TJ Chumps launches Dexa drone delivery at Kettering location
Eligible orders from the Kettering restaurant can now arrive by drone at addresses within about three miles, including parts of Oakwood and Centerville. Dayton-based Dexa runs flights seven days a week from 4 to 8 p.m., depending on weather and eligibility.
Some TJ Chumps orders in Kettering can now arrive by drone. The Dayton-area restaurant group began offering drone delivery from its Kettering location Sept. 22 through a partnership with Dexa, a Dayton-based company that designs its own aircraft and runs its own delivery operations.
How it works
Qualifying orders placed through the TJ Chumps website or app can be delivered to eligible addresses within about three miles of the restaurant. That range covers parts of Kettering, Oakwood and Centerville. Flights are planned seven days a week from 4 to 8 p.m. Whether an order goes by drone depends on the delivery address, order eligibility, weather and operating conditions.
The partnership builds on earlier work between TJ Chumps and Dexa. Both companies have strong ties to the Dayton area. TJ Chumps operates five locations across the region, offering dine-in, carryout, catering and delivery.
"We're always looking for fun and innovative ways to create a great experience for our guests," said Jim Dunn, co-owner of TJ Chumps. "What makes this especially exciting is getting to work with another local company and bring something developed right here in the Dayton area directly to our community. It's a unique experience, and we're excited for our guests to see it in action."
Beth Flippo, founder and CEO of Dexa, pointed to the hometown angle as well.
"This is our home, and there's nothing better than bringing technology built right here in Dayton to our own community," Flippo said.
The companies describe the launch as part of an ongoing effort to see how autonomous delivery performs in real-world community settings.
Dexa's momentum
Dexa, formerly Drone Express, was founded in 2021 and builds its own aircraft. The company holds three key FAA approvals: airworthiness certification for its aircraft, a Part 135 air carrier certificate and a national waiver to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).
The Kettering launch comes weeks before Dexa competes in the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, set for Oct. 13-15 in San Francisco.
