This is an updated version of a previously published story that failed to identify the businesses that recently closed.
The city of Bowling Green has seen significant changes with the recent closings of downtown businesses. Despite these departures, statewide data shows that small businesses still outnumber larger nationwide businesses.
Recently, local businesses, including Sterling’s Amish Deli and Loonar Station, have closed their doors, leaving an absence downtown.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2025 Small Business Profile, 99.6% of businesses in Ohio are small businesses. Additionally, 43.8% of the state’s net jobs were created by small businesses between 2023 and 2024. This statewide momentum is reflected locally, amidst local business shifts.
Bowling Green City Council member, Jeff Dennis, stressed the importance of making downtown “a more welcoming atmosphere for pedestrians,” something especially important for a college town that relies more on foot traffic. The recent city efforts, like alleyway improvements and street updates, were aimed at strengthening the environment for local shops.
While Ohio is built on small businesses, more seem to be closing than opening.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2025 Small Business Profile 26,579 Ohio establishments opened and 27,585 closed between March 2023 and March 2024, leading to a net decrease of 1,006 small businesses.
Bowling Green still carries the momentum with continuous signs of growth. For example, Mister Spots is approaching its 40-year milestone on Feb. 17. With fresh businesses like Bowling Green’s first pilates studio, Studio Inferno, which held its grand opening on Saturday, Jan. 3.
The city’s biggest challenge is the fluctuating population. As a college town, Bowling Green has consistent jumps in its population along with consistent dips depending on whether Bowling Green State University is in session. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Bowling Green was among the numerous cities that saw increases in population.
Other Ohio college towns, like Athens, also saw similar trends. Athens, housing Ohio University, had a 8.6%.population increase following the pandemic, according to the Greater Ohio Policy Center’s analysis of U.S. Census data. Meanwhile, Toledo saw a slight population loss of about 0.2%, a small shift that fell within the margin of error, indicating relative stability.
In spite of changing businesses downtown, Bowling Green’s trajectory emulates statewide trends of small businesses being the backbone of Ohio’s economy. Turnovers are a part of being a college town, and a growing student population paired with steady investments sets up the small-business community nicely.
