Columbus, Ohio USA
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Dis 'n' Data
By Margaret Marten, Editor
email margaret@shortnorth.com
September/October 2015
A shop specializing in men’s suits is now operating at 937 N. High St. after moving from the South Campus Gateway. Nate DeMars founded Pursuit as a pop-up retail in 2011 offering students fashionable and affordable contemporary suits. He devised the business concept while a graduate student in an entrepreneurship class. His thinking was that young men do not want to dress like their fathers, and they probably do not want to shop for suits since the selection process can be challenging to the uninitiated, so keeping the stock manageable, stylish, and not overpriced would make it easier and attractive to the college consumer. DeMar’s original pop-up shop was so successful it morphed into a regular retail store with suits, shirts and accessories. Unlike big box stores, Pursuit’s inventory is limited to youthful slim-fitting sizes. Pursuit also operates a suitmobile that travels to college campuses, corporate offices, and events like wedding shows. A move into the Short North would naturally draw more young professionals as well as first-time suit buyers, hence the relocation – and it offers a larger space for DeMars and his staff to work with. Visit the website www.pursuityourself.com or call 614-321-7848 to learn more.
An upscale apparel store opened at 17 East Brickel St. behind the Short North Tavern near Tasi’s Café in June. Kit and Ace launched last year in Vancouver, British Columbia, under the direction of J.J. Wilson and his stepmother Shannon, the wife of Lululemon Athletica founder and former CEO, Chip Wilson. (Lululemon is a $1.8 billion sportswear company with over 300 stores.) A rapid expansion of Kit and Ace began right after the startup, resulting in over a dozen retail outlets and pop-ups in the U.S. as well as 10 locations in Canada. And the expansion continues. The brand utilizes a wash-and-wear fabric called Technical Cashmere™, a derivative from the Qemir@ family of fabrics they created for Technical Luxury™ apparel. Their objective in developing the material was to make something stretchy, stylish, and sophisticated. T-shirts made from this fabric sell for $78 to $118 in the long-sleeved styles. The store has a few special policies and programs in their effort to formulate a non-traditional shopping experience for the “creative class.” They host a monthly Supper Club, an intimate, invite-only dinner, and exhibit a quarterly art show of local talent on “The Wall,” a space reserved at each of their stores. Meagan Alwood’s work is on view through October 31. Visit www.kitandace.com or call 844-548-6223 for updates.Beauty Boutique on High, a makeup bar, opened six months ago at 1129 N. High St. across from Mary Catherine’s Antiques in the space formerly occupied by Strand Café, a hair salon that relocated to 9 Second Avenue. Beauty Boutique owners Kizzy Cassell, 38, and Dara Beasley, are focusing on makeup services, eyebrows, lashes, and nails; the shop does not offer haircuts, styling or coloring. However, they do sell high quality Brazilian and Malaysian hair bundles and provide sew-ins. The shop also sells a small selection of clothes and jewelry on consignment. Cassell, who lives in Pickerington with her husband and four children, is an experienced hair stylist but has placed that talent on the back burner while managing the new shop. Her other areas of interest – event planning and youth mentoring – are operated through Beauty Boutique. Pink Roses, a non-profit organization, provides mentoring for young girls, teaching leadership skills and activities to promote self-esteem. Events associated with the mentoring as well as private events like baby showers, makeup classes, and “wine-down Wednesdays” are among the activities that enliven the shop. “This is a place where a lot of women come and hang out,” said Cassell. Her surprise cupcakes made of cornbread, chicken, and mashed potatoes are offered free on Fridays with wine. “Anything we can do that’s different,” she said. Getting women to relax and enjoy the service in a welcoming, beautiful environment is what it’s all about. The phone number there is 614-817-1212, and they have a Facebook page.
The craft beer and wine shop Cork and Brew at 1247 N. High closed in June after less than a year in business. David Ostrander opened the shop in September 2014 hoping to expand the wine interests of his generation, the millennials, and share his expertise and enthusiasm for unique labels. The venture was sincere and modest but so was the revenue, which eventually determined the project financially unfeasible. Ostrander said he’s still passionate about wine and regularly makes a weekly trip to his small vineyard in the Ohio River Valley.
Kifle Shoe Boutique closed in July at 1203 N. High St. after two years in business. The shop was run by three sisters – Aden, Aba, and Helen Kifle. The space is now occupied by the Short North Coffee House, formerly located a couple doors south at 1195 N. High. Owner Inayat Ullah opened it in 2009 with Travis Hardy who sold out a few years later to Ullah. The coffee shop’s July move made room for Paulie Gee’s, a pizzeria, based in Brooklyn, New York, that is expected to start up in the 1195 space by the end of the year. The local franchise owner is Terry Gibbs. It’s a relatively young business, but after only four years in operation, Paulie Gee’s was voted best pizza in New York City by a Zagat survey last year. Gibbs, 24, spent a year working at the Brooklyn branch to learn the ropes and prepare for the Columbus opening. His admiration for Gee (who left an IT career in midlife to pursue this) is obvious as well as an attitude of gratitude in being picked and primed for the project. Gibbs grew up in Toledo and graduated from Ohio State University in hospitality management. He says that interacting with people and experiencing excellence in service has been a motivating factor in pursuing this profession. “It doesn’t matter whether I’m in a café diner on a highway in the middle of nowhere or a five-star class joint in downtown Manhattan,” he said. “It’s more the company of the people you share it with and the passion that the people preparing it for you put into it.” Translating that culinary passion from the founder in Brooklyn to Columbus will not be difficult for Gibbs. “Obviously, the food is phenomenal,” he said. And it’s a small franchise that allows flexibility. The pie toppings are ever-evolving, innovative, and fun. The Garden District location is perfect, according to Gibbs. “That’s the area I wanted to be in. I love the stuff that’s around there. I just love where that area is going.” The restaurant will include a full-service bar and seat about 70 diners in the 2,400-square-foot space. Visit www.pauliegee.com to view their menu that includes over two dozen varieties of pizza.
Other developments to be described in greater detail in upcoming issues are the following: A mensware store, Righno Boutique, plans to open in October at 22 E. Fourth Ave. near the Michael’s Goody Boy restaurant. A children’s apparel and gift shop called Cubshrub will appear by the end of the year at 749 N. High under the operation of Josh and Niki Quinn who own Tigertree. Cravings Carryout Cafe in Italian Village at 227 E. Third Ave. closed on September 13 with plans to move to an unspecified location. Mac Worthington Gallery is relocating to the Atlas Building downtown in October after decades at 749 N. High St. Hammond Harkins Galleries moved from Bexley to the Short North and will have a grand opening in October (see ad back cover). Their new location at 641 N. High is across the street from Brandt-Roberts Galleries, which is celebrating a five-year anniversary. The Creative Plug settled into the Short North a few months ago at 1253 N. High next to Turner’s Barber Shop. They combine retail fashion with art and creative events. A co-working space will soon be operating in The Joseph office building at 629 N. High. Industrious Office has a dozen locations around the U.S.
Rex Hagerling, chairman of the Italian Village Commission, was included in a monthly feature written by Columbus Business First spotlighting individuals who are “front and center” in their respective industries. “People to Know in Government” was the topic of the August article. Hagerling, an architect and preservationist who has served on the commission since 2002, related how the surge in Italian Village development has become a real challenge for the commission. “In addition to maintaining the integrity of the historic fabric,” he said, “we are charged with guiding the developments in a way that maintains and enhances the community vision for what Italian Village is becoming.” Unlike most historic districts, Italian Village has plenty of buildable land, and the building boom that started after the recession shows no signs of abating.SEE ALSO: NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS/NEWS (SELECT WRITEUP)
Email margaret@shortnorth.com or call 614-251-0656 with neighborhood news items for the Short North Gazette.Email the Editor margaret@shortnorth.com
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