‘I get to keep my favorite chip;’ Locals react to Mikesell’s being bought by Ohio-based company

DAYTON — Less than two weeks after Mikesell’s said it was closing and ending its 113-year history in Dayton, the brand has been bought.

The business will not continue in Dayton and will now call Zanesville home with Conn’s Potato Chip Co.

“I thought it was a joke too. I really did,” Unique Moore of Dayton said.

>> RELATED: Ohio-based potato chip company breathing new life into Mikesell’s

“I was just like, oh my goodness, I thought it was fake or something,” Miracle Coles said of Dayton said.

Moore and Coles are sisters, they still remember when they were kids and their mom bought their favorite flavor.

“Their good and hot ones. You can’t go with any other brand...when you grow up on them,” Moore said.

So when the news came Monday night that the company was bought out, they were excited.

“I was already telling my mom we need to start loading them. Whenever we can find them, I saw they were coming off the shelves,” Moore said.

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“Conn’s is excited about this opportunity. The licensing agreement will allow us to use the decades-old recipes and traditions of Mikesell’s ... consumers have come to expect and enjoy, especially the loyal fans of Mikesell’s products.” Conn’s said in a statement

“That makes me so happy. I get to keep my favorite chip,” Moore said.

Coles said this makes her question the future of other Dayton businesses.

“Everything is kind of leaving here. It’s like, what else is gonna be? What’s next?” she said.

The sisters said they are still upset about the 60 people who lost their jobs at the original Mikesell’s factory.

As for Conn’s they said they are making Mikesell’s snacks as fast as possible to get onto store shelves.

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