Columbus, Ohio USA
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Dis 'n' Data
By Margaret Marten, Editor
email margaret@shortnorth.com
May 2012
Loot has closed after 23 years in the Short North. The home-furnishing store at 641 N. High St. on the corner of W. Russell was originally located at 720 N. High before moving to the larger space after four years where it remained for almost 20 years. Owners Phyllis Potts and daughters Leslie Welsh and Jennifer Dennis decided not to renew the lease because they want to devote more time to their families. “You think life’s going to get less complicated, but it doesn’t,” said Potts. “We just didn’t want that day-to-day kind of thing.” It’s likely they will continue with some sales in antique malls, but both Welsh and Dennis have four children who require a lot of time and attention. “We love the Short North,” Potts added, “We had a great run. There’s no mystery. We had a wonderful, wonderful time.” The taker of Loot’s long-time spot is another home-furnishing store, Bungalow, which moved into the space at the end of April from 940 N. High. Now there is twice as much room for the growing business and its ever-expanding ideas and inventory.
One Line Coffee will be opening its first retail store at 745 N. High in late June if renovations and permits are processed without delay. The roastery based in Heath, Ohio, is owned by father Mark Forman and son Dave. They operated River Road Coffeehouse in Granville (then in Newark) before embarking on their One Line Coffee brand and roasting facility. Dave – a resident of this neighborhood with his wife Sarah – will manage the Short North store. A coffee and expresso bar with a variety of brewing options, beans, equipment, home brewing and related courses should delight serious coffee drinkers and thinkers.
Next door to One Line Coffee at 747 N. High, Phillips’ Coney Island has closed temporarily while its new owners Randy and Tina Corbin make improvements. Upgrading the kitchen and extending the dining counter is at the top of their list, according to a recent Business First article. The diner will reopen in August with a larger menu including breakfast items. They hope to acquire a license to sell beer and wine. John Gegas operated Phillips’ Coney Island for 43 years before selling it to the Corbins.
The owner of Basil restaurant at 1124 N. High, Rhome Ruanphae, has been busy with a number of business projects over the past two years, including the restaurant’s recent expansion and is taking a breather after closing The Attic, his vintage furniture and clothing store at 1190 N. High (and the adjoining events space) after learning that the building was up for sale. With his restaurant’s expansion, he says they can now host events comfortably in Basil rather than having to rely on that other space, which was one reason he decided to close The Attic. A “kind of pop-up store” with merchandise from there is inside the restaurant. The Attic first opened next to Basil restaurant at 1122 N. High in November 2010 before moving to 1190 N. High in June 2011.
Justin Boehme of Da Levee is orchestrating a food operation from the back door of his restaurant at 765 N. High on Friday and Saturday nights called Backdoor Burritos. The food is different than what’s offered at his Cajun restaurant but quick and easy for late-night revelers. While Boehme has broadened his service into late night, another nocturnal operation, Late Night Slice, has expanded its business into the daylight hours with the debut of Quick Slice at 1030 N. High. Late Night Slice (the Shack) will reappear at 6 p.m. in the same familiar setting - also at 1030 N. High, but Quick Slice will keep the register ringing in the daylight hours.
The former Burgundy Room at 641 N. High will become The Pearl this fall when Cameron Mitchell opens his first new restaurant in five years there. The Pearl Restaurant, Tavern & Oyster Room will open for dinner at 4 p.m. and continue into late night with a menu of comfort food including local, organic ingredients - and some oysters to boot.
The beauty salon Bliss shut down earlier this year at 34 W. Fifth Ave. The space was quickly occupied by another salon in February, Girl & Guy Republic. Owner and stylist Rhonda Fisher has filled the new shop with art and music as well hair care, and her husband, a musician, has been given permission to use the shop as a performance space late-night weekends. So the aura of the place is one of excitement and energy. Open Tuesday through Saturday, their number is 614-299-9929 with a website at ww.girlandguyrepublic.com providing an inventory of services and prices.
Randy Tarr is on the mend after having a cancerous kidney removed in early April. Tarr and his mother Nancy ran Great Things on High in the Short North for over 15 years beginning in the late ‘80s. He says he’s lucky they caught the cancer early and he’s going to be fine. He will, however, have to undergo hip replacement surgery (an unrelated condition). Tarr, 52, now works for the Franklin County Board of Elections in the Absentee Voting Department and enjoys the regular routine. “I miss the interaction with the people, buying the merchandise, probably the day-to-day grind I don’t miss so much. I found I really do enjoy working 8 to 5, regular people hours!” After the store closed, his mother built a house in Upper Michigan and now spends half the year up there during the warmer weather. A true nature lover, Nancy worked for the Girl Scouts as a camp manager in her early years. Birding is one of her hobbies. Gazette publisher Tom Thomson (author of Birding in Ohio) was never at a loss for conversation when he stopped by their store. And he was a great fan of the place – filled with gargoyles and other remarkable items.
The Short North Arts District is honoring Mother’s Day with special activities including guest artists, extended hours, and complementary refreshments. Betsy Crist and her mother Carlene of Old World New Home will be welcoming shoppers into their store where third-generation family member Charlie Alma Corbett, born last Valentine’s Day to Betsy and fiancé James Corbett, will be presiding. Born at Riverside Hospital, she weighed in at 7 pounds, 5 ounces. A more recent maternal maneuver involves Gendala Kelli Anna who gave birth to an 8 pound, 15 ounce girl named Amèlie on April 22. The supportive fathers are Short North Special Improvement District Director John Angelo and his partner Frank Neumann. Also on the baby bandwagon, former director of the Short North SID, Tim Wagner, who retired last November, became a grandfather for the first time shortly after he left. Misha Philipwagner, his daughter, gave birth to a boy, Eian Philipwagner, on December 29, 2011, weighing in at 7 pounds, 1 ounce. In addition to baby sitting, Tim recently spent three weeks in Guatemala and El Salvador. He said his last trip down there was in the ‘90s when the civil war was winding down.
Local realtor David Dunkel passed away on April 15 at his farm in Utica. He was 57. His influence in the Short North began in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s when he began investing in properties in Victorian Village at a time when not everyone wanted to be down here, said longtime friend Jeff Haycock who has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years. “He was a pioneer. His company Dunkel Company Realtor along with Renaissance Realty were the only realtors really in the area at that time, and it was a far cry from the way it is now.” Dunkel encouraged others to invest in property, and they listened. “I’ve known him since the early ‘80s when I used him as a realtor for several puchases, and then we became friends,” said Haycock. “He was a real genuine guy, and many, many of his friends invested in this area.” His office is located at 381 West Third Avenue. Dunkel lived in the area for several years until his marriage to wife Christine, who survives him, as does his son, Sean. Our condolences to his family and friends.Email the Editor margaret@shortnorth.com
©2012 Short North Gazette, Columbus, Ohio. All rights reserved.
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