti was located in the same block as Spaghetti Warehouse and Grist. They hosted some workshops in the office space above the shop – I took a calligraphy class there once. It was a really special, colorful, fun place.

Gamine

Next door to Preen in Oakwood was a cute boutique called Gamine that I loved browsing from time to time. It was gorgeous! I loved getting a chance to shop for Kendra Scott earrings, DL 1961 jeans, and imagine being able to afford it all. I managed to grab a few pieces when they were on sale that I cherished for years.

2020s

August

I absolutely loved stopping in to August in Centerville on random days off or on a longer lunch break. They brought so many great brands to Dayton like Pistola, Citizens of Humanity, and Beyond Yoga, to name a few. I wish I had had a little more time with this great shop. I have several pieces in my wardrobe from here and I love that I can still wear my favorite August finds whenever I want.

Ivy

In the same shopping center as August, Ivy was a floral and gift shop with tons of great local items. I loved shopping for gifts here and because it was stocked with so many different makers and artisans, it was easy to get a lot of shopping done in one convenient place. This is where I first fell in love with Riley Street Merchants jewelry, got to smell allllll of Desert Roots’ candles, and leaf through so many great vintage clothing finds.

Grace Lane Boutique

It’s not always the case that a boutique has a super strong ethos but Grace Lane Boutique knew exactly what they were about – fair and safe working conditions for garment workers. With locations in downtown Dayton and the Greene, I loved stopping in to pick up a new piece or two. I still have several pieces from this great boutique!

What are the shops you miss the most? Let me know.