All incorporated communities in Madison County have the usual amount of businesses that may include restaurants, grocery stores, mom & pop stores, farm equipment, auto dealers, auto-body shops, heating and cooling, lawn care, banks, insurance, investment companies, clothing, and antique shops etc. The area that we call down-town in these communities usually contain financial businesses such as banks, credit unions, loan companies, investment firms, and insurance agencies. The community usually has government offices, law enforcement, and sometimes pawn-shops, bars, or entertainment such as movie theaters. When a community has busy highways running through, then additional businesses will appear along those highway corridors. Over time, new businesses will appear and some will fail, and close. This dynamic of adding and closing businesses never stops. If this website reports these changes, that will be up to the author. At this time, I intend to just report existing businesses as of 2024.  Beyond that, we shall see!

Over time, major food companies opened supermarkets in the area. Lower prices and greater merchandise variety made it impossible for smaller grocery stores to compete, and these closed. We remember Kitchen Cardinal in West Jefferson, and the many IGA’s and even Big Bear throughout central Ohio. These were unable to compete with Walmart, Kroger, Giant Eagle and Aldi’s. I considered adding start and close dates of former businesses, but decided not to with a few exceptions. One of the major problems in writing about history is separating important historical information from statistical trivia.  

London has a manufacturing business – Creamer Metal Products that makes farm equipment, and Dwyer Bros Hardware  has been in business since 1888! 

Although I usually do not include restaurant’s. those who have been in business for many years deserve mention. Lafayette has the Red Brick Tavern which began in 1837 along the new National Road. In West Jefferson, Ann and Tony’s restaurant has been in business for over 60 years. Flyer’s Pizza opened in 1976 (48 years) and Henry’s, now closed, was in business for many years. In Mt Sterling, Der Dutchman in Plain City is known far beyond the borders of Madison County. Ben & Joy’s Restaurant had been in business since 1984 and closed on February 2, 2025, and left a closing message on Facebook thanking the staff and customers.

There are major commercial areas in surrounding communities attracting Madison County residents. Some of these are worth mentioning because of their impact. In the Columbus metro area are Aldi’s, Giant Eagle, Sam’s Club, Costco, Menard’s, Joanne Fabrics, tire and tool stores, automobile dealerships, many restaurants and stores selling international foods and clothing. In both Marysville and Springfield we have Rural King. On I-71 to the south, we have a very large outlet mall.