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Your Weekly Guide to Central Ohio's Commercial Growth & Investment Landscape

July 2025 Edition

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Central Ohio's business development momentum continues with significant entertainment venue launches, restaurant expansions, and major residential construction milestones. This week's highlights include Dueling Axes' Grove City opening, Ray Ray's Hog Pit expansion to Johnstown, and multiple mixed-use developments nearing completion downtown. The region demonstrates sustained growth across hospitality, dining, and residential sectors, with projects representing millions in private investment and hundreds of new jobs.

ENTERTAINMENT & RECREATION DEVELOPMENTS

Major Entertainment Venue Launches

Dueling Axes Grove City Opening Dueling Axes officially opened July 18, 2025, at 3940 Broadway in Grove City, transforming the historic former Grove City Bowling Lanes into a 6,000-square-foot axe-throwing bar and entertainment venue. The facility features axe and knife throwing, shuffleboard, darts, cornhole, and multiple TVs throughout, with a full-service bar serving items like Lumberjack Chili Cheese Nachos and Buffalo Chicken Dip. This investment marks a notable addition to Grove City's Town Center entertainment options and demonstrates the growing popularity of experiential entertainment venues in suburban markets.

RESTAURANT & DINING EXPANSION

Established Brand Expansions

Ray Ray's Hog Pit Johnstown Location Central Ohio's acclaimed barbecue institution Ray Ray's Hog Pit is opening its second full-service restaurant location in Johnstown on August 15th at 49-1/2 S Main St, occupying the former Ghostwriter Public House space. This expansion brings Ray Ray's signature hardwood-smoked barbecue to the growing Johnstown community, demonstrating confidence in suburban market opportunities and supporting the brand's regional growth strategy.

Restaurant Reopenings & Renovations

Chef-O-Nette Diner Upper Arlington The beloved neighborhood institution Chef-O-Nette Diner has reopened under new ownership at 2090 Tremont Center, Upper Arlington, maintaining its classic charm while serving traditional diner staples and preserving an important piece of Upper Arlington's dining heritage.

The Boat House Confluence Park Renovation The Boat House at 679 W. Spring St., Columbus has completed a comprehensive renovation featuring an elevated menu and enhanced amenities, improving its position as a destination dining venue in the Confluence Park area.

International Cuisine Growth

Myungrang Hotdog Short North Korean corn-dog specialist Myungrang Hotdog opened July 21, 2025, at 850 N High St in the Short North, creating 5-10 staff positions and strengthening the district's international food scene while boosting foot traffic for neighboring establishments.

Tertulia Bakery & Café Short North Tertulia Bakery & Café opened July 18 in the Short North, adding artisanal baking and café services to Columbus's growing specialty food sector.

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENTS

Downtown Mixed-Use Progress

Fifth by Northwest Apartments Completion Construction is concluding on the Fifth by Northwest Apartments at 1350 West Fifth Avenue, Columbus, adding significant new housing stock to the Grandview area. This residential development represents substantial job creation during construction and provides ongoing property management opportunities.

Multiple Downtown Projects Advance Several major mixed-use developments continue construction across Columbus, including Trace Quarter, The Diehl-Whittaker, Elevate 340, 100 N. High Street, and River & Rich Phase Two. These multi-story apartment and mixed-use buildings are adding substantial housing and retail/office spaces to downtown and surrounding commercial hubs.

Suburban Residential Expansion

Summit Crossing Reynoldsburg The 664-unit residential project featuring townhomes on Summit Road received initial phase approval July 15, 2025. The eventual 600+ units will create sustained construction demand and subcontracting opportunities across multiple phases.

Flores Development Scattered-Site Homes Flores Development broke ground in June 2025 on the first of 27 single-family infill homes across Near East Side and West Side locations. Each 1,600 square foot home requires specialized subcontractors for framing, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, and interior finishes, with 6-7 homes expected by end of 2025 and remainder completing in 2026-2027.

Commercial Real Estate Transactions

Parkway Centre South Shopping Center Sale The shopping center at 1701-1751 Stringtown Rd, Grove City sold July 15 for $19.8 million to RCG Ventures, creating potential for tenant improvements and new leasing opportunities.

Industrial Warehouse Transaction A warehouse facility near John Glenn Columbus International Airport sold for $38 million in July, likely generating demand for tenant fit-out and ongoing logistics services.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES & HEALTHCARE EXPANSION

Specialized Healthcare Growth

Diabetes & Endocrinology Center of Ohio Worthington The Diabetes & Endocrinology Center of Ohio (DECO) continues expanding specialized services in Worthington, offering advanced endocrine care including diabetes management, insulin pump training, and individualized nutrition counseling. The center's DECO Healthy Living program provides medically supervised weight loss services with meal replacement options and ongoing medical monitoring.

Wellness Services

The Body Beautiful Short North The Body Beautiful opened at 864 N High St, Columbus as a wellness/spa/piercing studio in the Short North, creating demand for salon supply and local service vendors.

INFRASTRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Transportation Infrastructure

Capital Line Pedestrian Trail Downtown A $10 million allocation for phase one of the Capital Line Pedestrian Trail was approved in the 2025 city budget on June 25, with tendering and planning underway for likely construction start in late 2025. This urban trail project creates opportunities for construction contracting, landscaping, public art installations, and lighting services.

Case Road Area Drainage Project Storm sewer replacement work across Case/Sale/Dresden/Minnie roads in Clinton Township began July 2025 with completion scheduled for May 2026, creating demand for civil contractors and pipe/utility suppliers.

Industrial Development Trends

Speculative Industrial Construction Boom Multiple new spec industrial facilities for flex/logistics space have received approvals since July 18, 2025, creating construction-phase opportunities and eventual operations/staffing roles post-completion. This trend supports demand for MEP systems contractors, site preparation services, and equipment leasing firms.

New Albany Data Center Development New Albany annexed acreage for tech/data center development in July, setting the stage for large-scale construction and IT infrastructure supplier demand.

HOSPITALITY & TOURISM DEVELOPMENTS

Hotel Development Pipeline

Home2 Suites by Hilton Hilliard Home2 by Hilton will open as part of the TruePointe mixed-use development in Hilliard. The 115-room, four-story hotel will feature an indoor pool, fitness center, and limited food service, serving as a key hospitality component of the $250 million TruePointe project.

REGIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

Automotive Industry Expansion

Germain Motor Co. Kentucky Acquisition Columbus-based Germain Motor Co. is reportedly acquiring four dealerships from Blue Grass Motorsport, including Kentucky's only Porsche, Land Rover, and Jaguar franchises, expanding Germain's presence into the Kentucky luxury automotive market and demonstrating the strength of local business operations.

POLICY & ZONING UPDATES

Regulatory Improvements

Zone-In Code Overhaul Phase 2 Announced June 26, 2025, this initiative covers approximately 40% of city parcels in commercial/industrial zones, designed to facilitate housing, business centers, offices, and hospital/warehouse development. The overhaul creates opportunities for zoning/permitting consultants, planning support services, and compliance specialists.

MARKET ANALYSIS & OPPORTUNITIES

Key Investment Trends

Entertainment Venue Diversification: Unique concepts like axe-throwing demonstrate market appetite for experiential entertainment in suburban locations.

Restaurant Sector Resilience: Re=openings and renovations show established operators investing in facility improvements and market expansion.

Mixed-Use Development Acceleration: Aggressive downtown residential development addresses housing demand while creating commercial opportunities.

Suburban Business Confidence: Grove City, Hilliard, and Johnstown attract significant new business investment, indicating balanced regional growth.

Emerging Business Opportunities

Construction Services: Sustained residential and commercial construction creates demand across specialties from framing to interior finishes.

Property Management: New residential developments require ongoing management services and maintenance contractors.

Food Service Supply: Restaurant expansions and new concepts generate demand for specialized ingredients and equipment services.

Entertainment Support Services: Venue openings create opportunities for cleaning, maintenance, and equipment servicing.

Direct Economic Impact

Hundreds of construction and service jobs from ongoing residential projects 25+ jobs from restaurant openings and expansions Property management positions from new residential developments Regional expansion opportunities for Columbus-based businesses

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Entertainment Evolution: Unique venue concepts joining Columbus's recreational landscape demonstrate market sophistication and consumer demand for experiential entertainment.

Restaurant Market Strength: Established brand expansions and successful reopenings indicate healthy food service sector fundamentals and growth opportunities.

Residential Development Momentum: Aggressive mixed-use construction downtown and suburban expansion projects support Mayor Ginther's housing initiatives while creating commercial opportunities.

Regional Business Confidence: Columbus-based companies expanding into neighboring markets demonstrates local business strength and operational excellence.

Infrastructure Investment: Transportation and utility improvements support continued development and enhance commercial accessibility across the region.

LOOKING AHEAD

The concentration of residential development downtown and entertainment venue openings in suburban markets indicates balanced regional growth. Major construction projects will continue delivering new housing and commercial space throughout 2025, while the hospitality sector shows strong confidence with new hotel investments. The diversity of business types opening suggests a healthy, resilient local economy positioned for sustained expansion.

These developments collectively represent millions in private investment and demonstrate Central Ohio's continued economic expansion across multiple sectors. The combination of downtown density projects and suburban commercial growth creates opportunities for businesses across construction, hospitality, professional services, and specialty retail sectors.

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