The most expensive construction project approved in June in Union County? Dog days of summer at Partners Park. And Richwood Bank's CEO shares his read on the local economy.
Give us a few moments and we'll serve up what matters in Marysville on Tuesday, July 8, 2025
In this edition, sponsored by Martinizing Cleaners on Emmaus Road:
Marysville Police issues a scam alert to residents
Richwood Banking Company CEO Chad Hoffman on the local economy in the first half of 2025
We tracked down the most expensive privately funded construction projects approved by the County in June
It was literally the dog days of summer at Partners Park on Monday
And a 43040-foodie review of Marysville's newest Mexican restaurant
First, a word from our sponsor
More than traditional dry cleaning
When Martinizing Cleaners opened in Marysville, Eric and Kathy Rohrs had a vision to help people in the community.
They were looking for a practical way to make lives better.
“People are looking for ways to make their lives simpler, so let us do your laundry," Kathy told us.
While the business--located at 128 Emmaus Road—provides traditional dry cleaning, it also provides delivery, wash/dry/fold laundry, alterations, and special orders— all using environmentally friendly methods.
Martinizing Cleaners—locally owned and operated!
ICYMI: What’s coming our way
If you were busy lighting bottle rockets over the weekend and missed the Good Stuff Marysville podcast, head over to Facebook or YouTube to listen in as host Derek Schwyn and I discuss what we expect to unfold in Marysville in the second half of 2025.
MPD alerts residents of phone scam
The Marysville Police Department is warning residents about a phone scam that has surfaced in the community.
Scammers call residents, claiming a warrant is out for the resident's arrest. And for a fee, they will drop the warrant.
"Please be aware that this is a SCAM," the MPD Facebook page wrote on Monday afternoon. "The MPD, or any legitimate law enforcement agency, will never ask for payment."
If you receive a call like this, hang up and report the incident to the Division’s non-emergency number at 937-645-7300.
The most expensive construction projects approved in June in Union County
The biggest, privately funded project approved by the Union County Engineers Office in June was the new Coughlin Kia dealership, to be located at 7770 Weldon Road, Plain City.
The cost of the project?
$12 million.
The Engineer’s office signs off on plans before construction can begin.
Coughlin is on a growth spurt in Union County. The new Kia dealership just off Hyland-Croy Road will sit adjacent to US 33 and will be the first thing to greet drivers from Dublin into Union County.
Coughlin Automotive also just acquired the Chapman Ford dealership on Industrial Parkway.
Second place on the list of most expensive projects approved were 4, 24-unit multi-family buildings (apartments) that are part of the Copper Run Apartments project at US 33 and SR 31 heading into Mill Valley. Each of the buildings will cost $2.744 million to build for a total investment of $10.978 million.
When completed, Copper Run will cover 15 acres and add 240 multi-family units to the market in Marysville.
14 single-unit residences were approved in June for the City of Marysville. 40 were approved by the County Building Department for Plain City addresses.
Richwood Bank CEO says 1st half 2025 economy “exceeded expectations”
Over the past six months, there has been much uncertainty economically with tariffs, war in the Middle East, and the recently resolved fate of the federal budget.
Amid that uncertainty, the local economy has demonstrated a great deal of resilience, according to what Richwood Banking Company CEO Chad Hoffman is seeing.
"It has exceeded our expectations," he told me recently.
Above: Richwood Banking Company CEO Chad Hoffman
The strength of the local market is seen in the Bank’s first-half results.
"We hit our annual goal in the first six months from a loan growth perspective."
Mr. Hoffman said that coming off the pandemic, business owners and workers seem to be accustomed to what seems like an unending stream of volatility.
"We've gotten used to uncertainty and just making decisions not knowing what it’s going to look like," Hoffman said. "I think we're convinced that no matter what happens, we're going to get through to the other side. Yeah, there is still a lot of uncertainty out there, but we're going to work through it."
In a way, he said, that's what Americans have always done.
"That’s what Americans do. We're confident. We look at reality sometimes and say, 'Why would you be confident during that period?' Yet, that seems to be what we've done as a country through many different economic environments in the past."
As for the second half of 2026, he's closely watching what the Federal Reserve does with interest rates. The Fed is getting pressure from President Trump to lower rates.
"It shouldn't be political. Right now, with extremely low unemployment, it’s not a time you would lower interest rates."
What does he foresee unfolding in the second half of the year?
"Do I think there will be one interest rate cut? Probably. Two? There is a possibility," he said with regard to the Fed. "Would I be surprised if there were no cuts? I can't say I'd be surprised."
A challenge the Fed has to wrangle is the unemployment situation, which isn't bad nationally, and is exceptionally good in Union County. We've logged the 3rd-lowest jobless rate in Ohio so far in 2025.
The low jobless rate is putting pressure on filling entry-level positions. It's one of the reasons local restaurants struggle to keep workers.
"When did we ever see that in our lifetime? That's the problem with real low unemployment is that you can't get people to cover the jobs that are actually available."
Richwood Bank has rolled out a consulting service to help business clients with talent acquisition, retention and training.
"We see it being a challenge for some of our community businesses."
As for the agricultural economy, Mr. Hoffman is optimistic.
"Right now, it looks good. The crop stands look good in our area. We've gotten the appropriate amount of rain. We got a little bit of a late start, but it's caught up in most, if not all, situations. As of right now, we have a pretty positive outlook on ag. I'm very pleased with the way it’s going," he said, barring unanticipated weather.
Dog days of summer at Partners Park
About 150 kids and adults were on hand Monday afternoon for some summertime fun.
The Performance Dogs of Ohio entertained the crowd of all ages at Partners Park on Monday. The high-flying and lightning-fast K9s of all ages entertained the crowd.
The event was sponsored by the Marysville Public Library.
Above: A crowd of all ages gathered for the dog show on Monday at Partners Park
Electrical fire zaps MHS power
An electrical box fire on July 4 forced officials to cut off power to the Marysville High School complex. Crews were called out to Amrine Mill Road around 10:20 on Friday evening, and when they arrived, they found a large metal electrical box with smoke and an arcing sound coming from inside.
AES Ohio crews were called in, and due to anticipated parking near the box on Saturday for the fireworks, a decision was made to shut the power off to the high school complex for safety.
Sunday’s send-off of the local National Guard unit had to be relocated due to the power loss. And other activities at the school on Monday, including band practice, were reportedly conducted without lights or AC.
AES Ohio was working to repair the box involved in the original incident.
Road rage case bound over to Grand Jury
The Union County Grand Jury will consider charges against a Columbus man accused of pointing a gun at another driver in a road rage incident that occurred on June 25 on US 33.
Michael D. Jackson of Columbus faces at least two felony counts in the incident that was turned over to the County Prosecutor’s office by the Marysville Municipal Court.
The firearm in the case was reported stolen out of Columbus. And Jackson had possession of the weapon when arrested by police for a prior felony on his record.
Jackson remains incarcerated at the Tri-County Jail in Mechanicsburg.
43040 Foodie Review: Taco Pros
Marysville Matters made an unannounced visit to Taco Pros on Delaware Avenue this past weekend. It’s between Jets and Huey MaGoos.
The community’s newest Mexican-fare restaurant is in the midst of a “soft open,” according to the manager. They plan an official opening later this month or early next month.
When we arrived, around 6:45 p.m. Sunday, the place was empty. However, the manager told us they had been busy all day. And by golly, by the time we ordered and sat down to wait for our food to arrive, a steady stream of customers were arriving to check it out.
Taco Pros is a Chicago-based chain. On the menu, you are going to find street tacos, burritos, and plenty of gluten-free options clearly marked on the menu.
My dish
I had a steak Burrito Supreme combo, which came with rice, refried beans, and a fountain drink. I’ll be honest, the burrito was really good. I typically compare Mexican food to one of my secret favorites—Marianna’s Tacos in Springfield. This burrito was packed with plenty of steak and all the other goodies. The rice was fluffy, but the seasoning could have been a bit more pronounced. The refried beans were A+ for my taste.
Nachos and salsa: The nachos were fresh, and the salsa was a warm chili, sweet with a green pepper accent. I’ll try their queso on my next visit.
My date’s dish:
Mrs. MM had the protein bowl, which came with basically everything in my burrito, and her choice of protein, chicken. It was gluten-free, and she says it was delicious. Quality ingredients. Almost too much to eat in one sitting.
We were out the door for about $33, including the tip.
Conclusion: Worth it!
Taco Pros is a great addition to the local food scene. My prediction is that they will need more parking and seating because the food is fresh and tasty. Take-out and DoorDash (not yet available) may also be a key way to partake in Taco Pros after the grand opening. It’s worth a try if you like street-style tacos and burritos.
Have you tried Taco Pros? I'm interested in your thoughts.
Thanks for reading Marysville Matters!
I've had suggestions from several folks, including Mrs. MM, to include some local restaurant reviews in the flavoring of the newsletter. New, unique and local are what we'll try to target. So, if you have suggestions, drop me a line.
And I'm always open to news tips. Today's story regarding the power outage was the result of a tip and a check with the Marysville Fire Division.
Send your news tips or story suggestions to joedcase@gmail.com. I may not publish a story on every tip, but I'll read every note and give every idea strong consideration.
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A big thanks to Martinizing Cleaners on Emmaus Road for sponsoring today's edition.
Have a great Tuesday!
-Joe C.
I enjoyed the Taco Pros review. If you decide to pursue more reviews, there are 2 unique local restaurants in Richwood: Smoky Bears and Chefs' Parlour. They have only been open a couple of years and may not be known to many outside of Richwood. You can check them both out on Facebook. Other small towns in the county may have hidden gems also.