Loveland's downtown shops, restaurants and bike-trail businesses helped earn the city a spot on Ohio Magazine's Best Hometowns list for 2026-2027, the city announced Aug. 4.

Ohio Magazine's editorial team visited Loveland and scored it across six categories: Community Spirit, Education, Entertainment, Health and Safety, Business Environment, and Culture and Heritage. The magazine cited Loveland's "inviting downtown, vibrant community events, and exceptional access to outdoor recreation" in making its selection, according to the city's announcement.

Loveland joins Marietta, Marion, Massillon and Tiffin as this year's honorees.

"This recognition reflects the pride our residents, businesses, volunteers, and community partners have in Loveland," Mayor Kathy Bailey said. "Our community continues to thrive because of the people who make it such a welcoming and vibrant place to call home."

The honor arrives during Loveland's 150th anniversary year. The city marked the milestone with a celebration over the Fourth of July weekend.

Downtown businesses in the spotlight

The Business Environment category puts a lens on the cluster of independently owned restaurants, boutiques, breweries, coffee shops and galleries lining the Historic Downtown District near the Little Miami Scenic Bike Trail. Loveland earned its Buckeye Trail Town designation in April 2017, and the trail has since anchored a growing corridor of small businesses that draw both residents and tourists.

Among them: Loveland Paddlesports, owned by the Bersani family since 2004, which launches hundreds of river trips each season that end in the downtown area. In a May profile by Loveland Daily News, Cee Cee Collins, president and CEO of the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance, called the business "a pinnacle to Loveland's economic growth," noting that paddlers finish their trips where they can "eat, shop, and enjoy the beautiful downtown scenery."

Among the newest additions to the downtown scene is Favorite Things Deli & Market, which opened in 2026 offering sandwiches, snacks and grocery items. Narnia Soles, owner of the Loveland wedding venue Indie Hollow, summed up the city's appeal in a September 2025 interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer: "I always tell people we are a little hidden gem next to a vibrant little town."

Investment pipeline

The city is also investing in infrastructure that supports the business district. A $4.6 million grant from the OKI Regional Council of Governments will fund improvements along the Loveland-Madeira Road Corridor, with construction expected to begin in 2027. Closer to downtown, the city secured $250,000 in grants for a new Nisbet Park amphitheater, with demolition of the old structure beginning the week of May 11. Antique-style lighting upgrades along West Loveland Avenue are extending the visual identity of the Historic Downtown District into the adjacent business corridor.

What's next

Loveland will be featured in Ohio Magazine's November/December 2026 and July/August 2027 issues, bringing statewide visibility to the city's downtown businesses and trail-side economy. Residents and business owners can find more details at ohiomagazine.com/besthometowns.