Columbus, Ohio USA
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Dis 'n' Data
By Margaret Marten, Editor
email margaret@shortnorth.com
September/October 2012
The Short North Tour of Homes & Gardens set for Sunday, September 16 will include the home of Christy and Mark Demetry. The 1910 brick Victorian house located at 889 Dennison Ave. was featured in the August issue of Columbus Monthly. The article describes their ambitious renovation work restoring much of the original structure found hidden behind what appeared to be a series of cheap rental rehab projects marked by dropped ceilings, covered windows, and small rooms. Christy is the daughter of Sandy and Don Davis, owners of 50 Lincoln-Short North Bed & Breakfast. The Davis family has a long history of home restoration. Christy recalls moving every couple years while growing up in Reynoldsburg as her parents sought out one creative challenge after another to satisfy their passion for refurbishing houses. The Home & Gardens Tour this year includes 10 locations that will be accessible by trolley bus. Admission is $15 in advance or $20 on the day of the tour. Information about the event can be found at www.shortnorthcivic.org or on page 18 of this issue.
Columbus artist Rick Borg won an Ohio Arts Council award for his painting Tiger at the Ohio State Fair this summer. Borg has shown paintings at the fair almost every year since 1979, and four of his works were on display. People from all walks of life and in great numbers attend the fair, something Borg appreciates. “So many people will see your work there, maybe more than any other show you get into,” Borg said. “Normal people will see the show, down-to-earth people, instead of some gallery that a lot of regular people don’t go into. That’s why I’ve always liked the fair. You can entertain, you know, the farmers.” The Ohio Arts Council awarded Borg $300 for the prize painting.
Across from Travonna Coffee House and the Garden Theater, just south of Fifth Avenue on High Street, pm gallery will be opening in October after their move from 726 N. High St. last July. Next door to pm gallery at 1188 N. High, a unique shop called Dames Bond Market will also be opening in October, selling products and showcasing information on services by local women business owners. Owner, Mary Relotto, 46, founded Dames Bond in 2006 as a networking and marketing service for women. The retail angle is a new development. “These women make such incredible products,” said Relotto. “I couldn’t help but bring them in and want to display their products to sell to the regular public. We’re going to have incredible art, photography, jewelry, sculptures. We have cupcakes, gluten-free bakery. We’ll be rotating a lot.” Members are listed on the Dames Bond website business directory, which is the only online directory of its kind freely accessible to consumers. Forbes Woman named it one of the “Ten Best Career Sites for Women.” The website also includes social and professional event listings and expert articles by its members. Women without the time or inclination to participate in the many social networking opportunities can take advantage of Dames Bond’s multiple services, including the online business directory listing and the opportunity to display their products and services in the retail store. “That’s my goal,” said Relotto, “to get that directory to be a household name, to get people in the shop so they can actually see the product and meet the vendor, meet the woman who makes it.” Visit www.damesbond.com or call 614-209-3556 to learn more.
The Candle Lab’s Short North manager Megan Green quit in July to concentrate more fully on her burgeoning business Stinky Bomb Soap. The new manager, Julia Hypes, 26, had been working with Green a couple days a week at The Candle Lab making soap (where it retails) before Green’s departure, so the transition to management in familiar surroundings was not difficult. Hypes, a Marion native, studied theater and cultural anthropology at Ohio State University. She also lived in New York City a couple years after college to pursue acting. “I absolutely loved it,” she said, “but it was incredibly expensive to live in the city, and it made for a really crazy lifestyle, so I decided to do theater as a passion instead of a career and come back to Columbus.” A previous position as a Starbuck’s manager taught her the ins and outs of management, but now she finds herself working on a smaller scale and more closely with people. “One of the things that I love about this job is that every day I get to be creating. People are coming into the store, mixing scents, making new things.” The Candle Lab also hosts groups. Recently a company brought in over a dozen staff members to make candles for an employee appreciation day. “It was like having a bunch of kids in the store,” said Hypes. “Everybody was laughing and talking. They were just having a blast.” Commenting on the atmostphere, she added, “It smells fabulous in here. I did love the coffee smell [at Starbucks], but I’d much rather smell like candles than coffee.”
Funky and Functional closed at 685 N. High St. on August 18 after selling used furniture, antiques, houseware and vintage jewelry for nearly three years at that location. Back in 2009, owner Mark Miller was eager to open the business after a successful six-month run as an antique dealer at GrandView Mercantile down the street. He got an even earlier start (about 10 years ago) selling items on Ebay to supplement his income while writing fiction, later expanding inventory into various antique malls and consignment shops throughout central Ohio. Miller enjoys the work and plans to continue selling at the Central Point Shopping Center flea market Swap, Drop, and Sold at 693 Harrisburg Pike in Columbus. Pedestrian traffic in the Short North, according to Miller, is way too weather dependant. “I’m tired of looking at the weather report like it’s the stock market,” he said. Although management was willing to work with him on the lease renewal, he just didn’t see it. “We had a really good run and did well the whole time, but I don’t need to do well for this kind of labor. I need to do great for the kind of labor I’m putting into the place.” Miller also lamented the fact that the area is fast becoming what he terms the “Short North Bar District,” not really cornering the market he has in mind for his business. In any case, Mark Miller is intoxicated with the prospect of making more money with less effort and not obsessing about the weather.
Bakery Gingham closed its retail operations in both German Village and the Short North district. Owner Amanda Hanna decided to close the bakery in order to focus on her family after the arrival of her first child, Chance. The business opened in German Village five years ago and in the Short North in November 2009. The Short North location at 647 N. High St. closed on July 1. The final day for the German Village location was September 1. Manager and head cake designer Kelly McCullough subsequently started her own cake business, so former customers are welcome to contact her by visiting Kelly’s Cakery at www.kellyscakery.com
Flora Home and Garden is planning to relocate to a larger space in October – just in time for the holiday season. The lot at 930 N. High across from zpizza will provide some parking and soon be stocked with Christmas trees. For updates visit www.florahg.com or call 614-294-1400.
The Short North Alliance (formerly the Short North Business Association) relocated to 21 E. Fifth Ave. in July. The organization was based at 1126 N. High above Surly Girl Saloon across from Skully’s. Along with the move came the news that SNA Senior Director Diesha Condon would be vacating her position in order to move with her husband and child to Las Vegas.Email the Editor margaret@shortnorth.com
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