A Dayton Christmas tradition has moved to a new location, and it begins this week

For those whose post-Thanksgiving tradition includes heading to the old Montgomery County Fairgrounds to pick out the family Christmas tree, this year’s trip will take them in a slightly different direction.

Joe’s Pines — a piece of Dayton holiday history for 60 years — has moved about a mile and a half south from its longtime location near the old grandstand to the parking lot of the former Neil’s Heritage House Restaurant on West Schantz Avenue.

Bob Stone, Joe’s Pines owner for the last 33 years, said he wants area families who have been customers for generations to find him again this year.

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“Most of them say: ‘My parents brought us here’ or ‘my grandparents brought us here’ or ‘I’m a grandparent now,’” Stone said.

He said it’s fitting the new location is on property owned by Dayton History, which operates nearby Carillon Historical Park. Stone said the easiest way to find the location is to use the restaurant’s address, 2323 West Schantz Ave.

Stone had to seek a new location following the sale of the old fairgrounds to the Premier Health and the University of Dayton.

Christmas tree sales officially begin on Friday, but Stone said they always end up selling a tree or two early.

“We always have a few people straggle in while we’re getting ready,” he said. “Every year that’s how it seems to work.”

In past years, the company made wreaths and roping at the fairgrounds, but it purchased a warehouse in Huber Heights for those operations, Stone said.

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The trees are currently arriving from across the country — and from out of the country — though fewer than in past seasons.

“I didn’t quite bring in as many this year with the fear I wouldn’t get anyone over here,” Stone said. “But I did bring in 85 percent of what I normally sell.”

Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Black Hills spruce and blue spruce are coming from Michigan. White pines are arriving from Tennessee and Fraser firs from North Carolina. Noble firs from Washington State will also share space with Balsam firs from Nova Scotia.

“We’re going to have the same products, the same selection, the same service,” Stone said.

The least expensive trees cost $18 while a few may run up to $300, according to Stone. But on average, trees cost $60 to $70.

And the giant inflatable Frosty the Snowman is also moving to the new location, Stone said.

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