New York-based eyeglass and sunglass retailer - Warby Parker - opens the doors to its first Ohio store tomorrow in the Short North at 601 N. High Street:

 

-- https://www.columbusunderground.com/warby-parker-in-the-short-north-nears-a-grand-opening-tm1

 

-- https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/05/17/take-a-look-inside-warby-parkers-first-ohio-brick.html

Easton Town Center lands a pair of new retailers

 

 

Easton Town Center is adding a pair of retailers — one that will help you go out and one that will tempt you to stay in.

 

First up is made-to-measure men’s suit maker Indochino, which will open a 1,919-square-foot showroom in June or July. It’ll be the first in Ohio for the Vancouver-based company and one of eight openings this year, growing its physical reach by almost one-third from 23 to 31 by the end of summer.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/05/24/easton-town-center-lands-a-pair-of-new-retailers.html

What new local and national retailers are coming to Easton?

 

 

Easton Town Center, once again, is reaching near and far for its latest crop of additions.

 

As already reported in Columbus Business First, national brands including Indochino, which is opening its first Ohio store, and Lovesac, which is opening its third, are joining the center, as is local-based The Blowout Bar. And, of course, Legoland Discovery Center arrives in the fall.

 

But it isn’t all fun and games and foam-filled chairs.

 

Marine Layer is now open in the North District with its first-ever store in Ohio. The San Francisco-based retailer has a 1,044-square-foot store and sells “soft, comfortable clothing with a laid-back California style.”

 

Also open is Seabolt & Company, an all-natural skin care company that is in the North District as well.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/05/30/what-new-local-and-national-retailers-are-coming.html

 

Duluth Trading Co. opened its first Columbus store today at 9061 Lyra Drive in the Polaris area:

 

-- http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180606/duluth-trading-brings-rugged-comfortable-workwear-to-polaris

 

-- https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/06/05/new-polaris-apparel-retailer-masking-cracks-giving.html (slideshow included)

Macy’s is bringing its off-price concept, Backstage, to Columbus on June 16 - opening within its existing store in the Mall at Tuttle Crossing.  Macy’s carved out 11,700 square feet on the first floor of its 225,000-square-foot Tuttle Crossing store:

 

http://www.thisweeknews.com/business/20180423/macys-to-open-off-price-backstage-concept-at-its-tuttle-mall-store

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/06/06/macys-prepping-backstage-for-its-central-ohio.html

 

http://www.dispatch.com/photogallery/OH/20180613/PHOTOGALLERY/613009994/PH/1

 

Abercrombie secures its first two college campus stores

 

 

A&F O-H-I-O.

 

in a bid to better attract the college-age customer, New Albany-based Abercrombie & Fitch is opening two campus stores in August – one at Gateway-University District across the street from Ohio State University and a second at University Village near the University of Southern California.

 

The company teased the idea at its April investor meeting.

 

“Our campus stores, built on a small footprint and with full omni-functionality, will also serve as unique learning labs, providing us with insights into driving productivity from more compact stores, omnichannel integration, and leveraging store-centric experiential marketing,” Abercrombie & Fitch Brand President Stacia Andersen said in a statement.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/06/29/abercrombie-secures-its-first-two-college-campus.html

It'd be great to see more of our local retailers do this. A lot of them try out new concepts at Easton or Polaris, etc already but don't have much if any presence in the urban core

^Seriously, how can L Brands not have a PINK store at OSU! Or freakin Bath & Body or Victorias Secret. Henri Bendel might be a stretch though ;)

 

 

New York-based eyeglass and sunglass retailer - Warby Parker - opens the doors to its first Ohio store tomorrow in the Short North at 601 N. High Street:

 

-- https://www.columbusunderground.com/warby-parker-in-the-short-north-nears-a-grand-opening-tm1

 

-- https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/05/17/take-a-look-inside-warby-parkers-first-ohio-brick.html

 

 

i caved and bought warby glasses. i like the designs and they are sturdy enough, but the glass is junk. there is no option to get anything like no smear lenses. so all i do all day is try to clean them its annoying.

 

Duluth Trading Co. opened its first Columbus store today at 9061 Lyra Drive in the Polaris area:

 

-- http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180606/duluth-trading-brings-rugged-comfortable-workwear-to-polaris

 

-- https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/06/05/new-polaris-apparel-retailer-masking-cracks-giving.html (slideshow included)

 

that great i am kind of surprized they have not been in ohio until now.

 

what columbus really needs from out that way is a ragstock around osu. if there was ever a gimme for the campus area its the ragstock chain.

 

Duluth Trading Co. opened its first Columbus store today at 9061 Lyra Drive in the Polaris area:

 

-- http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180606/duluth-trading-brings-rugged-comfortable-workwear-to-polaris

 

-- https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/06/05/new-polaris-apparel-retailer-masking-cracks-giving.html (slideshow included)

 

that great i am kind of surprized they have not been in ohio until now.

 

what columbus really needs from out that way is a ragstock around osu. if there was ever a gimme for the campus area its the ragstock chain.

 

They've been in West Chester for a year or two now.

 

Edit: Looks like you maybe were talking about Warby Parker, I thought you meant Duluth Trading Company.

^Seriously, how can L Brands not have a PINK store at OSU! Or freakin Bath & Body or Victorias Secret. Henri Bendel might be a stretch though ;)

 

 

 

Retailers don't like that campus areas don't have Christmas, see limited action in the summertime and have few middle-age women around.

^ Axe throwing and BYOB.  What could go wrong? :D

 

We're about to find out!

 

https://www.columbusunderground.com/first-look-dueling-axes-tm1

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/07/13/ax-throwing-arrives-in-downtown-columbus.html

Two posts from the OSU / University Area development thread about Target's smaller urban format store that is opening this week.  This new Target store is in the ground floor of the newly constructed Wellington building at 16th & High across from the Ohio State University campus:

 

Target Sets Opening Date for High Street Store

 

Ohio State students, professors, and campus residents will soon have access to a specially formatted Target store, providing customers a convenient way to shop for food, health and beauty products, apparel, home and dorm decor, and more.

 

The new store at 1892 N. High St. is set to open on Wednesday, July 18. The location will also include a CVS Pharmacy, Starbucks, and an order pick-up option, allowing customers to pick up orders in store within just an hour. The store will also accept BuckID for payment from OSU students.

 

More below:

https://www.columbusunderground.com/target-sets-opening-date-for-high-street-store-tm1

 

 

Here is what is in (and what isn't in) the new OSU Target

 

 

Just because the newest Target Corp. store in the market is (comparatively) tiny doesn’t mean shoppers can’t find what they want.

 

The Minneapolis-based retailer is opening its first small format store in Columbus July 18 (grand opening July 22) on the ground floor of the Wellington building at High Street and 16th Avenue across from the Ohio State University campus.

 

It’s a 28,000-square-foot box instead of the typical 135,000-square-foot store.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/07/13/here-is-want-is-in-and-what-isnt-in-the-new-osu.html

The University District has seen a bunch of construction projects on and off the Ohio State campus over the past few years.  The latest wave of construction that is finishing up are five large off-campus housing developments that will be adding 1,134 new bedrooms for lease in the campus area for this fall semester - see more about this at https://www.urbanohio.com/forum/index.php/topic,1565.msg931749.html#msg931749.

 

Along with these new housing developments are new off-campus retail spaces - all five projects feature ground-floor retail.  Combined with the South Campus Gateway (now called The Gateway) completed around 10 years ago, that's alot of new retail space available next to the 55,000+ student campus.  As a result some national retailers are filling this new retail space, joining the other national and local retailers in the University District.

 

---

The Dispatch had this recap of the new retailers going into the University District at http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180819/chipotle-chick-fil-a-starbucks-abercrombie-among-businesses-opening-near-ohio-state:

• Abercrombie & Fitch - 1614 N. High Street - Located in the ground-floor at South Campus Gateway, the OSU Abercrombie & Fitch location is one of two campus stores the New Albany-based company opened in September; the other is in Los Angeles near USC.  The campus locations offer digital options including buy-online/pickup-in-store and a 30-inch interactive screen that allows customers to shop the online store.  Items added online can be moved to a customer’s mobile app or the register in the store for checkout.

• City Gear - 1624 N. High Street - Also located at the Gateway.  The national chain sells shoe and apparel brands including Adidas, Converse, Nike and North Face.  This is the chain’s 13th location in Ohio and third in Columbus.

• Chick-fil-A - 1924 N. High Street - Opened in the first floor of The Wellington - the new six-story apartment building between 16th and 17th Avenues that also included a new small-format Target store.  Chick-fil-A will allow OSU students to use their BuckID cards for payment here.

• Chipotle - 2130 N. High Street - Located in the first floor of the new five-story Wilson Place apartment building at the southeast corner of the Lane & High.

• Coffee Connections - 1572 N. High Street - Located in South Campus Gateway, this business is expanding off its Hilliard location.

• The District PourHouse, 1568 N. High Street - Also located in the Gateway, The District PourHouse is taking over the World of Beer location that opened a few years ago.  It is a reworking and rebranding of this spot by the existing WoB franchisee.

• Elia Athenian Grill - 14 E. 11th Avenue - Another South Campus Gateway spot.  This is the second location for this locally owned restaurant - its first is at 20 N. High in downtown.

• Good Night John Boy - 1576 N. High Street - Also in the Gateway, this restaurant is a 1970s-themed concept is developed by Forward Hospitality Group, a Cleveland-based restaurant company that also owns and operates Flip Side at Easton.  This will be the first Good Night John Boy restaurant in Central Ohio.

• Red Door BBQ - 262 W. Lane Ave., Suite A - Located in the first floor of the new seven-story Point on Lane apartment building at the corner of Tuttle Park Place and Lane Avenue.  This will be its second location in Columbus; the other is at 177 S. Cypress Ave.

• Rush Bowls - 262 W. Lane Ave, Suite E - Also located in the first floor of the new seven-story Point on Lane.  This Colorado-based chain sells blended fruit bowls and is the first location to open in Ohio.

• Starbucks - 2136 N. High Street - Located in the first floor of the new five-story Wilson Place at Lane & High.

• Target - 1892 N. High Street - This small-format Target store (approximately 28,000 square feet, while the typical Target store is around 135,000 square feet) is located on the ground floor of the new six-story Wellington apartment building.  The store accepts BuckID for payment and includes a selection of fresh groceries, sandwiches, salads, beverages and snacks; a variety of dorm and apartment essentials; health, personal care and beauty products; and men’s and women’s apparel and game-day clothing.  It also includes a CVS Pharmacy and a Starbucks.

• The Stack - 262 W. Lane Ave., Suite D - New coffee and doughnuts shop located in the first floor of the new seven-story Point on Lane apartment building.

• Verizon - 262 W. Lane Ave., Suites B and C - Also located in the first floor of the new Point on Lane apartment building at the Tuttle Park Place and Lane Avenue.

CU had this preview photo-tour of Target's new OSU small-format store when it opened in late July:

 

https://www.columbusunderground.com/first-look-new-target-store-on-high-street-tm1

 

---

This small-format Target store is approximately 28,000 square feet, while the typical Target store is around 135,000 square feet.  It is located at 1892 N. High Street on the ground floor of the new six-story Wellington apartment building located between 16th & 17th Avenues along the east side of High Street across from the OSU campus.

 

This Target store accepts BuckID for payment and includes a selection of fresh groceries, sandwiches, salads, beverages and snacks; a variety of dorm and apartment essentials; health, personal care and beauty products; and men’s and women’s apparel and game-day clothing.  It also includes a CVS Pharmacy and a Starbucks.  The Chick-fil-A store located at 1924 N. High Street (and also located in the ground-floor of the Wellington) also accepts BuckID for payment from OSU students.

 

Here is a CU photo of the new Target store (and the Chick-fil-A) from 17th & High after OSU's fall semester started in late August:  https://www.columbusunderground.com/construction-roundup-august-2018-part-2-we1

 

More about the Abercrombie & Fitch that opened at 1614 N. High Street in the ground-floor of South Campus Gateway:

 

https://www.columbusunderground.com/af-opens-new-store-next-to-osu-we1

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/08/21/abercrombie-osu-heres-how-the-new-small-store-will.html

 

---

The Ohio State University Abercrombie & Fitch location is one of two campus stores the New Albany-based company opened in September - the other is in Los Angeles near the USC campus.  These campus locations offer digital options including buy-online/pickup-in-store and a 30-inch interactive screen that allows customers to shop the online store.  Items added online can be moved to a customer’s mobile app or the register in the store for checkout.

 

 

Chipotle and Starbucks opened in the ground-floor of the new five-story Wilson Place apartment building at the southeast corner of Lane & High.  CU photo from of Wilson Place from late August:  https://www.columbusunderground.com/construction-roundup-august-2018-part-2-we1

 

I don't have a finished photo for the seven-story Point on Lane apartment building located at the corner of Tuttle Park Place and Lane Avenue - but here's a construction photo of the project.  This view is from Lane Avenue looking north down Tuttle Park Place.  The famous Varsity Club bar & restaurant is located to the left on the other corner:

 

Below is a list of the new retail going in the ground-floor at the Point on Lane:

• Red Door BBQ - 262 W. Lane Ave., Suite A - Second restaurant location in Columbus; the other is at 177 S. Cypress Ave.

• Verizon - 262 W. Lane Ave., Suites B and C - Another of many in Central Ohio.

• The Stack - 262 W. Lane Ave., Suite D - New locally-owned coffee and doughnuts shop.

• Rush Bowls - 262 W. Lane Ave, Suite E - Colorado-based chain that sells blended fruit bowls and is the first location to open in Ohio.

 

Six months late in posting this - but the Hills Market celebrated 5 years at its downtown location back in March:

 

https://www.columbusunderground.com/the-hills-market-downtown-celebrates-5-years-with-anniversary-party-tm1

Flower Child Vintage Store has moved from its High Street location in the Short North into a former warehouse at 233 E. Fifth Avenue.  This is a continuation of a Columbus retail trend seeing older businesses moving from the High Street corridor in the Short North into off-High locations in nearby neighborhoods.

 

This new 233 E. Fifth Avenue location is about three blocks east and four blocks north of Flower Child's original location at 989 N. High Street.  Although its not in the red-hot High Street Short North corridor, this new location is next to the Fourth St./Fifth Ave. intersection and is in an up-and-coming part of Italian Village located just south of the redeveloping Weinland Park neighborhood.

 

Flower Child occupied its High Street location for 12 years.  But with recent rent increases, the business owner began looking for a new location last year.  The new 233 E. Fifth Avenue location is also three times larger than its former 11,000 sq. ft. store.  In addition to the bigger space, the new location comes with some off-street parking and a loading area for customers.

 

In the 2018 article linked below, Flower Child owner Joe Valenti says, “My customer, I think, deserves things like parking and a docking door.  We’re more destination-driven, so people drive in to see us a lot of times.  So, we like the fact that when a customer comes in, they can grab a soda and a candy bar and walk around and enjoy it, and not feel as though they got to rush out for a parking meter.”

 

 

-- 2017 article about planning its move to 233 E. Fifth Avenue:  https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2017/09/20/short-north-shop-owner-wants-to-move-to-italian.html

 

-- 2018 article and photo-tour of the new 233 E. Fifth Avenue location:  https://www.columbusunderground.com/first-look-flower-childs-new-spot-on-east-fifth-avenue-ls1

 

 

 

 

Many more Flower Child Vintage Store interior photos at https://www.columbusunderground.com/first-look-flower-childs-new-spot-on-east-fifth-avenue-ls1

Looks like I need to peruse Flower Child's record collection.

I know a couple people who used to work there. Pretty sure they were geeking out the entire time.

Business First had a 28-image slideshow of the new Flower Child vintage store.  In the article (linked below) that went with the slideshow, they listed their former High Street location as 11,000 sq. ft. and their new 233 E. 5th Avenue location as an impressively large 33,000 square feet.  I had the wrong square footage for the old location in my previous post - which has now been corrected:

 

PHOTOS: Tour Flower Child's funky new – and huge – Italian Village digs

Walmart buys Eloquii, Columbus-based clothing company

By Tim Feran, The Columbus Dispatch

Updated: Oct. 2, 2018 - 2:46 PM

 

Walmart is bolstering its e-commerce business by buying Columbus-based plus-size retailer Eloquii.  Terms were not disclosed for the deal, which is expected to close later this quarter.  The technology news website Recode estimated the deal at $100 million.

 

Mariah Chase, CEO of Eloquii, and the majority of the company’s more than 100 employees are based in Columbus, where they will remain. ... The move is part of Walmart’s strategy of adding new brands and developing exclusive products.  Eloquii will join Walmart’s portfolio of similar companies that started as online retailers, including ModCloth, Bonobos and Allswell.

( . . . )

Eloquii was founded in 2011 as part of The Limited.  It was shut down in 2013, then brought back as an online-only, standalone company in 2014 when former Limited employees saw potential in the plus-size sector and branched out on their own.  After growing quickly as an online retailer, Eloquii began opening brick-and-mortar stores last year and currently has five locations, including one at Easton Town Center in a space once occupied by its former parent company.

 

MORE: https://www.dispatch.com/news/20181002/walmart-buys-eloquii-columbus-based-clothing-company

First retailer moves into Easton's Shop Lab space

 

Easton Town Center finally has filled its Shop Lab, a 528-square-foot space inside the Easton Station building that will be rentable by retailers for short-run tests, be it a few weeks or a few months.

 

The first retailer to sell its wares there is Orlando, Florida-based sock retailer Rock ‘Em Socks. It opened on Friday.

 

“It’s a platform to enhance brands,” Yaromir Steiner, CEO of Easton co-developer Steiner + Associates, said at an event in April. “We’ll allow retailers to experiment with a suite of resources.”

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/11/02/first-retailer-moves-into-eastons-shop-lab-space.html

 

Entertainment company Rise Brands plots big growth for 16-Bit, Pins Mechanical

 

 

"Rise Brands is going big.

 

The parent company of Pins Mechanical, 16-Bit, No Solicitation and a soon-to-be-revealed quick-service restaurant, is going all in on what can only be called a mega-concept.

At Bridge Park in Dublin, its latest 16-Bit, a 7,000-square-foot space full of arcade games, game consoles, big squashy chairs and couches, not to mention a bar with more than 20 taps, is set to open this week. Next door is the more than 14,000-square foot Pins Mechanical, which opened last year. A pair of garage doors connects the two hangouts, and the corridor between will house the company’s new restaurant."

 

https://www.dispatch.com/business/20181111/entertainment-company-rise-brands-plots-big-growth-for-16-bit-pins-mechanical

Short North tenant departures illustrate neighborhood’s transition

 

"Despite departures of some long-term tenants, Short North remains robust.

 

Grandview Mercantile, Flower Child and Roy G Biv spent a combined 55 years in the Short North.

 

So when all three of them left the neighborhood in the past year, plenty of long-timers shed a tear for the good old days.

 

Not so fast, say the businesses and Short North officials."

 

https://www.dispatch.com/news/20181118/short-north-tenant-departures-illustrate-neighborhoods-transition

Computer scientist moves back to Ohio to open bookstore in Short North

 

"A longtime dream will come true when Prologue Bookshop opens in the Short North next week.

 

The store, at 841 North High St., will be the first independent bookstore in the neighborhood in more than a decade. But for owner Dan Brewster the store fulfills a lifelong interest in books and publishing.

 

“I grew up in the Cleveland area and worked for the county library in high school, so even then I had interest in it and really enjoyed it,” said Brewster, who hopes to open the doors Tuesday.

 

After going to school in St. Louis for computer science, he moved to San Francisco in 2012 and worked for Goodreads, the book recommendation website that was bought by Amazon in 2013."

 

https://www.dispatch.com/news/20181116/computer-scientist-moves-back-to-ohio-to-open-bookstore-in-short-north

Edited November 19, 20186 yr by aderwent

^ More about the opening of the Prologue Bookshop in the Short North from CU:  https://www.columbusunderground.com/prologue-bookshop-opens-just-in-time-for-short-north-holiday-season-tm1

 

Plus, the CU article included this photo of the Short North Christmas Tree, located next to one of the Short North arches that gets changed into a "Short North Pole" arch for the holiday season:

 

Dublin's Bridge Park lands Cincinnati menswear retailer

 

"The owner of two premium menswear retailers in Cincinnati is expanding his reach to Columbus, with plans to open a third shop in a new development.

 

Chuck Hellman, owner of Blaine's Fine Mens Apparel in Montgomery and Hellman's Clothiers in the Carew Tower downtown, hopes to open Hellman's in the Bridge Park development in Dublin by July or August."

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/02/11/exclusive-premium-cincinnati-menswear-retailer.html?ana=e_mc_prem&s=newsletter&ed=2019-02-12&u=8jkupSw9zIRhc%2BySqW4WOQ0354f4c7&t=1549974875&j=86614021

Replacing former Kroger store HomeBuys brings its ‘hunt’ to Northland

 

Renovations are underway to transform the former 60,000 square-foot Kroger store at 1630 Morse Road into the fourth location for discount retailer HomeBuys.

 

HomeBuys was launched three years ago by Columbus-native Karen Waldmann and former Big Lots executive Brady Churches in three former Flower Factory locations at 4395 Clime Road in Columbus as well as locations in Canton and Dayton.

 

The new store is scheduled to have a soft opening toward the end of February with a grand opening planned for March 12, Waldmann said.

 

MORE:  https://www.thisweeknews.com/news/20190107/replacing-former-kroger-store-homebuys-brings-its-hunt-to-northland

Ricart buys Harley dealer A.D. Farrow

 

Ricart Automotive will sell more than cars and trucks with its announcement Tuesday that it is acquiring majority ownership of the A.D. Farrow Co. Harley-Davidson dealership.  Founded in 1912, A.D. Farrow is the nation’s oldest Harley dealer.  It has three Columbus-area locations: off Interstate 71 at the interchange with Route 36/37 near Sunbury; on West Broad Street in Franklinton; and on East Broad Street in Pataskala.

 

Rick Ricart said the Pataskala location will soon move to a former National Tire & Battery location on Scarborough Road that Ricart recently bought, putting it a few miles from the sprawling Ricart Auto Mall in Groveport.  Financial details are not being disclosed for the deal, which includes real estate and other dealership assets. ... Bob Althoff, who has owned A.D. Farrow for 17 years, will remain with the company.  Althoff will keep a minority ownership stake for the next “three to five years,” Ricart said.  At that point, Ricart Automotive plans to acquire Althoff’s stake.

 

The well-known A.D. Farrow name will remain for the foreseeable future, Ricart said.  He added that down the road, there are possibilities to cross-pollinate the A.D. Farrow and Ricart brands.

 

MORE:  https://www.dispatch.com/business/20190219/ricart-buys-harley-dealer-ad-farrow

Tory Burch to open first Ohio location at Easton

 

Boutique retailer Tory Burch is opening its first Ohio location at Easton Town Center.

 

The upper-tier style brand is planning a new 2,628-square-foot location at 4175 The Strand, taking about half of the space formerly occupied by Ann Taylor Loft on the northern end of the mall, according to an Easton spokeswoman.

 

Tory Burch says the shop will open in June of this year. It's currently hiringfor sales and management jobs at the new location.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/03/25/tory-burch-to-open-first-ohio-location-at-easton.html

 

 

Office by day, bar by night space to open at Polaris

 

COhatch, the Worthington-based co-working brand opened a new location on May 1 in the Polaris Lifestyle Center.  Unlike other COhatch locations, this one combines the typical co-working office and meeting space with a nighttime wild card: a bar and entertainment space operated by Brothers Drake Meadery.   COhatch The Pub, at 1554 Polaris Parkway, is the co-working brand’s fourth location, and unique in another way: “It’s our first time in a mall setting,” said Matt Davis, co-founder of COhatch.

( . . . )

COhatch’s Polaris location offers approximately 8,500 square feet of space including 10 private offices, some dedicated desks, more than 50 co-working spaces, meeting rooms, large conference rooms, indoor and outdoor event spaces, and business amenities such as Wi-Fi, desk and fax/mail services. ... The office portion of the Pub will be open seven days a week for members and starting at 5 p.m. each day, is available to the public as a bar and to host events.  Brothers Drake, the Short North maker of honey wines, will operate the local craft bar and bring in partners including North High Brewing, Middle West Spirits and others from the Short North for special tasting events, and special craft beer and mead releases.

( . . . )

The completion of The Pub marks the second phase of development at Polaris Fashion Place for COhatch.  In December, COhatch opened “the Hub,” a space inside Polaris that functions as a pop-up shop where COhatch members can exhibit and sell their wares in a high-traffic area.

 

MORE:  https://www.dispatch.com/business/20190426/office-by-day-bar-by-night-space-to-open-at-polaris

Business First also has a slideshow along with the below linked article showing how COhatch transformed the former restaurant at Polaris Fashion Place:

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/04/26/slideshow-cohatch-ready-to-open-polaris-pub-with.html

It’s clicks to bricks for one new Clintonville storefront.  What started as a successful Instagram account is now a retail storefront at 3045 Indianola Avenue:

 

https://themetropreneur.com/columbus/how-marigold-went-from-instagram-account-to-clintonville-storefront/

Technically this is located in Worthington, but its also in the midst of the Columbus Metro, so it seems applicable:

 

Shops at Worthington Place may represent future for malls

 

The long transformation of the Shops at Worthington Place is nearly complete with two new businesses.  The Anthony Vince Nail Spa opened April 27, and Paulette’s Palace and Productions held its grand opening May 5, illustrating the mall’s move from traditional clothing retailers to a center built around service and dining. ... The mall’s tenant mix, which also includes dental and optometrist offices, reflects the changing nature of retail.  “We have shifted the tenant mix away from predominately retail to a healthy balance of restaurant, 22%; fitness, 10%; health and beauty services, 23%, and retail, 39%,” mall owners Walter Floyd and Tom Carter said in an email.

 

Other malls in Columbus and across the country are similarly diversifying, but the Worthington mall, located at I-270 and U.S. Route 23, has been further challenged by being a smaller property that doesn’t draw customers from as wide an area as malls such as Easton Town Center and Polaris Fashion Place.

 

Even so, “the Shops at Worthington Place is doing a great job diversifying,” said retail analyst Deb Miller with the Columbus firm Boulevard Strategies, adding that the mall also benefited from the 193-unit Heights at Worthington Place apartments opening next door (on some surface parking at the site).  Occupancy at the Worthington mall is now at approximately 94%, a far cry from 40% when Carter and Morris-Floyd Capital Partners bought the former Worthington Square Mall in 2010 for $6.5 million.  The team then spent more than $10 million renovating the property.

 

MORE:  https://www.dispatch.com/business/20190512/shops-at-worthington-place-may-represent-future-for-malls

 

Bonobos to Open First Columbus Location in the Short North

 

Men’s apparel brand and retailer Bonobos has signed a lease at The Pizzuti Companies’ latest mixed-use development in the Short North, at 875 N. High Street. ... Bonobos will occupy 1,500 square feet along High Street on the ground floor of the development.  This will be the first Bonobos location in Columbus and the third in Ohio.

 

Bonobos, known for well-fitting menswear and accessories, was originally founded as an online-only retailer in 2007.  Bonobos began opening brick-and-mortar locations in 2012.

 

MORE:  https://www.columbusunderground.com/bonobos-to-open-first-columbus-location-in-the-short-north-tm1

Another anchor tenant signs on for $500M Easton expansion

 

 

Easton Town Center's 16-acre expansion has another retail anchor.

 

Arhaus Furniture has signed on for its third Central Ohio location, building out a 17,500-square-foot space in the now-underway $500 million expansion of Easton. The new building will be across the street from the Aloft Hotel, near the corner of Worth Avenue and Brighton Rose Way. It's set to open in late 2019.

 

And it'll be a new design, John Reed, chairman and CEO of Arhaus, said in a news release.

 

“In retail it is critical to continue to reinvent yourself and we are excited to be able to bring our new store design to the Columbus market," Reed said. "We believe that retail is theater and our stores should be a place for customers to come and get inspired."

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/06/03/arhaus-furniture-signs-on-for-500m-easton.html

Retail roundup: Who's coming and going in Central Ohio in 2019

 

The slideshow with this story includes some of the changes in one of Columbus' trendiest neighborhoods: The Short North.  The list is not exhaustive, and doesn't include some of the big-name restaurants that have opened or been announced.  But as Mainstream Boutique's Grandview plans reflect, new arrivals are settling in throughout the region, not just in the Short North.  Here's a rundown of some of the other leases signed, announcements made and notable changes through the first half of the year:

• Athleta is opening a location in The Shops at Lane Avenue later this summer, joining a newly opened Anthony Vince Nail Spa which opened its doors this month.

• School of Rock, a music lessons shop with an existing Columbus presence, leased 2,580 square feet at 5225 N. Hamilton Rd. in the Chestnut Hill IV strip center in Gahanna.

• Clothier Brandy Melville has opened a new location at Easton Town Center at the old Clarks space at 4014 The Strand W., which will join a number of new tenants including Sono Wood Fired across the street, a new Tory Burch store, and a glut of new openings that will come with Easton's $500 million expansion.

• Easton is also getting a 17,500-square-foot Arhaus Furniture to anchor that expansion.  It's joining anchor RH Columbus, The Gallery at Easton Town Center, a 136-room Aloft Hotel from Marriott and the new Pins Mechanical Co./16-Bit Bar + Arcade.

• Burlington Coat Factory has taken a 38,000-square-foot space at 1400 Gemini Place, the former Toys R Us.  The retailer is targeting an October opening date for the space near Polaris.

• Conrads College Gifts, a mainstay in the University District, announced plans to move from its longtime 316 W. Lane Ave. home to two new locations, in Dublin and Easton.

• LaDrea, a cosmetics retailer, has opened a 1,100-square-foot space at 6562 Longshore Street in Dublin.  It's one of several new tenants at Bridge Park.

MORE:  https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/07/09/retail-roundup-whos-coming-and-going-in-central.html

Bank of America planning 14 branches in Central Ohio

 

Bank of America is entering Central Ohio with a bang.  The Charlotte-based banking giant has announced the details of its plans to establish a presence in the Ohio market, which will include 14 new bank branches in Central Ohio over the next two years.

 

Central Ohio’s first Bank of America branch will open at 1650 Morse Road in the Morse Plaza.  The bank has also applied for permits for a new Grove City location at 2336 Stringtown Pike in a new 3,900-square-foot building. ... Leases haven't been negotiated for the others yet, but the bank said they will have a distribution of branches around the region, including major suburbs and major commercial hubs.

( . . . )

Bank of America said earlier this year that this would be part of a nationwide 500-branch expansion.  When that push was announced, the bank had virtually no retail banking presence in Ohio.  The first Cincinnati branch (of 16 planned) opened Monday, and the bank also plans to open (an undisclosed number of) Cleveland locations in 2020.

 

MORE:  https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/07/22/bank-of-america-to-open-14-branches-incolumbus.html

'Cobots,' e-commerce and authenticity: How Columbus' retail industry is embracing tech to build its future

 

For Tara Abraham, co-CEO of New Albany-based contract manufacturing and assembly company Accel Inc., the future is all about "cobots."  Abraham, one of several speakers at a recent retail summit hosted by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, has one robotic arm up and running alongside her employees, and hopes to soon add more to the floor.

 

That's one example of the technology Abraham's company and others in Central Ohio's retail are industry are embracing to support growth.  And it's proof of the way Columbus is also the cradle of industry-changing trends, including new technology, big data breakthroughs and new forms of real estate development.  Columbus' strong place as a home of retail companies mean many of them are developing and testing all of their new emerging ideas here, from new tech to new marketing strategies and evolving physical and electronic footprints.

 

For Yohannan Terrell, director of the Columbus Fashion Initiative, the retail industry of 2019 is about "authenticity," and Columbus is the ideal petri dish.  While e-commerce has changed the landscape for retailers, younger shoppers want a physical connection with the brands they buy, and that means brick and mortar presence can't be forgotten.

 

MORE:  https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/08/12/cobots-e-commerce-and-authenticity-how-columbus.html

Bank of America opens first Central Ohio branch, announces 5 more locations

 

Bank of America's first Central Ohio branch is open for business (at a) 4,300-square-foot branch, located at 1650 Morse Road. ... The Charlotte-based banking giant has announced more details of its plans to establish a presence in the Ohio market, which will include 14 new bank branches in Central Ohio over the next two years.  Here's what's in the works:

• A larger branch at Easton Town Center, will open before the end of the year.
• A Powell location will also open before the end of the year.
• A branch at 8th Avenue and High Street in the University District will open in early 2020.
• A branch at State Street and Scrock Road in Westerville will open in early 2020.
• The bank has also applied for permits for 2336 Stringtown Pike in Grove City.

In a development plan filed with the city, Bank of America said its Grove City branch would likely cost $1.5 million, though investments might differ based on size and renovation versus new construction.

 

MORE:  https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/08/29/bank-of-america-opens-first-central-ohio-branch.html

On 5/14/2019 at 3:13 PM, Columbo said:

 

Bonobos to Open First Columbus Location in the Short North

 

Men’s apparel brand and retailer Bonobos has signed a lease at The Pizzuti Companies’ latest mixed-use development in the Short North, at 875 N. High Street. ... Bonobos will occupy 1,500 square feet along High Street on the ground floor of the development.  This will be the first Bonobos location in Columbus and the third in Ohio.

 

Bonobos, known for well-fitting menswear and accessories, was originally founded as an online-only retailer in 2007.  Bonobos began opening brick-and-mortar locations in 2012.

 

MORE:  https://www.columbusunderground.com/bonobos-to-open-first-columbus-location-in-the-short-north-tm1

I'm not sure if there was any true announcement/publicly promoted grand opening yet, but this store is now open....

Sports complex to replace former Sears at Polaris

 

 

The former Sears near Polaris Fashion Place will be replaced with an indoor sports facility.

 

Washington Prime Group Inc. (NYSE: WPG) announced Tuesday thatFieldhouseUSA will anchor a planned mixed-use redevelopment at 1400 Polaris Parkway, the former Sears department store. The brand is a community-based facility that specializes in sports leagues, events and tournaments year-round, including basketball, volleyball, pickle-ball and futsal.

 

It also has programs for performance training, fitness, adventure exhibits, sports camps and club and corporate sports, with additional activities ranging from cheerleading to taekwondo.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/10/22/sports-complex-to-replace-former-sears-at-polaris.html

Yay!!!

Popular convenience store chain coming to Columbus

 

A well-liked convenience store chain is finally making its way to Columbus.

 

Altoona, Pennsylvania-based Sheetz Inc. announced on Facebook that it plans to bring its brand to Central Ohio in 2021. It has 40 shops in the state, but those are predominately located in Northeast Ohio. The closest Sheetz to Columbus is a single store in Zanesville.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/12/11/popular-convenience-store-coming-to-columbus.html

 

Are they still using that 2006 PS3 logo for their signage? They'd be better off with the '90s version.

RH Gallery opens at Easton, featuring rooftop bar and fancy furnishings

 

 

The newest addition to Easton features its first rooftop element and a lot of swankiness to go around.

 

California-based RH – formerly Restoration Hardware – has opened its new 60,000-square-foot location at 4120 Worth Ave. in the Easton Town Center expansion northeast of the shopping center's main square. The new shop shows off the brand's luxury furnishings and design and "represents the brand’s quest to revolutionize physical retailing, and its continued foray into hospitality," according to a statement.

 

The space features a rooftop restaurant and wine bar with some outdoor lounge spaces, and houses a few different lines of business as well. The RH Interiors, Modern and Outdoor section of the three-story shop is devoted to home decor and furnishings, while the company's RH Interior Design Firm & Atelier is focused on custom home designs.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/12/12/photos-rh-gallery-opens-at-easton-featuringrooftop.html

Warby Parker Opening Second Columbus Location

 

On Saturday, December 21, Warby Parker will open its second Columbus location at Easton Town Center, 4049 The Strand E.

 

The eyewear retailer first entered the Columbus market in May 2018, opening in the Short North at 601 N. High St.

 

The new Easton location will carry the retailer’s full line of eyeglasses and sunglasses, and feature a limited edition holiday collection and accessories.

 

More below:

https://www.columbusunderground.com/warby-parker-opening-second-columbus-location