Columbus, Ohio USA
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Dis 'n' Data
By Margaret Marten, Editor
email margaret@shortnorth.com
July/August 2016

DIS 'N' DATA ARCHIVE

Manhood and Home
You may have noticed the new shop Manhood and Home on the corner of West Fourth Avenue at 1127 N. High St. across from Mary Catherine’s Antiques. Inside, bulbs of bright light set the stage for a mix of provocative and practical merchandise. The store’s specialty is men’s underwear, which accounts for the mannequins, but along with loungewear, sleepwear, swim-wear and underwear is a unique selection of home accessories, small furnishings, and gift items. Co-owner Bret Baden, 35, has been hard at work creating stylish displays to enhance the merchandise. As an interior designer, decorating is what he’s trained to do and what he enjoys. “This was literally carpet and brick walls, that was it. We built all of this ourselves,” he said, pointing out the marble-topped displays, refurbished wood, chrome, and iron. Meanwhile, Rob Lyons, 38, relishes in the task of developing an inventory of men’s underwear. Their exclusive line, Addicted, is manufactured in Barcelona. They also carry Gregg Homme, UFM, Garçon Model and Charlie with prices ranging from $22 to $50. “It’s going to be very nice, cool stuff,” he said. “People will come in and feel a pair of underwear and be like, ‘this is very good quality.’” Lyons will regularly “man” the store. A hair stylist by trade, he knows how to keep the conversation going. His clients at Jeckyll and Hyde Salon in Clintonville, where he still puts in a few hours, can attest to that. When you enter Manhood and Home you’ll feel welcome, and by the time you leave, you’ll feel like a friend.

The store is not all about underwear or all about homeware or all about men or women, it’s about discovery. Visit www.manhoodcolumbus.com, Facebook or call 614-641-7266 to learn more.

Black Brick Bar
Last December, the newly built, modernized Donatos opened while construction continued on an adjacent space destined to be a companion bar to the business. The wait is over and Black Brick has begun. The bar opened in late May, providing an upscale atmosphere for customers to mingle while imbibing craft beer and cocktails. The Donatos menu is amped up with some exclusive items. A patio accessed through open garage doors is an added bonus to the entire pizza packet, as well as live acoustic music Fridays and Saturdays from 6 to 8 p.m. (See event photos page 15.) The Black Brick moniker goes back to the first Donatos store that featured black brick. The new bar is located at the corner of East First Avenue at 917 N. High St. Open daily at 5 p.m. Visit www.blackbrickbar.com

Emi Pet Short North
Patrick Quian and Emma Jin are the new proprietors of Posh Pets. The shop first opened at 743 N. High St. in 2002. Jo Johnson, the original owner, retired after 13 years and moved to Florida. The boutique, which sells pet merchandise and grooming services, changed hands in October, but it wasn’t until April that the Posh Pets sign in the window was replaced with a new name, Emi Pet Short North. The owners say they wanted to meet their customers first, let them know that it was the same store with the same merchandise and quality of service before actually renaming it to match their other location. “Emi” is a Japanese word for blessing or beauty. “We think that fits perfectly for our pet salon and boutique, as our core value is ‘beauty, wellness and happiness for pets,’” said Emma.

The couple opened Emi Pet and Grooming Service in New Albany in 2014. The business, which was originally founded in 2012, began in a mobile grooming truck. Their interest in pet grooming emerged while students at the Ohio State University. They owned four dogs – a Yorkie, Sheltie, Bichon and Standard Poodle – so it seemed like a good idea to learn how to groom them themselves. The couple took an introductory course out of state and discovered that they loved working with dogs – so much so that after graduating from OSU in actuarial science, human resources, and marketing, they immediately began to pursue certification in pet grooming at the renowned Nash Academy, where, in recognition of their talent, the president singled them out as recipients of a scholarship. “We feel so blessed about everything,” said Emma. In her youth, Emma’s family owned a dog, a shih tzu, and her husband Patrick was raised with a boxer, yet they both feel they’ve been given a whole new perspective on dogs – and a passion to match. "

Visit Facebook as well as two current websites, www.poshpetsboutique.com and www.emipet.com, to view images of their furry friends and learn more about services, including pet boarding and doggy daycare. The Short North store is open 7 days a week. Their number is 614-299-7387.

Pet Valu Has Arrived
Adding to the pool of Short North stores specializing in pet products is Pet Valu, which opened in April at 1004 N. High St. It’s new home, in the Fireproof Building, is directly across from N. Starr. Pet Valu – founded in Canada 40 years ago – is the largest retail operation in North America offering food and supplies that cater directly to dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles and small animals. They opened their first store in the U.S. in 1995 and now have 260 stores with over 400 locations in Canada.

Pet Valu acquired Jack’s Pets in December 2014. An Ohio-based business founded in 1950, Jack’s Pets had almost three dozen stores in Ohio, all of which were eventually converted into Pet Valu locations. The expansion of Pet Valu continued, adding over a dozen more new stores in Ohio. The Short North Pet Value is the eighth of those new stores. Their growth in this state with 42 locations today is noteworthy because Pet Valu had virtually no Ohio stores before they acquired Jack’s Pets less than two years ago.

One of the more intriguing offerings at Pet Valu is the self-serve dog wash. Three sizes of marble tile tubs accommodate dogs large and small. There is no weight limit, and any type of animal is welcome, including pigs, goats, and cats. There are a few exceptions, such as dogs with fleas or “skunked” dogs. Aprons, tub restraints, shampoo, towels, and dryers are included in the cost of $10 plus tax for a 30-minute wash. The store’s back door and designated parking make for a smooth move from tub to home.

Pet Valu does not actually sell animals other than betta fish. However, they are truly passionate about facilitating pet adoptions. A recent chain-wide Pet Valu adoption event garnered 927 adoptions in the U.S. over the course of a weekend. The cats lounging in the front window on High Street are up for grabs through Dublin-based Colony Cats and Dogs.

A mural of Goodale Park on the south wall of the store, painted by Columbus artist Janelle Rudolph, establishes a tie with the local community. “One thing we really pride ourselves on is being a community partner,” said Pet Valu marketing manager Ally Homa. “And the murals allow us to take that one step further.” Every store has a mural specific to their area.

The Short North store’s general manager Angela Everetts worked at Jack’s Pets for 17 years before joining Pet Valu (and owns an Italian Mastiff). She is fully prepared, and quite qualified, to respond to questions and to offer suggestions about pet products.

Pet Valu is open 7 days from 9 to 9 (Sunday 10 to 6). Visit www.petvalu.com or call 614-549-6183 to learn more.

Anniversaries
The Lamp Shade will celebrate ten years in the Short North on Labor Day weekend. Join Marianne Lannan in celebration during Gallery Hop at the corner of High St. and East Second Avenue. She purchased the business in 1995 when it was located in Bexley, later moving the shop to the Short North in 2006. The store specializes in shades, lamps, and finials and is unique in presenting a large, varied inventory of lampshades. If you enjoy decorating and haven’t really thought much about lampshades before, this is the place to start looking and discovering how fun and artsy shades and finials can be. Visit www.lampshade.com or call 614-299-6442 for more information. (You’ll find two feature stories on Marianne and The Lamp Shade shop in our online archive at shortnorth.com.)

Departures
Righno, the men’s apparel store that opened in the Short North across from the post office on East Fourth Ave. in October before moving to 1242 N. High St. four months later, is now gone. Owner Corey Bee closed the shop on N. High in May. The business has a new location in Cincinnati.

Ngockhanh Van Ngo remained a storefront retailer for a year before calling it quits at 1196 N. High in April. Khan (the name he goes by) continues to sell his fashion line, Made by Ngo, online. The store – MADE & Co. Gallery – displayed a slim selection of shirts and ball caps with some local art on the north wall in the hopes of developing a gallery as well as a men’s apparel store. Ngo is a 2013 CCAD graduate who majored in fashion design.

Tai Tiki Polynesian Bar Grill & Sushi closed after one year at 1014 N. High St. in the Fireproof building. Designed in the spirit of the renowned Kahiki Supper Club (the Polynesian restaurant that closed in 2000), Tai Tiki opened its doors in May 2015 after months of interior work and offered an elegant dining destination while it lasted. Owners, Tai and Gail Lieu, continue to operate their other restaurant, Tai’s Asian Bistro, in Upper Arlington at the Lane Avenue Shopping Center. In an interview with Business First, Fireproof Building owner, Mike Fitzpatrick, said Liu sold the business to Michael Brothers Entertainment Group, Sam and Fadi Michael, who plan to renovate the space and reopen it as Julep. Their website indicates that Julep will be a night life destination offering craft beer and cocktails.

The Japanese Steak House closed after 45 years in business. They moved from their original location at 270 E. Town St. in September 1992 (24 years ago) to 479 N. High St. shortly before the Convention Center opened across the street. The original location had a little pond and bubbling fountain amidst pseudo-Japanese decorations.

Carlene and Betsy Crist, the mother and daughter team who opened Old World New Home a half dozen years ago in the Short North, closed their store in April and moved to Grove City. The business, which sells refurbished antique and vintage furnishings, first opened in a small space at 1196 N. High next to What The Rock?! before settling into the storefront at 941 N. High St. near Z Pizza five years ago. Their specialty is custom furniture work – upholstery and painting – as well as home decor and boutique clothing. Furniture collection has been in the family for three generations, so they’re experts at what they do and love it. Their new “home” in Grove City gives them the space – and plenty of parking – to work and expand along with a growing family (two grandchildren). Energy and enthusiasm have paid off for these women and brought the success and satisfaction that comes with hard work. The grand opening in Grove City Town Center was held on July 8 at their new location, 3448 Park St. Visit www.oldworldnewhome.com and Facebook for developments about their new space, furnishings and family.

The Sharon Weiss Gallery lost one of their gallery artists. Janet Poast died on June 21 at the age of 65 after a long illness. A CCAD graduate, Poast worked as an illustrator and graphic designer for 25 years before joining Sharon Weiss’s stable of artists ten years ago. “She was one of the few abstract artists in the gallery,” said Sharon Weiss. “Her work was bright, bold, and exceptional.” She had a successful solo show in May 2012, and the gallery “came alive with her colorful paintings,” added Weiss. Poast’s art was among those chosen for the permanent collection at the Hilton Columbus Downtown when it opened in 2012. “I will miss her,” said Weiss, “her fellow artists will miss her, and of course those fortunate individuals who purchased her paintings over the years will miss her too.”

Additional Openings
Other developments, possibly described in greater detail in the next issue, include a tattoo shop, Enso Tattoo, which opened in May where Righno men’s apparel was briefly located – across from the post office on E. Fourth Avenue. A shop selling bridesmaids apparel, La Jeune Mariee Maids & Social Occasions, is located on East Russell after moving here from Worthington in January. The business is tied to a few other bridal-related shops including Big Rock Bridal Atelier that left the Short North last year for a Downtown location. Standard Hall restaurant and bar is now up and running in the former Little Brother’s space at 1100 N. High. Buns and Brews Bar opened in late June, specializing in hot dogs, at 1205 N. High. Eagle Food & Beer Hall is operating at 790 N. High selling comfort food in the former La Fogata space. Elena’s Specialty Cakes has been offering pastry and coffee at 1247 N. High just north of Fifth Avenue since March. Vitellas Chun Integrative Medicine and Acupuncture has a new practice in Harrison West at 929 Harrison Avenue. Angry Baker will soon have a second location here on King Avenue in the space vacated by Till Restaurant. We are still waiting for the grocery store Oats and Barley Market to open. The Short North Parlor is scheduled to start serving food and drink in the former Surly Girl Saloon this summer. As mentioned earlier, Julep will provide a new nightlife destination in the Fireproof Building after completing renovations.

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.

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