Jason Duff received a surprise visit Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 19, to his office at Small Nation, when Mayor Dave Crissman and several staff members and family members stopped by for a special ceremony.
“I wanted to do something for you and to thank you for everything you’ve done for Bellefontaine,” Crissman said, presenting Duff with a key to the city.
“That’s really, really special. This means a lot. I appreciate the mayor, the city and all the leaders here, working hard to make the city better,” the Small Nation founder and CEO said.
Duff recalled about 15-20 years ago, when there were many storefronts setting empty in downtown Bellefontaine. He expressed his deep appreciation to the first business owners who joined in the early revitalization efforts.
“I’m so grateful to the people who have been there along the early parts of this journey. A lot of the original businesses, they’re the people who took the big risk in the beginning to do it all.
“City Sweets & Creamery just celebrated its 10th year in business; along with City Sweets & Creamery, there was also Six Hundred Downtown, Brewfontaine and Old Mint Antique shop. They helped get the momentum going.”
Duff is a fourth-generation entrepreneur and watched his great grandfather, grandfather, father and mother establish and grow successful businesses that impacted the community. As he grew up, he worked in most of these businesses, gaining first-hand knowledge of process, financial practices, and how “Hustling Hard” can bring great success.
Using this approach, the Small Nation team renovated more than 56 historic buildings and storefronts that had been sitting empty for decades. Once the buildings were complete, they recruited tenants for new business concepts.
They also created new loft apartments in the downtown area, adding a crucial residential component back to the city’s downtown.
Duff said now in 2025, the town is getting “even cooler.”
“Wrock Bottom Bar is opening in the next few weeks and Allways Brewing (coffee shop) is opening up, too. There are more entertainment options soon to be announced.
“We’re a family-friendly town. We have five to six dessert places in the downtown, not many towns can say that. There’s a culture here of people who support these small businesses.”
Duff said a major focus for the end of 2025 and heading into 2026 is developing event spaces, which can be “a big economic driver,” supporting caterers, florists and other vendors, along with local hotels and lodging.
