Dovetale Bakery, open only since April, took on floodwater twice in four days as back-to-back storms hammered Hyde Park Square and forced neighboring businesses to band together with rubber mats, shop fans, and shared cleanup supplies.

The first storm hit Friday, July 17, sending water into the bakery at the corner of the Square. The second struck Tuesday, July 21, when co-owner Laura Houston's husband Jake Shifman was spotted outside stacking rubber mats against the door while large fans dried the floor inside.

"We're trying to figure out what's going on," Shifman told WVXU on July 21. "We thought Friday was a one-time thing, but then, here we are again."

Shifman said the Friday flooding entered the bakery but Tuesday's round was less severe for Dovetale specifically. Neko Sushi, just around the corner, was not as lucky. Owner Yeon Kim told WCPO after the July 17 storm that it was the fifth time her restaurant had flooded since 2018. Sewage water filled her kitchen and dining room, and water pressure from a Metro bus driving through the flooded street blew out her front door's window.

Kim said having only two sewage drains near her business is the core problem.

Shifman said businesses along his side of the Square have pooled resources and tips for mitigating flood damage. He also said rainwater seems to drain more slowly than it used to and questioned whether there is an issue with the stormwater system nearby.

Poeme, a stationery store on Michigan Avenue, also flooded on July 17. Owner Kristen Folzenlogen told WCPO on July 18 that a proposed mixed-use development near the Square sits "exactly where this extensive flooding occurred" and urged the city, the neighborhood council, and the developer to solve the water issue before breaking ground.

Related: Hyde Park residents blame sewer failure for repeated flooding damage

The Hyde Park Neighborhood Council posted a call for paper towels and cleaning supplies on July 18, directing donations to Poeme. The neighborhood council also is conducting a flood survey.

The city deployed public Dumpsters to help residents with flood cleanup. They are located at:

• 4420 Camberwell Rd.
• 5008 Whetsel Ave.
• 6214 Kincaid Ave.
• 3807 Brotherton Rd.
• Hyde Park Square

Duck Creek floodgate under investigation

The city's Stormwater Management Utility closed the Duck Creek flood gate on Madison Road at about 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, reopening it around 9 p.m., according to a city statement. A city spokesperson said the closure was taken "out of an abundance of caution due to weather forecasts calling for additional rain."

That gate did not close during Friday's storm, and Duck Creek overflowed its banks. City officials said they are working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to investigate whether the gate failed. The gate was installed in 2008 by the Army Corps; the city took over operations in 2012.

In April 2026, the city put out a bid to replace four crossing gates and flashers at the Duck Creek location but did not include changes to the flood gate itself. The Office of Procurement canceled that bid and said it would be republished in July after the city's financial system opens for Fiscal Year 2027.

Cincinnati Council member Mark Jeffreys posted video on X from Edwards Road near Hyde Park Square on July 21 showing water gushing down the street.

"I happened to be at Neko Sushi in Hyde Park when the latest flash flood happened this afternoon," he posted. "It was a few inches of rain in a matter of maybe 30 minutes. Unfortunately the business is at a nexus of rain coming down from multiple spots."

The Metropolitan Sewer District received more than 900 reports of sewer backups and basement flooding from the July 17 storm alone, according to WVXU. MSD Director Diana Christy said on Sunday, July 20, that the sewer system "didn't fail" and that no system could handle that volume of water.

No timeline has been announced for the floodgate investigation or for the republished bid on the crossing-gate replacement.